The Natural History of Selborne

Timothy is gone under a tuft of long grass, but is not yet buried in the ground.

This dry fit has proved of vast advantage to the kingdom; & by drying & draining the fallows, will occasion the growing of wheat on many hundred of acres of wet, & flooded land, that were deemed to be in a desperate state, & incapable of being seeded this season.

Thomas started a hare, which lay in her form under a cabbage, in the midst of my garden.  It has begun to eat the tops of my pinks in many places.  The land-springs, which begin to appear, are much abated.

This dry weather enables men to bring in loads of turf, not much damaged: while scores of loads of peat lie rotting in the Forest.

Timothy hides.

Saw a squirrel in Baker’s hill: it was very tame.  This was probably what Thomas called a pole-cat.

Timothy comes forth.

Sent 3 bantam fowls to Miss Reb. White at Mareland, a cock & two pullets.

Water-cress comes in.

Baker’s hill is planted all over with horse-beans, which are grown four or five inches high.  They were probably sown by jays; & spring up thro’ the grass, or moss. Many were planted there last year, but not in such abundance as now.