3i8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



Feb : i. Sowed 8 Succade-seeds. 



The Cucumber-plants look finely. 



Frequent rains with a very high Barometre ; & the 

 Country in an unusual wet condition. 



The cast dung heats furiously. 



5. Cold, dry, March-like weather for a few days, with a 

 very high barometer. The ground being a little dry for 

 the first time since last August, I sowed a small Crop of 

 Coss lettuce, Carrots, & radishes in the Upper part of the 

 melon-screen border, which was but in very poor cold 

 Condition, notwithstanding the quantity of ashes, & sand 

 that have been put on it. As to the lower part, the water 

 appeared in the Clods while it was digging-up rough. 



7. A strong N : W : wind all night, which occasioned 

 much the fiercest frost that has been this year, with ice full 

 an Inch thick. 



The paths are now dry, & white. 



Lin'd the seedling Cucumber-bed (which begins to 

 abate of it's heat) with seven barrows of dung. The plants 

 look well, & show a joint. 



Hill'd & earth'd-down the bearing-bed ; &, as it comes 

 but feebly to it's heat, lin'd it round with pease-haulm. 

 High barometef, & a strong freezing down. 



A good part of my new garden has been dug since these 

 dry days : the marl has done great good in the Quarters, & 

 makes them Crumble well. Dunged the flower-bank well, 

 & the opposite border. Covered the roots of the new- 

 planted trees with straw. 



Feb : 10. A violent fierce frost. 



ii. Finding the fruiting-bed by great covering-up was 

 much improved in heat, I planted the hills with 7 or 8 of 

 my best plants each. 



The plants have a large rough leaf, & some of them a 

 joint ; but have stay'd full as long in the seed-bed as will 

 do them any good. 



The new bed is at present warm enough ; but the 

 danger is whether such moderate heat will continue long 

 enough to set the fruit well ; & 'till the sun gets strong 



