The Natural History of Selborne

Dame Loe came.

Gathered berberries.  Bro. Thomas & sons came.

Great dew, cold air, cloudless.

Much damage has been done at sea & land by the late strong winds; in particular about London.  The vines were very forward in June: but now the grapes are quite backward, having made no progress in ripening for some weeks, on account of the blowing, black, wet weather.  The bunches are of a good size, & the grapes large, & much want hot sunshine to bring them to perfection. My potted balsoms, which stand within, are still in beauty,  tho’ they have been blowing now more than three months.  One in particular is more showy now than ever, & has such double flower that they produce no seed.  The blossoms are as large as a crown piece.

The golden-crowned wren, & the creeper, certhia, seen in my fields.

Made a pint of catsup.  Heavy rain.

Hirundines cluster on Hartley-house, & on the thatch of the Grange barn.

Cut my new rick;  the hay is good.

Hop picking becomes general.  The women earn good wages this year: some of them pick 24 bush. in a day, at 3 half-pence per bushel.

Tyed-up the unmoved endives.