The Natural History of Selborne

Put 50 fine bunches of grapes in crape bags to secure them from wasps.

Much barley abroad, most of it standing: what is cut lies in a sad way.  Hop-picking becomes interrupted: hops become brown.

Wasps somewhat abated.  The day & night insects occupy the annuals alternatelly: the papilios, muscae, & apes are succeeded at the close of the day by phalanae, earwigs, woodlice, etc.  My tallest beech measures in girth at least three feet from the ground six feet & four inches.  It grows at the S.E. end of Sparrow’s hanger, & appears to be upwards of 70 feet high.

Wasps abound, & mangle the graps: we have, I should think, destroyed 50000.

In the dusk of the evening when beetles begin to buz, partridges begin to call; these two circumstances are exactly coincident.

Wasps abound not only in neighbourhoods, but in lone fields, & woods; how satisfied there?

Grey, spitting, bright & sultry, distant lightening.  Wasps swarm.

Linnets congregate.  Wasps swarm about the Grapes, tho’ so many nests have been destroyed.

Great rain.  Hops sadly washed.  Destroyed the 26th wasps-nest, a vast colony.

Gathered first grapes: they look well; & are large; but not highly flavoured yet.  Sad hop-picking: a large crop in this district.  Barley in the suds.