Chap.V. ON THE WE A THE R. 475 



July. 



On the 1 2th, at noon, the thermometer marked 25 degrees. 

 On the i8th, wahiut-kerncls, and common apricots were brought to 

 table. 



The drought continued till towards the end of this month. The 

 corn began to be reaped the 20th : but it was very low, and agve^t 

 deal of it was parch'd and ihrivel'd. Rain was greatly wanted; ef- 

 pecially for the oats. It began to fall plentifully about the i8th;' 

 and as the corn was' then ripe enough to begin to cut it, our farmer^.; 

 foon complained that they had then too much wet. In effed, the 

 rains which fell after that time did great hurt. 



By the end of the ruonth, the grapes for making verjuice were 

 very fine in the vineyards; and the early grapes againft walls or ef- 

 paliers had already began to turn. By the 31ft, partridges were very 

 fine and fit for killing. 



August. 



The rains continuing in the beginning of this month, and at the 

 time when the harvefl was above half over ; the corn that was cut, 

 fprouted in the field, and was abfolutely loft. That which ftill re-^ 

 mained ftanding began alfo to fprout.when, at length, the rains ceafed. 

 This laft may ftill turn to fome account ; tho' it is very white and 

 full of moifture. Happily, but little rain fell during the reft of this 

 month, tho' the fky was continually clouded, and the air very cold. 

 All the corn was got in by the 1 5th. 



The moifture which was fo prejudicial to the wheat, was of An- 

 gular jfervice to the oats, which were cut as they ripened. Tho' the 

 coolnefs of the air checked theprogrefs of the vine, the grapes began 

 neverthelefs to turn. The wet rotted great quantities of apricots. 

 As for peaches, there was plenty of them, but they were pale, and 

 had no flavour. 



Notwithftanding the rains in the beginning of this month, we 

 were over-run with caterpillars, which, after ftripping the trees, fell 

 upon the vines that were near them, 



September. 



This month was, in general, cold and dry. The vintage was 

 begun about the 1 5th, in very fine weather, and ended about the 



Ppp 2 2lft, 



