August 22, 1772
Posted by sydney on Aug 22nd, 1772
Planted-out endive, & trenched some celeri. Ground strangely hard, & bound: will require much rain to soften it. Invigorated by this burning season such legions of Chrysomelae oleraceae saltatoriae (vulg: called turnep-flies) swarm in the fields that they destroy every turnep as fast as it springs: they abound also in gardens, & devour not only the tender plants, but the tough outer leaves of cabbages. When disturbed on the cabbages they leap in such multitueds as to make a pattering noise on the leaves like a shower of rain. They seem to relish the leaves of the horse-radish.