The Natural History of Selborne

Hirundines enjoy the warm season.  Late this evening a storm of thunder arose in the S., which, as usual, divided into two parts, one going to the S.W. & W. & the greater portion to the S.E. and E., & so round to the N.E.  From this latter division proceeded strong, & vivid lightening till late in the night.  At Headleigh there was a very heavy shower, & some hail at E. Tisted.  The lightening, & hail did much damage about the kingdom.  Farmer Spencer’s char-coal making in his orchard almost suffocated us: the poisonous smoke penetrated into our parlor, & bed-chambers, & was very offensive in the night.

Farmer Tull makes a wheat-rick at Wick-hill.

Men bind their wheat all day.  The harvesters complain of heat.  The hand-glass cucumbers begin to bear well: red kidney beans begin to pod.

Half hogshead of portwine from Southhamton.  Gleaners come home with corn.

Some young broods of fly-catchers fly about.

Received from Farnham, well packed in a box, a picture of a mule pheasant, painted by Mr Elmer, & given me by Lord Stawell.  I have fixed it in a gilt, burnished frame, & hung it in my great parlor, where it makes an elegant piece of furniture.  The first broods of swallows, & house-martins, which congregate on roofs, & trees, are very numerous, & yet I have not this year one nest about my buildings.

Boys bring wasp’s nest.  Codlings, & stewed cucumber come in.  Housed, & piled 8 cords of beechen billet in fine order.  Watered the cucumbers; well very low.

Mrs H. White, & Lucy left us.  Two dobchicks in Combwood pond.  Young martins, & swallows cluster on the tower, & on trees, for the first time.  A pleasing circumstance, mixed with some degree of regret for the decline of summer!

Farmer Tull begins to reap wheat.  The hop-garden at Kimber’s fails again, & looks black.

Somewhat of a chilly feel begins to prevail in the mornings and evenings.  Sowed a pint of London prickly spinage seed to stand the winter.  The same quantity last year produced an incredible crop.  Trod & rolled in the seed.  In Mr Hale’s hop garden near Dell are several hills containing male plants, which now shed their farina: the female plants begin to blow.  Men hoe turnips, & hack pease.  Men house hay as black as old thatch.