A GARDEN KALENDAR 369 



3. Exceedingly bright sunshine ; a frost in the morning, 

 & a rising Glass. I found on going to Faringdon l that the 

 snow had been much deeper than I was aware. Newton- 

 lane below the Cross was barely passable. People more 

 than 50 years old hardly remember such a snow. 



March 4. A smart frost, & very strong sunshine all day. 

 The bees work very briskly on the Crocuss amidst the 

 banks of snow. The snow melts only where the sun 

 shines. The blackbirds begin to whistle. 



5. A great rain from the E : which melted the snow 

 at a vast rate. 



6. Great rains, a flood at Gracious street. 



7. The snow is all gone, except under some Hedges ; 

 &c. Removed some of the Cucum r - plants, & put in some 

 from the pots, which have a better Countenance. 



The bed has been a little too hot. 



8. Brewed half an Hogsh : of beer with six bushels 

 of Rich d - Knight's malt, & two pounds & three quarters of 

 good Hops of the second year. When Hops were new 

 2 p ds - & | used to be sufficient. 



Made an half hogsh : of ale & \ hogsh : of small of the 

 same brewing. The water for the strong was all rain & 

 snow water ; which stood some days in tubs to mellow 

 & soften. 



Put about a Quarter of a pound of Hops, and an 

 handful of sand into the 45 Gall : barrel of strong-beer 

 brewed Feb : 1764, to fine it down for use. 



8. Cast 8 loads of hot-dung for the Succade-bed. 



Put a second pint of Brandy to the new-made wine: 

 it is very quiet for its age. 



10. A vast rain and flood. The snow lies very thick 

 still in some ditches, and hollow places. 



ii. Tunn'd the strong-beer, having stirred-in the yeast 

 two or three times a day while it stood in the tun-tub. 



Hung the flitch of bacon in M r - Etty's Chimney. 



14. Great storms of Hail, rain, & snow, with several 



1 The bridle-path by which Gilbert White used to ride to Faringdon can 

 still be followed. [R. B. S.] 



3A 



