The Natural History of Selborne

Rain.  Hops become very brown, & damaged.  The hop-pickers are wet through every day.

Fierce, driving rain!

Louring, vast rain, blowing.  This rain was very great at Malpas, in Chesire.

We have planted-out vast quantities of annuals, but none of them thrive.  Grapes do not blow, nor make any progress.  The wet season has continued just a month this day.  Dismal weather!

Vast showers about.  Were all wet thro’ in our return from Faringdon.  Under the eaves of an house at Faringdon are 22 martin’s nests, 12 of which contain second broods now nearly fledge: they put out their heads, & seem to long to be on the wing.

Vast rain, an inch & a quarter in 8 hours.

This day compleats the 28th of this dry fit, which has done infinite service to the low districts, that were floated with water by the heavy rains in the beginning of last month.

Vast rain.  Violent current in the street.

The dripping weather has lasted this day nine weeks, all thro’ haying, & harvest: much hay is also spoiled of the second cutting: so that men, having lost both crops, will in many parts be very short of fodder, especially, as turnips have missed in many places.

The dripping season has, this day, lasted six weeks; it has done some harm to the wheat, & retarded wheat-harvest; but has been of infinite service to the grass, & turnips, &c.