A GARDEN KALENDAR 385 



maintained an heat equal to what is usual in a mild bed at 

 first planting. From whence I concluded that the heat 

 was too powerful this sunny scorching summer for the fruit 

 by forcing them into ripeness before they are full-fleshed : 

 in common summers, when there is a good deal of shady 

 wet weather no doubt the use of tan is of excellent service 

 for Cantaleupes, as I have experienced. 



Put some little melons remaining, under hand-glasses. 

 Hot sun-shine breaking-out of a thick fog which lasted 'til 

 eleven o' the Clock. A vast uncommon dew. 



Wild-ragwort, scabiouss, hawkweed, knap-weed, bur- 

 dock, Yarrow, rest-harrow, &c : in flower. 



Put a Quart r - of a pound of hops to the strong- 

 beer brewed in March, which has work'd afresh this 

 Summer. 



24. Wheat is housed in general ; all the latter part of 

 the Crop in most curious order. 



Barley & oats are beginning to be cut. 



Haws begin to turn red : elder-berries from red to 

 black. Most sultry ripening weather for many days. 

 Some few of my black grapes just begin to turn ; & some 

 of the sweet-water begin to grow a little clear. Wasps 

 increase very fast. 



Orleans-plums ripen. 



Coveys of partridges are very large. Martins are grown 

 very numerous at Selborne : they are much increased 

 within these few Years. Vast crops of hops in some 

 Gardens. 



Aug. 25 : 26. Most severe Heat, with a falling Glass, 

 & probably rain at a distance. People are beginning to 

 pick Hops. Black Grapes begin to turn on the wall. 

 Several martins have now second broods : quae : if these 

 late hatchings are not rather in favour of hiding than 

 migration. 



27. Gathered my first figs. No rain now for 16 days. 

 My only Nectarine, & two only peaches begin to tend 

 towards ripeness. Mich : daiseys begin to blow. 



Earth-nuts, & blue Devil's bit in bloom. Althasa frutex 



3C 



