OF S E L B O R N E. 
LETTER LXin. 
TO THE SAME. 
A s the elfeds of heat are feldom very remarkable in the northerly 
.climate of England, where the fummers are often fo defedive -in 
warmth and fun-iliine as not to ripen the fruits of the earth fo well 
as might be wiflied, I fhall be more conciie in my account of the 
feverity of a fummer feafon, and fo make a little amends for the 
prolix account of the degrees of cold, and the inconveniences that 
we fuffered from fome late rigorous winters. 
The fummers of 1781 and 1783 were unufually hot and dry; 
to them therefore I fliall turn back in my journals, without re- 
curring to any more diftant period. In the former of thefe years 
my peach and nedarine-trees fuffered fo much from the heat that 
the rind on the bodies was fcalded and came off ; fince which the 
trees have been in a decaying ftate. This may prove a hint to 
affiduous gardeners to fence and flicker their wall-trees with mats 
or boards, as they m.ay eafily do, becaufe fuch annoyance is feldom 
of long continuance. During that fummer alfo, I obicrved that my 
apples were coddled, as it v/ere, on the trees ; fo that they had no 
quicknefs of flavour, and would not keep in the winter. This 
circumftance put me in mind of what I have heard travellers aflert, 
that they never ate a good apple or apricot in the fouth of Europe, 
Q q 2 where 
