The Natural History of Selborne

The greens of turnips wither, & look rusty.  The distress in these parts for want of water is very uncommon.  The well at the Grange-farm is dry; & so are many in the villages round: & even the well at Old-place in the parish of E. Tisted, tho’ 270 feet, or 45 fathoms deep, will not afford water for a brewing.  All the while the little pond on Selborne down still has some water, th’ it is very low; & the little pond just over the hedge in Newton great farm abates but little.  The ponds in the vales are now dry a third time,   Most of the wells in Selborne-street are empty; & mine has only three feet of water.  The people at Medsted, Bentworth, & those upland parts are in great want.  Well-head sends-out a considerable stream still, not apparently abated since we measured it last.  The last wet month was Decmr 1779, during which fell 6 inch. 28 hund. of rain: since which the quantity of water has been very little.