226 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1773 



came from the N. that it well nigh demolished all the 

 plantations. In Sir S. Stuart's garden consisting of 20 acres 

 not one pole was left standing for many acres together ; and 

 as his crop was remarkably fine, he suffered the loss of many 

 hundreds of pounds in that one night. Since the storm 

 hops have never thriven; and are now picking; but are 

 small, and brown ; and will be very dear and poor and 

 ordinary. My thermometer on the 13 th of August was 

 at 78 J within doors. 



In the beginning of wheat harvest we had some rain 

 which frightened some farmers and made them house some 

 of their wheat too soon ; but on the whole the wheat went 

 in in most curious order. As to the spring corn both here 

 and on the downs it all lies abroad in a bad way, for we 

 have had nothing but rain since Sep. 1. Apples fail in 

 general; I have again, as I had last year, more than my 

 share ; but not one pear. My Apricots were almost all cut 

 off in bloom ; but I have on my wall about 10 dozen of the 

 best ripened peaches and nectarines that I ever saw, that 

 are now in high perfection. My crop of grapes is very 

 great, of which I shall begin gathering to-morrow ; and they 

 will supply my table constantly 'til the frosts strip the trees 

 of their leaves. I wait much on my vines, and have them 

 trained with great care and exactness. 



My s*foin was much damaged ; but my meadow-hay was 

 got up in nice order. Hay has proved a prodigious crop 

 in all parts. Brother Thomas writes that some farmers in 

 Essex offer to sell it at Xmass next at 25s. per ton out of 

 the rick ; and a year ago it was with us at £4. 4s. Od. 



I cannot think that the wheat with us is any thing of 



a crop. 



Your affectionate Brother, 



and humble servant, 



Gil. White. 



