272 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



bank of the Bastion behind the seat. Planted Columbines 

 in the Orchard-walk. 



5. Raked-down, & weeded the Asparagus-beds the first 

 time. 



7. On my return from Chilgrove & Harting I found 

 the Cantaleupe-bed come to a very fine degree of Heat. 

 Turned-out the Cantaleupes into their Hills : the plants are 

 healthy, & well-rooted ; but a little drawn by the large 

 rambling runners of y e Cucumbers. The three nearest hills 

 are Waverley ; the six farthest are Armenian Cantaleupes. 

 Six pots left, which I plunged in the great boxes. 



Sowed about 40 seeds of the great White-Dutch- 

 Cucumber, saved last Year. 



Six pots of Waverley, & Armeman-Cantaleupes just 

 coming out of the mould, by way of supply, if wanted. 



8. Vast rain from the East : & all day on y 6 6 th - 



9. Cut first Cucumber : it had a good flavour, & smell. 

 Several more set. The seeds were put into the Ground 

 10 weeks, & two days ago. 



Unusual heavy rain for 29 hours. 



ii. Vast rain great part of the day, & night. 



The lining the Cantaleupe-bed between the frames with 

 weeds cut from the orchard filled the bed with snails. 

 Forced to take the weeds away, else the snails would have 

 devoured all the plants. The water stands in the lining of 

 the Cucumber-bed almost shoe deep. 



At a mark cut in the bark of the great Oak in the mead, 

 between two & three feet from the ground, I measured that 

 tree, with a design to see how much the body may swell 

 in one summer. It girted seven feet 5 inc. 



April 12. Sowed about a peck of old bacon-salt in 

 middle of the great mead. 



Made half Hogsh: of raisin wine with an Hund: of 

 Smyrnas, & half D- of Malagas : put to them in the tun-tub 

 27 Gallons of water. 



13. Made an Annual-bed for the biggest one-light frame 

 with 6 barrows of hot dung, & one of weeds : laid on the 

 mould six inches deep. Finished-off, & raked very smooth 



