378 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



a good many likely fruit. Very hot dry weather & no rain 

 yet. We are obliged to water very much to keep things 

 alive. The melons have had an unusal share of Water. 



June 28. A little rain ; which was a noble watering at 

 Fyfield for 12 hours. 



July 5. A little rain. 



6. On my return from Fyfield I found a large Crop of 

 Cantaleupes set ; & some above half grown : & a good 

 many Succades coming-on : the forwardest are full grown. 

 The bed is well lined out, & very warm ; & the fibres are 

 running very strong without the frames. 



There have been fine rains round Andover & Salisbury : 

 the verdure on the Downs is very delicate, & the sheep 

 ponds are full of water. But when I came on this side 

 Alresford I found all the ponds without one drop of water ; 

 & the turf & Corn burnt-up in a very deplorable manner ; 

 & every thing perishing in the Gardens. The peaches, & 

 Nectarines keep casting their fruit. Cherries are now very 

 fine. 



The downs between Alresford & Andover are full of 

 Burnet : so full in many places that it is almost the only 

 herb that covers the Ground ; & is eaten down very close 

 by sheep, who are fond of it. 



The Case is the same between Andover & Sarum where 

 in many places the Ground is covered with Burnet now in 

 seed : a Child might in those places gather a considerable 

 Quantity in a day. It is worth observation that this herb 

 seems to abound most in the poorest, & shallowest chalkey 

 soil. On Selborne Common (a rich strong piece of Ground) 

 it has not been yet discovered. 



Near Waller's Ash I rode thro a piece of Ground of 

 about 400 acres, which had been lately pared by a breast 

 plough for burning : here the burnet was coming-up very 

 thick on the bare ground, tho' the crown of the root must 

 have been cut off of course along with the turf : this shews 

 that it is a plant tenacious of life, since it springs from the 

 severed root like plantain. 



P d Will Dewey for 8 Doz : of young sparrows. 



