The Natural History of Selborne

We have had no thunder-shower all this summer, tho’ many have fallen in sight of us.  Much mischief by this thunder in distant parts.

Thatched the hay-ricks: delicate hay.

The meadow-rick sinks fast.

Finished-off my great parlor, & hung the door.  The ceiling, & sides are perfectly  dry.

Ricked the meadow-hay, six jobbs, & fine, & free from weeds. Did not mow the little mead.

Strawberries ripen.  Notwithstanding the vast bloom there are no plums nor many pears;  a moderate share of apples: few currans, & gooseberries.  Few cherries.  Great crop of medlars.  Tempest at Farnham.

Began to cut my meadow. A good crop, especially where the ground was dunged.

The elders, water-elders, fox-gloves, & other soltitial plants begin to be in bloom. Blue dragon-flies appear. Cucumbers, which had stopped for a time, bear again.

* My favorite old Galloway, who is touched in his wind, was allowed to taste no water for 21 days; by which means his infirmity grew much less troublesome. He was turned to grass every night, and becaome fat & hearty, and moved with ease. During this abstinence he staled less than usual, & his dung was harder & dryer than usually fall from grass-horses. After refraining from a while he shewed little propensity for drink. A good lesson this to people, who by perpetual guzzling create a perpetual thirst. When permitted to drink he shewed no eagerness for water.

My garden is much bound up, & chopped.  Annuals languish from lack of moisture.

White butter-flies unnumerable: woe to the cabbages!