The Natural History of Selborne

Sowed 36 bushels of peat-ashes on part of my farthest field, which has never been ashed since it was laid-down to grass.  Qu: if it be right to sow ashes amidst so much rain & snow?  So much moisture must probably dilute the ashes too much, & render them of no effect.  Much snow on the ground.  These ashes did no manner of good.

Vast flocks of fieldfares.  Are these prognostic of hard weather?

Not one wheat-ear to be seen on the downs.  The grubs of the scarabaeus solstitialis abound on the downs: the rooks dig them out.  On what do they feed when they come forth?  for there are no trees on the South downs.