144 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1735 



Keturning to Selborne, a notice occurs of the 

 Coccus vitis-vinifercB, with a speculation as to the 

 possibility of its having come from Gibraltar in 

 boxes, etc., received twelve years ago from thence. 



" My brother John, in his excellent * Nat. History of 

 Gibraltar/ which I have by me in MS., gives the following 

 account of this Coccus vitis viniferce!^ etc. : — * 



To Miss White. 



Selborne, May 17th, 1785. 



Dear Molly, — When I came to look over my melon-seeds, 

 I was surprised to find only one paper of Succades, and 

 those twenty years old : however, I would wish your father 

 would try them ; and if Smith was to soak them in water 

 a few hours before they were sown, he might have a better 

 prospect of success. 



We had a hot, and dusty journey to Alton, and especially 

 between Cobham and Ripley, where the heaths were like the 

 deserts of Arabia for smother, and fervent heat. 



Our grass and corn are in a bad state, and my garden, 

 and grass-plots are burnt up. My wall-nut tree is so killed 

 down, that the foliage will be this year very scanty. 



The sycomores have suffered also ; and my jasmine is dead. 

 We have cucumbers, and a few asparagus : but Timothy has 

 devoured most of my lettuce. The hanger is beautiful. 



As my Barometer is this day below 29*3, we have some 

 hopes of rain ; but it seems very unwilling to come. 



We return your father and you, and all friends many 

 thanks for all your good offices while we were with you. 

 We have little apple and pear-bloom, and no wall-fruit. 

 Farmer Town is very bad ; and Betty Loe is very weak. 

 John Stevens has a son and heir. 



* Vide ' The Natural History of Selborne,' Letter LIII. to Barrington. 



