Chap.V. ONTHEWEATHER. 4^3 



The caterpillars remained on the trees where they were hatched. 

 There were luch prodigious quantities of them, that the oak trees in 

 the foreft of Orleans and other woods where they had not been de- 

 ftroyedjwere as bare as in the middle of winter. However, thefe infct^s 

 fuffered greatly from the fliarpnefs of the weather 5 and efpecially the 

 common forts, which are thofe that do tlie greateft mifchief, becaufc 

 they eat the buds which fliould form the next year's flioots. Thefc 

 common caterpillars were fo weak and liabby, that they bent and 

 hung down quite motionlefs when they were taken up betwixt one's 

 finger's: fo that they did but little hurt, efpecially where care had 

 been taken to deftroy them j and mofl of them died within this 

 month. 



The fpring corn that was fown in April, did not rife in dry 

 ground: but the rain on the 25th, gave hopes of its coming up} 

 and it was thought that this rain would be equally ferviceable to the 

 wheat, which began to grow red : but that grain wanted warmth a* 

 well as moifture. 



At the end of the month, fainfoin was in bloffom, but greatly 

 ilinted in its growth. 



June. 



Tho' the earth was always moifl during this month, the corn did 

 not tiller, nor did it fpindle without difficulty, by reafon of the 

 coldnefs of the air. Its blades rufted, and the plants remained 

 greatly ftinted. The fainfoin which was cut towards the end of 

 the month, was likewife very fliort. Weeds, particularly blue bottles 

 -and poppies, got the better of the wheat. The fpring corn was 

 very fine. 



The cold and wet killed the caterpillars in great numbers ; and 

 by the end of this month, all of them had difappeared. 



July. 



This month was fo wet, that the roads were as impafiible as 

 In the depth of winter : the air was fo cold that people cloathed 

 themfelves as in winter, and were obliged even to make fires. 

 However, the vines bloflbmed; but fo llowly, that many were not 

 out of bloom by the i5th, which gave room to fear that the vintage 

 would be very late. On the loth, the vines began to be tied up to 

 their props. 



At the fame time the rye began to turn yellow, and a few 



Q^qq 2 warm 



