4

GILBERT WHITE'S
SELBORNE

VOL. I

X

THE NATURAL HISTORY & ANTIQUITIES
OF SELBORNE & A GARDEN KALENDAR
BY THE REVEREND GILBERT WHITE M.A

EDITED BY R. BOWDLER SHARPE, LL.D., WITH AN
INTRODUCTION TO THE GARDEN KALENDAR BY
THE VERY REVEREND S. REYNOLDS HOLE, DEAN
OF ROCHESTER, 6- NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY
J. G. KEULEMANS, HERBERT RAILTON, S* EDMUND
J. SULLIVAN. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME ONE

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY S. T. FREEMANTLE
IN PICCADILLY. ANNO DOMINI MDCCCC

CONTENTS

PAGE

LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS ix

LIST OF SMALLER ILLUSTRATIONS .... xiii

INTRODUCTION xvii

LETTERS TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. I

INTRODUCTION TO A GARDEN KALENDAR . . 189
A GARDEN KALENDAR . . . . . . .199

APPENDIX I 422

APPENDIX II 425

vii

INTRODUCTION

THE editing of Gilbert White's " Selborne " has been one
of the most interesting tasks which has ever fallen to my
lot. Notwithstanding the many excellent editions of the
work, I have been able to add a good deal of matter which
will be read with interest by lovers of Gilbert White. I
have carefully collated the text of the original edition
with that ordinarily published, and I have found several
variations in the renderings, which I have restored to their
original form, as issued by the author.

The " Pennant " Letters now in the British Museum
contain many passages which have been deemed worthy of
restoration in the present edition. So little is known of
Gilbert White's personal history, that every additional fact
seems to me to be of interest, and the letters contain many
notes not previously published. This is especially the case
with respect to the letters about John White's Gibraltar
collections, and in a further memoir I shall endeavour to
trace out more completely the details of Gilbert White's
life ; for, although the materials for such a biography are
difficult to get together after a lapse of more than a
century, I am sure that a great many more facts can be
collected.

Apart from Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, and
other places of historical interest in the British Islands,
there is probably no place, save Stratford-on-Avon, to which
the pilgrims of the Anglo-Saxon race render more respect-
ful tribute than to the lowly head-stone which marks the
grave of Gilbert White of Selborne. The occupant of that

xviii INTRODUCTION

simple grass-grown grave l would probably have been the
most astonished of all people in the world could he have
realised that his celebrity as an Englishman would have
come near to equalling that of Shakspere ; and yet there
exists at the present date as much affection, among natu-
ralists at least, for the sayings and doings of Gilbert
White as is felt for the records of Shakspere and his
time.

That Gilbert White still lives with us through his book,
and speaks to us as if he were alive, can be realised by any
naturalist who visits Selborne. The "Natural History of
Selborne " has been given to most of us as a prize at school
— it is included amongst the " hundred best books " which
every one is expected to read in these days, or to gather
into a standard library ; — and yet if one asks any school-
boy or school-girl whether they have read their prize-book
through, they will mostly answer in the negative. Gilbert
White is as far over the heads of the majority of the
present generation of children as he was over the heads
of the generation in which he lived. It is only as one
advances in years that the peace and restfulness of this
most delightful of books impresses the mind.

Gilbert White lived in a different age, and although he
tells us sometimes that he was much " hurry'd," there was
none of that dreadful feverish haste which characterises our
national life at the present day.

In the course of editing this volume I have pondered
a hundred times on the wonderful fact that the world
should take such a heartfelt interest in the work of a re-
tiring and modest eighteenth-century clergyman ! Selborne

1 I am often reminded, when standing in Selborne churchyard by the head-
stone marked "G. W., June 20, 1793," of that other tomb which I visited in
1885 at Delhi, with its epitaph composed by the Princess Jahanini herself three
hundred years ago : " Let nothing but the green grass conceal my grave ; for the
grass is the best covering for the pure in spirit ; the humble, the transitory
Jahinara, the disciple of the holy men of Chist ; the daughter of the Emperor
Shah Jahan ; may God illumine his intentions."

INTRODUCTION xix

is even now somewhat out of the world. In Gilbert White's
time it was a remote country village, off the high-road, and
only approachable by " hollow lanes," in winter often choked
by snow-drifts, or unapproachable through floods, and by
no means an accessible place at any time. Th£ present
road through the village was then a " cart-way," with deep
ruts. Mr. Henry Maxwell of Selborne, who has helped me
so much in the elucidation of the development of the
history of the village, though by no means yet a patriarch,
can still remember when the " cart- way " ran through it from
end to end, and the farmers' gigs and market-vehicles were
built to a gauge, to accommodate them to the ruts which
were such a feature of the Hampshire roads and lanes of
fifty years ago. Selborne has changed with the times,
almost as much as other parts of rural England have
changed, and the Selborne of to-day is not the Selborne
of Gilbert White. In the days when Blyth and Bennett
and Jardine wrote, there was not much difference in the
appearance of the village from the days of our author,
but the last fifty years have wrought considerable changes,
and it is by no means easy to reconstruct Selborne as it
was in Gilbert's time. Many old houses still remain, the
" Hanger " still dominates the village, and many of the
general features are the same, but few people can recognise
the places as Gilbert White wrote of them a hundred and
fifty years ago.

"The Wakes," Gilbert White's old house, still stands in
the village street. His brew-house is there — his stables —
the study in which he wrote the " Letters " to Pennant and
to the Hon. Daines Harrington — his bedroom — his kitchen
(since Professor Bell's time utilised as a library) — and the
room in which he breathed his last. His "great parlour " was
turned by Professor Bell into a dining-room, and a portion
of it cut off to form a passage to the new wing which the
Professor built. The old house was unfitted for modern
requirements, and successive owners have added to it.

xx INTRODUCTION

Some recent authors have taken exception to the altera-
tions which were made by Sir Edward Bradford and other
owners of "The Wakes," and one would fancy that the
whole character of the house had been changed. These
criticisms appear to me to have been singularly unfair.
Given an old house of the last century, and a need for
restoration and enlargement by the owner of the property,
who, after all, is the owner of his own house in this free
land of ours, I cannot imagine any modifications of an
original edifice carried out with more scrupulous affection
for the original surroundings than has been shown by the
successors of Gilbert White. Professor Bell was an abso-
lute devotee to White's memory, and edited his works with
a degree of care and affection unsurpassed in the annals
of biography. He it was who cut a passage along the
north end of Gilbert's " great parlour," to lead to the new
wing which he built as a drawing-room, but the external
features of the house were scarcely disturbed. When Sir
Edward Bradford added a storey to the new part of the
house, the roof and the chimneys were built in exact
accordance with the old part of " The Wakes," and no one
can really find anything to criticise in the additions which
have been made to the house since Gilbert White's time.
It would indeed be difficult to find any historical English
building which has been treated with more reverential care
by the owners of the property since Gilbert White's days.
The memory of the present owner of " The Wakes," Mr.
Paxton Parkin, will be inseparably connected with the
history of Gilbert's old home, for the loving care with
which the ancient features of the place have been pre-
served. Much of the old work was relaid and replaced by
Professor Bell, but much more has been done by Mr.
Parkin since his ownership, and there has probably never
been a time in the history of "The Wakes" when the
old house and the garden recalled so eloquently the past
traditions of the place.

INTRODUCTION xxi

Surely no man, not seeking fame, has had a more
endurable monument erected to him in the hearts of
English-speaking people than Gilbert White. Many excel-
lent editions of his work, the " Natural History of Selborne,"
have appeared — more than eighty in fact — since he was laid
to rest in the churchyard a hundred and six years ago. Of
these editions pre-eminent stand those of Bennett, Jardine,
and Harting, written as if under the spell of old Gilbert
himself. Mr. Grant Allen's recent edition is also remarkable
for the profusion of illustrations. No edition, however, can
ever equal that of the late Professor Bell, whose name,
celebrated enough for his own achievements in zoological
science, gains additional splendour from his connection
with Gilbert White's old home, where he lived for so
many years. Not only did Bell own "The Wakes" for
nearly half a century, but he had access to private family
documents belonging to Gilbert White's collateral de-
scendants which will never again be gathered under one
roof. If Bell had lived in these days of the "Selborne
Society," many of the relics which were dispersed after
his death might have become national property, and have
been available for study by those who love Gilbert White
and his memory. Even Bell's edition, though classical and
immortal, leaves many blanks in the history of the family,
and the inner story of Gilbert White's simple life yet
remains to be fully written. As an edition of White's
" Selborne " it can hardly be beaten, for Bell lived in White's
old house, had the whole of his correspondence before
him, was the accepted authority on " British Mammalia,"
and for ornithological matter received the co-operation of
Professor Alfred Newton, who not only possesses a profound
knowledge of British ornithology in all its aspects, but is
himself one of the pioneers of the " Gilbertian " method of
exact record, whence have flowed those practical works of
field- observation by which British Naturalists of the pre-
sent generation have been distinguished (cf. his "Ootheca

xxii INTRODUCTION

Wolleyana"). He is, moreover, the recognised historian of
ornithology (cf. the " Encyclopaedia Britannica").

I have so much to say regarding Gilbert White and his
times, that I do not propose, on the present occasion, to
go further into the subject, as much of the material of my
memoir is still imperfect. A great deal that has been
written about Gilbert White and Selborne appears to me
to have been compiled without any trouble having been
taken to "verify" the references. One editor is satisfied
with having spent "two" days in Selborne, and seems to
be quite content with his mastery of the subject. Another
editor apparently spends weeks in the place, and has even
then not mastered the Hampshire dialect !

I have myself spent some weeks in the village, and I
now fully realise how difficult it is to identify the Selborne
of 1899 with the Selborne of a hundred and fifty years back.
Thus I content myself with these few preliminary remarks,
since, thanks to researches on the spot, the help of various
members of the family, and the knowledge gained from
many old people in Selborne, I hope to present to my
readers on a future occasion a much more complete record
of Gilbert White and Selborne as it was in his time.

It only remains for me to return my sincere thanks to my
colleagues in the MSS. Department of the British Museum
for facilities granted in the examination of the Gilbert White
Letters ; and to my friends at Selborne, Mr. and Mrs. W.
Paxton Parkin ; the Rev. Arthur Kaye ; the Rev. Edmund
Field ; Mr. William White, F.S.A., and other kind people,
especially Mr. Henry Maxwell, whose assistance will be
more fully acknowledged in the course of the more detailed
work which I have in preparation.

I have also great pleasure in acknowledging the notes
I have received from my colleagues in the Natural History
Museum, Mr. C. W. Andrews, Mr. G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S.,
Mr. W. E. de Winton, Mr. Oldfield Thomas, Mr. R. I.
Pocock, and others. In the course of editing the present

INTRODUCTION xxiii

work I have quoted some of the excellent notes from the
editions of Sir William Jardine, Professor Bell, Mr. ].
Edmund Harting, Mr. Grant Allen, &c., all of which I
have duly acknowledged.

R. BOWDLER SHARPE.

CHISWICK, December 5, 1899.

P.S. — Since the above was written Professor Newton's
account of Gilbert White's life has appeared in the " Dic-
tionary of National Biography." Knowing by personal
experience the difficulty which surrounds any attempt at
rendering an exact history of Gilbert White, I am more
than delighted at the wonderful manner in which Professor
Newton has performed his labour of love. In my opinion,
this is one of the most wonderful histories of a naturalist
ever compiled, and Gilbert White has indeed been fortunate
in his Biographer. — R. B. S.

NOTE

The initials appended to the footnotes are to be read as
follows : —

G. W. — Gilbert White's original notes.

R. B. S. — R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor.

G. A. B. — G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. British Museum.

W. J. — Sir William Jardine, Bart.

H. M. — Henry Maxwell, Esq.

R. I. P. — Reginald Innes Pocock, British Museum.

W. E. de W. — W. E. de Winton, F.Z.S. British Museum.

UR'AL, HI5TC

LETTER I

[The " Letters to Pennant," with which Gilbert White commenced his
volume on the " Natural History of Selborne," were never really addressed
to that gentleman, but were evidently interpolated for the purpose of
forming an introduction to the actual correspondence, so as to give some
idea of the characteristics of Selborne and the surrounding country. The
first letter absolutely sent to Pennant was ' Letter X ' of the ' Natural
History,' as we learn from the original MS. letters now preserved in
the British Museum.— R. B. S.]

TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ.

THE parish of Selborne l lies in the extreme eastern corner
of the county of Hampshire, bordering on the county of
Sussex, and not far from the county of Surrey; is about
fifty miles south-west of London, in latitude 51, and
near midway between the towns of Alton and Petersfield.
Being very large and extensive it abuts on twelve parishes,
two of which are in Sussex, viz., Trotton and Rogate. If
you begin from the south and proceed westward, the
adjacent parishes are Emshot,2 Newton Valence, Faringdon,

1 For remarks on the etymology of Selborne see Letter II of the 'Antiquities.'
— [R. B. S.]

2 Professor Bell (pp. I, 2) gives some interesting notes on the names of the
parishes mentioned by Gilbert White. Of Empshott he pronounces the etymology
to be very obscure ; in Domesday Book it is spelt Hibisete. How it has come
to be called Empshott Bell was unable to discover, but sete has been changed to
shott in many cases which he quotes, such as Campessete to Kempshott, &c.
Newton Valence is written Newentone in Domesday Book, and ' took its name

A

2 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Harteley Mauduit, Great Ward le ham, Kingsley, Hadleigh,
Bramshot, Trotton, Rogate, Lysse, and Greatham. The
soils of this district are almost as various and diversified
as the views and aspects. The high part of the south-west
consists of a vast hill of chalk, rising three hundred feet
above the village, and is divided into a sheep-down, the
high wood and a long hanging wood, called The Hanger.
The covert of this eminence is altogether beech, the most
lovely of all forest trees, whether we consider its smooth
rind or bark, its glossy foliage, or graceful pendulous
boughs. The down, or sheep-walk, is a pleasing park-like
spot, of about one mile by half that space, jutting out on
the verge of the hill-country, where it begins to break down
into the plains, and commanding a very engaging view,
being an assemblage of hill, dale, woodlands, heath, and
water. The prospect is bounded to the south-east and east
by the vast range of mountains called the Sussex Downs,
by Guild-down near Gnildford, and By the Downs round
Dorking, and Ryegate in Surrey, to the north-east, which
altogether, with the country beyond Alton and Farnham,
form a noble and extensive outline.

At the foot of this hill, one stage or step from the
uplands, lies the village, which consists of one single
straggling street, three-quarters of a mile in length, in a
sheltered vale, and running parallel with The Hanger. The
houses are divided from the hill by a vein of stiff clay (good

from William de Valentin, half-brother to Henry III., who held the manor in
1273' (Moody). Hartley Mauditt or Maudytt is also, according to Bell, the
' ordinary orthography,' and in Domesday Book the name of the then lord of
the manor is spelt Maldoit and Malduith. " The name Hartley or Harteley,
which occurs in several other places to the north of Selborne, forms one of many
indications of the extensive ancient forest of the district, extending eastward and
including those of Alice Holt and Wolmer."— (Bell, ed. p. 2 note.)

Worldham was spelt Werildeham in Domesday Book, and Bell could not find
any warranty for Gilbert White's rendering of the name. The etymology is, he
says, very doubtful, but he hazards the suggestion that " the Saxon name Werilde-
ham had reference to the longevity of the inhabitants, and that Wer-ylde ham
may be literally translated 'The old men's village.' The common pronunciation
amongst the peasantry of the district is ' \Vordleham.'"— (Bell, I.e.)

Hedleigh is Headley, and Lysse the Liss of the present day.— [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 3

wheat-land), yet stand on a rock of white stone, little in
appearance removed from chalk ; but seems so far from
being calcareous, that it endures extreme heat. Yet that
the freestone still preserves somewhat that is analogous to
chalk is plain from the beeches which descend as low as
those rocks extend, and no farther, and thrive as well on
them, where the ground is steep, as on the chalks.

The cart-way of the village divides, in a remarkable
manner, two very incongruous soils. To the south-west
is a rank clay, that requires the labour of years to render
it mellow ; while the gardens to the north-east, and small
enclosures behind, consist of a warm, forward, crumbling
mould, called black malm, which seems highly saturated
with vegetable and animal manure ; and these may perhaps
have been the original site of the town ; while the woods
and coverts might extend down to the opposite bank.

At each end of the village, which runs from south-
east to north-west, arises a small rivulet : that at the north-
west end frequently fails ; but the other is a fine perennial
spring, little influenced by drought or wet seasons, called
Well-head^ This breaks out of some high grounds join-
ing to Nore Hill, a noble chalk promontory, remarkable
for sending forth two streams into two different seas. The
one to the south becomes a branch of the Arun, running
to Arundel, and so sailing into the British Channel ; the
other to the north.2 The Selborne stream makes one

1 This spring produced, September 10, 1781, after a severe hot summer, and
a preceding dry spring and winter, nine gallons of water in a minute, which is
540 in an hour, and 12,960, or 216 hogsheads, in twenty-four hours, or one
natural day. At this time many of the wells failed, and all the ponds in the vale
were dry. — [G. W.]

Mr. Henry Maxwell writes to me : "Well-head has never failed in my time
(say, for fifty-five years). Gilbert White says that it is 'little influenced by the
seasons,' but I should say that at the present time it is considerably affected by
the seasons — a fact due, I presume, to the decrease in rainfall." — [R. B. S.]

2 Mr. Grant Allen, in his edition, makes a very pertinent alteration to this
paragraph, correcting what he takes to be ' evident printer's errors ' in the first
edition. Undoubtedly the meaning is clearer, when the sentence reads as Mr.
Grant Allen proposes: "the other, to the north, the Selborne stream, makes
one branch of the Wey," &c.— [R. B. S.]

4 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

branch of the Wey ; and, meeting the Black-down stream
at Hedleigh, and the Alton and Farnham stream at Tilford-
bridge, swells into a considerable river, navigable at Godal-
ming; from whence it passes to Guildford, and so into the
Thames at IVey bridge ; and thus at the Nore into the
German Ocean.

Our wells, at an average, run to about sixty-three feet,
and when sunk to that depth seldom fail ; but produce a
fine limpid water, soft to the taste, and much commended
by those who drink the pure element, but which does not
lather well with soap.

To the north-west, north and east of the village, is a
range of fair enclosures, consisting of what is called white
tna/nt, a sort of rotten or rubble stone, which, when turned
up to the frost and rain, moulders to pieces, and becomes
manure to itself.1

Still on to the north-east, and a step lower, is a kind
of white land, neither chalk nor clay, neither fit for pasture
nor for the plough, yet kindly for hops, which root deep
in the freestone, and have their poles and wood for char-
coal growing just at hand. The white soil produces the
brightest hops.

As the parish still inclines down towards IVolmer-
forest, at the juncture of the clays and sand the soil
becomes a wet, sandy loam, remarkable for timber, and
infamous for roads. The oaks of Temple and Blackmoor
stand high in the estimation of purveyors, and have
furnished much naval timber ; while the trees on the free-
stone grow large, but are what workmen call shakey, and
so brittle as often to fall to pieces in sawing. Beyond
the sandy loam the soil becomes a hungry lean sand, till
it mingles with the forest ; and will produce little without
the assistance of lime and turnips.2

1 This soil produces good wheat and clover.— [G. W.]

1 Mr. William Curtis of Alton supplied Professor Bell with a chapter on the
geology of the district (see Bell's ed. ii., pp. 374-377). I am indebted to my
Wend and colleague Mr. C. W. Andrews, of the Geological Department of the
British Museum, for some notes on the subject, which will be found in the
' Appendix ' to the present work.— [R. B. S.J

*£

LETTER II

TO THE SAME

IN the court of Norton farm-house, a manor farm to the
north-west of the village, on the white malm, stood within
these twenty years a broad-leaved elm, or wych haze/,1 ulmus
folio latissimo scabro of Ray, which, though it had lost a
considerable leading bough in the great storm in the year
1703, equal to a moderate tree, yet, when felled, contained
eight loads of timber ; and, being too bulky for a carriage,
was sawn off at seven feet above the butt, where it measured
near eight feet in the diameter. This elm I mention to
show to what a bulk planted elms may attain ; as this tree
must certainly have been such from its situation.2

1 "An elm so named from its wood having been used to make the chests
called by old writers ivyches, hucckes, or ivhycches" — Prior, " Popular Names of
British Plants," 3rd ed., p. 259.— [R. B. S.]

2 The following note on this passage is given by Sir William Jardine in his
edition of the present work (p. 6) : —

"The wych elm, the first tree alluded to, has been a subject always annotated
upon, this species being far less commonly grown in England than in Scotland.
In the former country it is supplanted almost entirely by the small-leaved or
English elm, as it is commonly named, a tree which reaches a large size, and ol

5

6 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a
square piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly
called The Plestor.1 In the midst of this spot stood, in
old times, a vast oak, with a short squat body, and huge
horizontal arms extending almost to the extremity of the
area. This venerable tree, surrounded with stone steps,

which there are magnificent specimens in our public parks or promenades ; but it
produces a wood of inferior quality, and as it is now planted in the hedgerows of
the small enclosures of the south, it must very materially injure the crops by its
spreading roots, which shoot up and would soon cover the ground. The tree
mentioned in this letter is the Ulmus campestris, Linn. ; it yields a timber valuable
for various agricultural purposes, and is esteemed for making naves for cart-wheels;
it is of a more spreading character than the others, and often attains to a large size.
The Selborne elm, though of less size than some others the measurements of
which have been recorded, must have been a large and very fine tree.

" The oak trees mentioned in the latter part of this letter gained their peculiar
character by being very thickly planted, and as it might be called ' neglected.'
According to our notion of timber management thinning is indispensable, but to
obtain trees of the kind alluded to, the thicker they can be grown, the better.
Beech trees with a clean stem of from fifty to seventy feet are very valuable for
keel pieces, but the practice of growing wood of any kind in this way has scarcely
been practised. Larch planted for hop-poles, or sweet chestnut grown for the
same purpose, are treated in this manner ; and what in commerce is called Norway
poles, are I believe the first thinnings of the Baltic forests, which have been
spindled up by the more vigorous trees to great length and uniformity of thick-
ness, and which in all probability would have been ultimately killed."

Professor Bell (p. 5 note) makes the following interesting observation on
this passage : " On the grounds now belonging to the place, and at about fifty
yards from the house, stands a very remarkable example of rejuvenescence in a
tree of this species, the Ulnus montana of Bauhin. From its great age it had
become a mere shell, but still continued to flourish ; and in the month of June
1857 it suddenly broke and fell, from the mere weight of its foliage ; for there
was no wind at the time. The remains consisted of the broken and hollow base
only of the trunk, but had no appearance of vitality ; but it soon threw out young
wood, and now forms a large and luxuriant tree, which is yearly covered with
profuse foliage, and its new branches extend to nearly sixty feet across. It must
* very old, probably three or four centuries, as a single branch, when sawn
rough, showed at least a hundred annual rings. The mass of the hollow fallen

nk, nearly six feet in diameter, is still preserved." A photograph of the
is given in Prof. Bell's edition (p. lix). It is now (1899) flourishing, and

f larger dimensions than in Bell's time. Mr. Paxton Parkin, the present
owner of the « Wakes,' tells me that the spread of the branches amounts to over
eighty feet.— [R. B. S.]

1 Vide the plate in the ' Antiquities.'— {G. W.]

For an account of the Plestor (i.e. Pleystow, or Playing Place) and its
ion, see the • Antiquities of Selborne ' in vol. ii.— [R. B. S.]

A

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 7

and seats above them, was the delight of old and young,
and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; where
the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked
and danced before them. Long might it have stood, had
not the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to
the infinite regret of the inhabitants and the vicar, who
bestowed several pounds in setting it in its place again : but
all his care could not avail ; the tree sprouted for a time,
then withered and died. This oak I mention to show to
what a bulk planted oaks also may arrive ; and planted this
tree must certainly have been, as will appear from what
will be said farther concerning this area, when we enter on
the antiquities of Selborne.

On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called
Losefs, of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set
of oaks of a peculiar growth and great value ; they were
tall and taper like firs, but standing near together had very
small heads, only a little brush without any large limbs.
About twenty years ago the bridge at the Toy, near
Hampton Court, being much decayed, some trees were
wanted for the repairs that were fifty feet long without
bough, and would measure twelve inches diameter at the
little end. Twenty such trees did a purveyor find in
this little wood, with this advantage, that many of them
answered the description at sixty feet. These trees were
sold for twenty pounds apiece.1

In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which,
though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large
excrescence about the middle of the stem. On this a pair
of ravens had fixed their residence for such a series of
years, that the oak was distinguished by the title of The
Raven-tree. Many were the attempts of the neighbouring
youths to get at this tyry : the difficulty whetted their

1 In Bell's edition (vol. ii. pp. 243-303) there is a considerable correspon-
dence on trees and their culture between Gilbert White and Robert Marsham of
Stratton-Strawless, in Norfolk. This correspondence was first printed in the
Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for 1876 (vol. ii.
pp. I33-I98).-[R. B. S.]

8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the
arduous task. But when they arrived at the swelling, it
jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their
grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknow-
ledged the undertaking to be too hazardous : so the ravens
built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till the fatal
day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. It was
in the month of February, when these birds usually sit.
The saw was applied to the butt, — the wedges were
inserted into the opening, — the woods echoed to the heavy
blow of the beetle or malle or mallet, — the tree nodded to
its fall ; but still the dam sat on. At last, when it give way,
the bird was flung from her nest ; and, though her parental
affection deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the
twigs, which brought her dead to the ground.1

1 Sir William Jardine comments on this curious instance : " We have always
found the Raven, whether nesting upon a rock or upon a tree, most unapproachable
after she had been disturbed or alarmed." The pair of Ravens, which nested in
Avington Park year after year, were also absolutely unapproachable during the
breeding season. — [R. B. S.]

LETTER III

TO THE SAME

THE fossil-shells of this district, and sorts of stones, such
as have fallen within my observation, must not be passed
over in silence. And first I must mention, as a great
curiosity, a specimen that was ploughed up in the chalky
fields, near the side of the Down, and given to me for the
singularity of its appearance, which to an incurious eye,
seems like a petrified fish of about four inches long, the
cardo passing for an head and mouth. It is in reality
a bivalve of the Linncean . Genus of Mytilus, and the
species of Crista Galli;1 called by Lister, Rastellum ; by
Rttmphius, Ostreum plicatum minus; by D'Argcnville, Auris
Porci, s. Crista Galli; and by those who make collections,
cock's comb. Though I applied to several such in
London, I never could meet with an entire specimen ;
nor could I ever find in books any eng^'tving from a
perfect one. In the superb museum at Leicester House2

1 The species was identified in subsequent editions of " Selborne " as Ostrea
carinata of Lamarck, but my colleague, Mr. R. Bullen Newton, of the Geological
Department of the British Museum, has very kindly given me the following note : —
"This is Ostrsa carinata, Sowerby (nee Lamarck). It should properly be called
Ostrea ricordeana d'Orbigny, to which species it has been referred by Coquand.
White's specimen is noticed in Sowerby's "Mineral Conchology" (plate
365).-[R .B. S.]

2 This was the celebrated collection of Mr. [afterwards Sir] Ashton Lever,
and was known as the Leverian Museum. It contained many specimens described
by Latham and the fathers of ornithology in England, and on the dispersal of the
collection by auction in 1806 — a sale which lasted sixty-five days and contained
7879 lots — many of the most interesting of its contents were purchased for foreign
museums. An account of the Leverian birds still existing in the Imperial Museum
at Vienna in 1873 was published by Von Pelzeln in the "Ibis" for that year
(pp. 14-54, pi. I.). See also " Diet. National Biography," xxxiii. p. 137 (1893). —
[R. B. S.]

9 B

io NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

permission was given to me to examine for this article ; and
though I was disappointed as to the fossil, I was highly
gratified with the sight of several of the shells themselves
in high preservation. This bivalve is only known to in-
habit the Indian Ocean, where it fixes itself to a zoophyte,
known by the name Gorgonia. The curious foldings of
the suture the one into the other, the alternate flutings
or grooves, and the curved form of my specimen being
much easier expressed by the pencil than by words, I
have caused it to be drawn and engraved.

Cornua Atnmonis are very common about this village.
As we were cutting an inclining path up The Hanger, the
labourer found them frequently on that steep, just under
the soil, in the chalk, and of a considerable size. In the
lane above Well-head, in the way to Emshot, they abound in
the bank in a darkish sort of marl ; and are usually very
small and soft : but in Clay's Pond, a little farther on, at
the end of the pit, where the soil is dug out for manure,
I have occasionally observed them of large dimensions,
perhaps fourteen or sixteen inches in diameter. But as
these did not consist of firm stone, but were formed of a
kind of terra lapidosa, or hardened clay, as soon as they
were exposed to the rains and frost they mouldered away.
These seemed as if they were a very recent production. In
the chalk-pit, at the north-west end of The Hanger, large
nautili are sometimes observed.

In the very thickest strata of our freestone, and at con-
siderable depths, well-diggers often find large scallops or
pectines, having both shells deeply striated, and ridged and
furrowed alternately. They are highly impregnated with,
if not wholly composed of, the stone of the quarry.

f rtmv ifr-1

LETTER IV

TO THE SAME

As in a former letter the freestone of this place has been
only mentioned incidentally, I shall here become more
particular.

This stone is in great request for hearth-stones, and the
beds of ovens : and in lining of lime-kilns it turns to
good account ; for the workmen use sandy loam instead
of mortar ; the sand of which fluxes,1 and runs by the intense
heat, and so cases over the whole face of the kiln with a
strong vitrified coat-like glass, that it is well preserved from
iujuries of weather, and endures thirty or forty years.
When chiselled smooth, it makes elegant fronts for houses,
equal in colour and grain to the Bath stone ; and superior
in one respect, that, when seasoned, it does not scale.
Decent chimney-pieces are worked from it of much closer
and finer grain than Portland ; and rooms are floored with
it ; but it proves rather too soft for this purpose. It is a
freestone, cutting in all directions ; yet has something of a
grain parallel with the horizon, and therefore should not
be surbedded, but laid in the same position that it grows

1 There may probably be also in the chalk itself that is burnt for lime a pro-
portion of sand, for few chalks are so pure as to have none. — [G. W.]

12 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

in the quarry.1 On the ground abroad this freestone will
not succeed for pavements, because, probably some degree
of saltness prevailing within it, the rain tears the slabs to
pieces.2 Though the stone is too hard to be acted on by
vinegar, yet both the white part, and even the blue rag,
ferments strongly in mineral acids. Though the white
stone will not bear wet, yet in every quarry at intervals
there are thin strata of blue rag, which resist rain and
frost ; and are excellent for pitching of stables, paths and
courts, and for building of dry walls against banks, a
valuable species of fencing much in use in this village, and
for mending of roads. This rag is rugged and stubborn,
and will not hew to a smooth face, but is very durable :
yet, as these strata are shallow and lie deep, large quantities
cannot be procured but at considerable expense. Among
the blue rags turn up some blocks tinged with a stain of
yellow or rust colour, which seem to be nearly as lasting
as the blue ; and every now and then balls of a friable
substance, like rust of iron, called rust balls.

In Wolmer Forest I see but one sort of stone, called
by the workmen sand, or forest-stone. This is generally
of the colour of rusty iron, and might probably be worked
as iron ore ; is very hard and heavy, and of a firm, compact
texture, and composed of a small roundish crystalline grit,
cemented together by a brown, terrene, ferruginous matter ;
will not cut without difficulty, nor easily strike fire with
steel. Being often found in broad flat pieces, it makes
good pavement for paths about houses, never becoming
slippery in frost or rain ; is excellent for dry walls, and is
sometimes used in buildings. In many parts of that waste
it lies scattered on the surface of the ground ; but is dug
on Weavers Down, a vast hill on the eastern verge of that

1 To surbed stone is to set it edgewise, contrary to the posture it had in the
quarry, says Dr. Plot, " Oxfordshire," p. 77. But surbedding does not succeed in
our dry walls ; neither do we use it so in ovens, though he says it is best for
Teynton stone. — [G. W.]

1 " Firestone is full of salts, and has no sulphur : must be close-grained, and
have no interstices. Nothing supports fire like salts ; saltstone perishes exposed
to wet and frost."— Plot's " Staff.," p. 152.— [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 13

forest, where the pits are shallow and the stratum thin.
This stone is imperishable.

From a notion of rendering their work the more elegant,
and giving it a finish, masons chip this stone into small
fragments about the size of the head of a large nail ; and
then stick the pieces into the wet mortar along the joints
of their freestone walls ; this embellishment carries an odd
appearance, and has occasioned strangers sometimes to ask
us pleasantly, " whether we fastened our walls together
with tenpenny nails." l

1 The western wall of Selborne church is decorated in this manner. Mr.
Grant Allen writes : " Walls of this sort still occur at Selborne : there are
many close to the church. They are also common at Dorking and in other
places on the greensand area." — (Ed. Selborne, p. 18 note.) — [R. B. S.]

Churckj

, i

LETTER V

TO THE SAME

AMONG the singularities of this place the two rocky hollow
lanes, the one to Alton, and the other to the forest, deserve
our attention. These roads, running through the malm
lands, are, by the traffic of ages, and the fretting of water,
worn down through the first stratum of our freestone,
and partly through the second ; so that they look more
like water-courses than roads ; and are bedded with naked
ragior furlongs together. In many places they are reduced
sixteen or eighteen feet beneath the level of the fields ; and
after floods, and in frosts, exhibit very grotesque and wild
appearances, from the tangled roots that are twisted among
the strata, and from the torrents rushing down their broken
sides ; and especially when those cascades are frozen into
icicles, hanging in all the fanciful shapes of frost-work.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 15

These rugged gloomy scenes 1 affright the ladies when they
peep down into them from the paths above, and make timid
horsemen shudder while they ride along them ; but delight
the naturalist with their various botany, and particularly
with their curious filices with which they abound.

The manor of Selborne, was it strictly looked after, with
all its kindly aspects, and all its sloping coverts, would
swarm with game ; even now hares, partridges, and
pheasants abound ; and in old days woodcocks were as
plentiful. There are few quails, because they more affect
open fields than enclosures ; after harvest some few land-
rails are seen.

The parish of Selborne, by taking in so much of the
forest, is a vast district. Those who tread the bounds are
employed part of three days in the business, and are of
opinion that the outline, in all its curves and indentings,
does not comprise less than thirty miles.

The village stands in a sheltered spot, secured by The
Hanger from the strong westerly winds. The air is soft,
but rather moist from the effluvia of so many trees ; 2 yet
perfectly healthy and free from agues.

The quantity of rain that falls on it is very consider-
able, as may be supposed in so woody and mountainous a
district. As my experience in measuring the water is but
of short date, I am not qualified to give the mean quantity.3

1 "Scences," 1st ed., p. 11.— [R. B. S.]

2 See Letter XXIX to Daines Barrington.— [R. B. S.]

3 A very intelligent gentleman assures me (and he speaks from upwards of
forty years experience), that the mean rain of any place cannot be ascertained till
a person has measured it for a very long period. " If I had only measured the
rain," says he, "for the four first years, from 1740 to 1743, I should have said
the mean rain at Lyndon was l6£ inches for the year ; if from 1740 to 1750, 1 8£
inches. The mean rain before 1763 was 20^ inches, from 1763 and since 25^
inches, from 1770 to 1780, 26 inches. If only 1773, 1774, an(i J775 had been
measured, Lyndon mean rain would have been called 32 inches." — [G. W.]

Gilbert White's correspondent at Lyndon was Thomas Barker, "of an
ancient and respectable family " in Rutlandshire, and was White's brother-in-law,
having married his sister Anne. Both Thomas Barker and his son Samuel were
much esteemed by our author, and many interesting letters from all the parties
are to be found in the second volume of Professor Bell's edition. — [R. B. S. ]

Jan.

, 1780, to Jan. i, 1781

Jan.

, 1781, to Jan. i, 1782

Jan.

, 1782, to Jan.

,1783

Jan.

, 1783, to Jan.

,1784

Jan.

, 1784, to Jan.

, 1785

Jan.

, 1785, to Jan.

,1786

Jan.

, 1786, to Jan.

, 1787

16 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE
1 only know that

Inch. Hund.

From May i, 1779, to the end of the year there fell . 28 37 !

27 32

3° 7i

„ . 50 26!

33 7i

• 33 80

3i 55

39 57 l

The village of Selborne, and large hamlet of Oak-
hanger, with the single farms, and many scattered houses
along the verge of the forest, contain upwards of six
hundred and seventy inhabitants.

A STATE of the PARISH of SELBORNE, taken OCTOBER 4, 1783.

The number of tenements or families, 136.

The number of inhabitants in the street is 313 )_ Total 676 ; near five inhabitants to each tene-
In the rest of the parish . . . 363 ) ment.

In the time of the Rev. Gilbert White, Vicar, who died in 1727-8, the number of inhabitants
was computed at 500.2

1 In Bennett's edition the summary of the rainfall is continued up to the year
1793, from which it appears that in the last-mentioned year 48.56 was the
measurement, and 40 inches is exceeded in three instances, though none equal
Gilbert White's record for 1782. Professor Bell observes: "That the local
circumstances of Selborne, surrounded by hills, and those hills more or less covered
with trees, are the cause of the high rate of rainfall to which it is subject, cannot
be doubted ; and the results given in the text are fully borne out by a long
succession of observations carefully made by myself. The annual average for
25 years, from 1850 to 1874 inclusive, amounts to 32.074 inches. In the year
1852 there fell 48.81 inches, and in 1873, 49.56, which is the largest amount I
have recorded, slightly surpassed, however, by that mentioned in the text for
1782. On a comparison with a large number of other places in various parts of
the Kingdom, the monthly reports in Mr. Symond's interesting Meteorological

Journal show that, eliminating such exceptional localities as Seathwaite, &c.,
the fall of rain at Selborne is much above the average." — (Bell's edition, vol. i.
p. 12 note.)— [R. B. S.]

Mr. Henry Maxwell writes: "Professor Bell makes the average rainfall
32.074. My record for fourteen years (1885-1898) is an average of 32.040." —
[R. B. S.]

2 Mr. Henry Maxwell informs me that the census of 1891 registered 61335 the
population of Selborne itself, and 707 for the outlying districts. Total for the
whole parish, 1320. In 1877 Bell speaks of the population as being noo.

The Rev. Gilbert White was the grandfather and also the godfather of our
author. He was the first of the family that had any direct connection with
Selborne, of which parish he was vicar. He died in February 1727 (cf. Bell's
ed, vol. i. Memoir, p. xxiii.).— [R. B. S.]

ROCKY HOLLOW LANE

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 17

AVERAGE OF BAPTISMS FOR SIXTY YEARS.

From 120

6

From i74°\ Malcs 2\ From i7<xA Ma,es

to >v Fx>XS»» to rWani

i i769incl. )*em- *'

20, 3

Total of baptisms of Males .... 515) D

Females . . . 465 /98°
Total of baptisms from 1720 to 1779, both inclusive, .... 60 years .... 980

AVERAGE OF BURIALS FOR SIXTY YEARS.

From

9. 9

Froo, 11740 Wales 4, 6

Fern.

6, g

I779incl.

6'2

[•SO, 6

1759 i
Total of burials of Males .... 315 )/•

T-» i f O4O

,, „ Females . . . 325 j *

Total of burials from 1720 to 1779, both inclusive, .... 60 years .... 640

Baptisms exceed burials by more than one-third.
Baptisms of Males exceed Females by one-tenth, or one in ten.
Burials of Females exceed Males by one in thirty.

It appears that a child, born and bred in this parish, has an equal chance to live above forty
years.

Twins thirteen times, many of whom dying young have lessened the chance for life.
Chances for life in men and women appear to be equal.

A TABLE of the BAPTISMS, BURIALS, and MARRIAGES, from JANUARY 2, 1761,
to DECEMBER 25, 1780, in the PARISH ofSELBORNE.

Males.
8

BAPTISMS.

Females.

Total.
18

Males.

BURIALS.

Females.

Total.
6

MAR.

8

6

1763 .
1764 .
1765 .
1766 .
1767 .
1768 .

8
ii

12

9
14

10
9
6

13
6

18

20

18

22

19

3
10

9
10
6

4
8

6
5

8
6
6

i

6

4

2

6

6

5

1771 .
1772 .
1773 •
1774 •

1775 • •
1776 .

1777 •
1778 .

10

ii
8
6

20
II

8

6

10

5
13
7
10
'3

16

21
13
19
27
21
21

6
7

2

'3

4
7

4
10

8
8
6
3

0

2
0

I

o
o

4
3
3
i
6
6
4

1779- .
1780 .

14
8

8
9

22
17

5
ii

6

4

I
5

5
3

198

188

386

123

123

246

83

During this period of twenty years the births of males exceeded those of females, 10.
The burials of each sex were equal.
And the births exceeded the deaths, 140.

We abound with poor ; many of whom are sober
and industrious, and live comfortably in good stone or
brick cottages, which are glazed, and have chambers above

C

i8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

stairs : mud buildings we have none. Besides the employ-
ment from husbandry, the men work in hop gardens, of
which we have many ; and fell and bark timber. In the
spring and summer the women weed the corn ; and
enjoy a second harvest in September by hop-picking.
Formerly, in the dead months they availed themselves
greatly by spinning wool, for making of barragons, a
genteel corded stuff, much in vogue at that time for
summer wear ; and chiefly manufactured at Alton, a
neighbouring town, by some of the people called Quakers :
but from circumstances this trade is at end.1 The
inhabitants enjoy a good share of health and longevity ;
and the parish swarms with children.

1 Since the passage above was written, I am happy in being able to say that
the spinning employment is a little revived, to the no small comfort of the
industrious housewife. — [G. W.]

LETTER VI

TO THE SAME

SHOULD I omit to describe with some exactness the forest
of Wolmer, of which three-fifths perhaps lie in this parish,
my account of Selborne would be very imperfect, as it is
a district abounding with many curious productions, both
animal and vegetable ; and has often afforded me much
entertainment both as a sportsman and as a naturalist.

The royal forest of Wolmer is a tract of land of about
seven miles in length, by two and a half in breadth, running
nearly from north to south, and is abutted on, to begin
to the south, and so to proceed eastward, by the parishes
of Greathant, Lysse1 Rogate, and Trotton, in the county
of Sussex; by Bramshot, Hedleigh, and Kingsley. This
royalty consists entirely of sand covered with heath and
fern ; but is somewhat diversified with hills and dales,
without having one standing tree in the whole extent.2

1 Liss.— [R. B. S.]

2 Mr. J. E. Harting in the ' Preface ' to his third edition of White's Selbome,
writes in 1880 : "Wolmer Forest, which eighty years ago was 'without one
standing tree in the whole extent,' is now partly enclosed, and planted to the
extent of several hundred acres with oak, larch, and Scotch fir. Bin's Pond, a
'considerable lake,' which at one time 'afforded a safe and pleasing shelter to
wild Ducks, Teals, and Snipe,' has long since been drained, and cattle now
graze on its bed. The covert, ' in which Foxes and Pheasants formerly abounded,'
has almost entirely disappeared. At the present time (1880) nearly 1500 acres
are enclosed and planted, chiefly in Oak, Larch, and Scotch Fir ; and the large
size to which many of the firs have attained, proves how well adapted the soil
is for that kind of timber. Outside the enclosure seedling firs are springing up
rapidly ; and, year by year, as the wind scatters the seeds, the area of the wood-
land increases, so that in time, were the trees not felled or burned, they would
extend over the whole of the district comprised by the ' forest.' During the hot
summer of 1864 a terrible conflagration occurred, and was supposed to have been

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 21

In the bottom, where the waters stagnate, are many bogs,
which formerly abounded with subterraneous trees ; though
Dr. Plot says positively,1 that " there never were any fallen
trees hidden in the mosses of the southern counties." But
he was mistaken : for I myself have seen cottages on the
verge of this wild district, whose timbers consisted of a
black hard wood, looking like oak, which the owners
assured me they procured from the bogs by probing the
soil with spits, or some such instruments : but the peat is
so much cut out, and the moors have been so well
examined, that none has been found of late.2 Besides the
oak, I have also been shown pieces of fossil wood of
a paler colour, and softer nature, which the inhabitants
call fir : but, upon a nice examination, and trial by fire,
I could discover nothing resinous in them ; and there-
fore rather suppose that they were parts of a willow or
alder, or some such aquatic tree.

This lonely domain is a very agreeable haunt for many

the work of incendiaries; 540 acres in Longmoor and 170 in Brimstone Wood
were destroyed before the fire burnt itself out. The amount of game destroyed,
as may be supposed, was commensurate with the destruction of its haunts." —
(Harting's ed., p. 18, note.)— [R. B. S.]

1 See his " History of Staffordshire."— [G. W.]

2 Old people have assured me, that on a winter's morning they have discovered
these trees, in the bogs, by the hoar frost, which lay longer over the space where
they are concealed, than on the surrounding morass. Nor does this seem to be a
fanciful notion, but consistent with true philosophy. Dr. Hales saith, " That the
warmth of the earth, at some depths under ground, has an influence in promoting
a thaw, as well as the change of the weather from a freezing to a thawing state, is
manifest, from this observation, viz., Nov. 29, 1731, a little snow having fallen in
the night, it was, by eleven the next morning, mostly melted away on the surface
of the earth, except in several places in Bushy-park, where there were drains
dug and covered with earth, on which the snow continued to lie, whether those
drains were full of water or dry ; as also where elm-pipes lay under ground : a
plain proof this, that those drains intercepted the warmth of the earth from
ascending from greater depths below them : for the snow lay where the drain had
more than four feet depth of earth over it. It continued also to lie on thatch,
tiles, and the tops of walls." — See Hales' s Hamastatics, p. 360. QUERE, Might
not such observations be reduced to domestic use, by promoting the discovery of
old obliterated drains and wells about houses ; and in Roman stations and camps
lead to the finding of pavements, baths, and graves, and other hidden relics of
curious antiquity? — [G. W.] (See also Letter LXI to Daines Barrington.

22 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

sorts of wild fowls, which not only frequent it in the winter,
but breed there in the summer ; such as lapwings, snipes,
wild-ducks, and, as I have discovered within these few
years, teals. Partridges in vast plenty are bred in good
seasons on the verge of this forest, into which they love
to make excursions : and in particular, in the dry summer
of 1740 and 1741, and some years after, they swarmed to
such a degree that parties of unreasonable sportsmen killed
twenty and sometimes thirty brace in a day.

But there was a nobler species of game in this forest,
now extinct, which I have heard old people say abounded
much before shooting flying became so common, and that
was the heath-cock, black-game, or grouse. When I was
a little boy I recollect one coming now and then to my
father's table. The last pack remembered was killed about
thirty-five years ago ; and within these ten years one solitary
grey hen was sprung by some beagles in beating for a hare.
The sportsmen cried out, " A hen pheasant ; " but a gentle-
man present, who had often seen grouse in the north of
England, assured me that it was a greyhen.1

1 With regard to the distribution of Black Game in the south of England, Mr.
Howard Saunders in his latest ' Manual ' writes as follows : " They are found,
in small numbers and locally, in Cornwall and South Devon, and are tolerably
plentiful on Exmoor, as well as on the Brendons and the Quantocks, in Somerset-
shire ; while they still maintain themselves in Dorset, Wilts, and the New Forest
district. In Sussex, Surrey, and Berkshire their presence is the result of reintro-
duction early in the present century, and none are now to be found in Kent,
where, however, the species existed in the time of Henry VIII. ; and it is in an
ordinance for the regulation of the royal household dated from Eltham that the
word 'Grouse' makes its first appearance in our language as 'Grows.' — ("Man.
Brit. B.,» p. 493.)

"This fine game-bird," writes Mr. Harting, "although it became extinct in
Gilbert White's day, was reintroduced after the planting of the wood by Sir
Charles Taylor, then ranger of the forest, and for some time throve exceedingly
well. The parent stock of the present race came from Cumberland, and in 1872 an
old man who had brought the birds to Wolmer was still living in the neighbouring
village of Liphook." (Ed. Selborne, p. 21, note.) Colonel Feilden, the naturalist
on the Alert in our last Polar expedition, and one of the most careful of modern
observers, contributed to the same edition an interesting experience of his visit to
Wolmer Forest in 1 872. He found there but few grey-hens, but estimated that there
were from forty to fifty black-cocks on the ground. He says : " If this polygamous
species is to be kept up, the proportion of sexes ought to be reversed ; as it now

'/6 Life siz e.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 23

Nor does the loss of our black game prove the only
gap in the Fauna Selborniensis ; for another beautiful link
in the chain of beings is wanting, I mean the red deer,
which toward the beginning of this century amounted to
about five hundred head, and made a stately appearance.
There is an old keeper, now alive, named Adams, whose
great-grandfather (mentioned in a perambulation taken in
1635), grandfather, father, and self, enjoyed the head
keepership of Wolmer forest in succession for more than
an hundred years. This person assures me, that his father
has often told him, that Queen Anne, as she was journey-
ing on the Portsmouth road, did not think the forest of
Wolmer beneath her royal regard. For she came out of
the great road at Lippock? which is just by, and, reposing
herself on a bank smoothed for that purpose, lying about
half a mile to the east of Wolmer-pond, and still called
Queers-bank, saw with great complacency and satisfac-
tion the whole herd of red deer brought by the keepers
along the vale before her, consisting then of about five
hundred head. A sight this, worthy the attention of the
greatest sovereign ! But he farther adds that, by means
of the Waltham blacks, or, to use his own expression, as
soon as they began blacking, they were reduced to about
fifty head, and so continued decreasing till the time of the
late Duke of Cumberland. It is now more than thirty
years ago that his highness sent down an huntsman, and
six yoeman-prickers, in scarlet jackets laced with gold,
attended by the stag-hounds ; ordering them to take every
deer in this forest alive, and to convey them in carts to
Windsor. In the course of the summer they caught every
stag, some of which showed extraordinary diversion : but
in the following winter, when the hinds were also carried

is, the hens are worried and driven off the ground by the importunities of a crowd
of suitors, and the result is that for several years past the warders have not come
across a nest or brood on the Government lands." Major A. H. Cowie, who
recently had charge of the bird-preservation in Wolmer Forest, tells me that
he believes that there are none now left in the district, he never saw one alive
or dead.— [R. B. S.]
1 Liphook.

24 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

off, such fine chases were exhibited as served the country
people for matter of talk and wonder for years afterwards.
I saw myself one of the yeoman-prickers single out a stag
from the herd, and must confess that it was the most
curious feat of activity I ever beheld, superior to anything
in Mr. Astley's riding-school. The exertions made by the
horse and deer much exceeded all my expectations ; though
the former greatly excelled the latter in speed. When the
devoted deer was separated from his companions, they
gave him, by their watches, law, as they called it, for
twenty minutes ; when, sounding their horns, the stop-
dogs were permitted to pursue, and a most gallant scene
ensued.

LETTER VII

TO THE SAME

THOUGH large herds of deer do much harm to the neigh-
bourhood, yet the injury to the morals of the people is of
more moment than the loss of their crops. The temptation
is irresistible ; for most men are sportsmen by constitution :
and there is such an inherent spirit for hunting in human
nature, as scarce any inhibitions can restrain. Hence,
towards the beginning of this century all this country was
wild about deer-stealing. Unless he was a hunter, as they
affected to call themselves, no young person was allowed
to be possessed of manhood or gallantry. The Waltham
blacks at length committed such enormities, that govern-
ment was forced to interfere with that severe and sanguinary
act called the black act,1 which now comprehends more
felonies than any law that ever was framed before. And,
therefore, a late Bishop of Winchester, when urged to re-
stock Waltham-chase? refused, from a motive worthy of
a prelate, replying "that it had done mischief enough
already."

Our old race of deer-stealers are hardly extinct yet : it
was but a little while ago that, over their ale, they used to
recount the exploits of their youth ; such as watching the
pregnant hind to her lair, and, when the calf was dropped,
paring its feet with a penknife to the quick to prevent its
escape, till it was large and fat enough to be killed ; the

1 Statute 9 Geo. i c. 22.— [G. W.]

2 This chase remains unstocked to this day ; the bishop was Dr. Hoadly
-[G. W.]

»5 D

26 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

shooting at one of their neighbours with a bullet in a
turnip-field by moonshine, mistaking him for a deer ; and
the losing a dog in the following extraordinary manner :
— Some fellows, suspecting that a calf new-fallen was
deposited in a certain spot of thick fern, went, with a
lurcher, to surprise it ; when the parent hind rushed out
of the brake, and, taking a vast spring with all her feet
close together, pitched upon the neck of the dog, and broke
it short in two.

Another temptation to idleness and sporting was a
number of rabbits, which possessed all the hillocks and
dry places : but these being inconvenient to the hunts-
men, on account of their burrows, when they came to take
away the deer, they permitted the country-people to
destroy them all.

Such forests and wastes, when their allurements to
irregularities are removed, are of considerable service to
the neighbourhoods that verge upon them, by furnishing
them with peat and turf for their firing ; with fuel for the
burning their lime ; and with ashes for their grasses ; and
by maintaining their geese and their stock of young cattle
at little or no expense.

The manor-farm of the parish of Greatham has an
admitted claim, I see, (by an old record taken from the
Tower of London), of turning all live stock on the forest,
at proper seasons, bidentibus exceptis.1 The reason, I pre-
sume, why sheep2 are excluded, is, because, being such
close grazers, they would pick out all the finest grasses,
and hinder the deer from thriving.

Though (by statute 4 and 5 W. and Mary, c. 23) "to
burn on any waste, between Candlemas and Midsummer,
any grig, ling, heath and furze, goss or fern, is punishable
with whipping and confinement in the house of correction;"
yet, in this forest, about March or April, according to the

1 For this privilege the owners of that estate used to pay to the king annually
seven bushels of oats. — [G. W.]

1 In The Holt, where a full stock of fallow-deer has been kept up till lately,
no sheep are admitted to this day. — [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 27

dryness of the season, such vast heath-fires are lighted up,
that they often get to a masterless head, and, catching the
hedges, have sometimes been communicated to the under-
woods, woods, and coppices, where great damage has
ensued. The plea for these burnings is, that, when the
old coat of heath, &c. is consumed, young will sprout up,
and afford much tender brouze for cattle ; but, where there
is large old furze, the fire, following the roots, consumes
the very ground ; so that for hundreds of acres nothing is
to be seen but smother and desolation, the whole circuit
round looking like the cinders of a volcano ; and, the soil
being quite exhausted, no traces of vegetation are to be
found for years. These conflagrations, as they take place
usually with a north-east or east wind, much annoy this
village with their smoke, and often alarm the country ; and,
once in particular, I remember that a gentleman, who lives
beyond Andover, coming to my house, when he got on the
downs between that town and Winchester, at twenty-five
miles distance, was surprised much with smoke and a hot
smell of fire ; and concluded that Alresford was in flames ;
but, when he came to that town, he then had apprehensions
for the next village, and so on to the end of his journey.

On two of the most conspicuous eminences of this
forest stand two arbours or bowers, made of the boughs
of oaks ; the one called Waldon-lodge, the other Brimstone-
lodge : these the keepers renew annually on the feast of
St. Barnabas, taking the old materials for a perquisite.
The farm called Blackmoor, in this parish, is obliged to
find the posts and brush-wood for the former ; while the
farms at Greatham, in rotation, furnish for the latter ; and
are all enjoined to cut and deliver the materials at the
spot. This custom I mention, because I look upon it to
be of very remote antiquity.

LETTER VIII

TO THE SAME

ON the verge of the forest, as it is now circumscribed,
are three considerable lakes, two in Oakhanger, of which I
have nothing particular to say ; and one called Bin's, or
Bean's pond,1 which is worthy the attention of a naturalist
or a sportsman. For, being crowded at the upper end
with willows, and with the carex cespitosa? it affords such
a safe and pleasing shelter to wild ducks, teals, snipes, &c.,
that they breed there. In the winter this covert is also
frequented by foxes, and sometimes by pheasants ; and the
bogs produce many curious plants. (For which consult
Letter XLI to Mr. Barrington?)

1 This pond has long since been drained, and cattle now graze upon its bed.
Cf. Harting's ed., preface, p. 9. — [R. B. S.]

3 I mean that sort which, rising into tall hassocks, is called by the foresters
torrets : a corruption, I suppose of turrets. — [G. W.]

Note. — In the beginning of the summer 1787, the royal forests of Wolmer
and Holt were measured by persons sent down by government. — [G. W.]

3 The original edition says " Letter XLII," and this mistake is copied by Bell

and other editors.— [R. B. S.]

28

Vs Life size

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 29

By a perambulation of Wolmer forest and The Holt,
made in 1635, and the eleventh year of Charles the First
(which now lies before me), it appears that the limits of
the former are much circumscribed. For, to say nothing
of the farther side, with which I am not so well acquainted,
the bounds on this side, in old times, came into Binswood ;
and extended to the ditch of Ward le ham-park, in
which stands the curious mount called King John's
Hill, and Lodge Hill', and to the verge of Hartley
Mauduit, called Mauduit - hatch ; comprehending also
Short-heath, Oakhanger, and Oakwoods ; a large district,
now private property, though once belonging to the
royal domain.

It is remarkable that the term purlieu is never once
mentioned in this long roll of parchment. It contains,
besides the perambulation, a rough estimate of the value
of the timbers, which were considerable, growing at that
time in the district of The Holt; and enumerates the
officers, superior and inferior, of those joint forests, for the
time being, and their ostensible fees and perquisites. In
those days, as at present, there were hardly any trees in
Wolmer forest.

Within the present limits of the forest are three con-
siderable lakes, Hogmer, Cranmer, and Wolmer ; all of
which are stocked with carp, tench, eels, and perch : but
the fish do not thrive well, because the water is hungry,
and the bottoms are a naked sand.1

A circumstance respecting these ponds, though by
no means peculiar to them, I cannot pass over in
silence ; and that is, that instinct by which in summer
all the kine, whether oxen, cows, calves, or heifers,
retire constantly to the water during the hotter hours ;

1 Professor Bell adds a note (vol. i. p. 23): "It is remarkable that these
three ponds are named respectively after three animals which, formerly indigenous
in this country, are now extinct — Hogmer, after the wild boar ; Cranmere, after
the crane ; and Wolmer, anciently Wolvemere, after the wolf, which doubtelss
formerly haunted this wild district. The fish mentioned in the text are now, I
believe, quite extinct in these ponds." — [R. B. S.]

30 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

where, being more exempt from flies, and inhaling
the coolness of that element, some belly deep, and
some only to mid-leg, they ruminate and solace them-
selves from about ten in the morning till four in the
afternoon, and then return to their feeding. During
this great proportion of the day they drop much dung,
in which insects nestle ; and so supply food for the
fish, which would be poorly subsisted but from this con-
tingency. Thus Nature, who is a great economist, con-
verts the recreation of one animal to the support of
another ! Thomson, who was a nice observer of natural
occurrences, did not let this pleasing circumstance escape
him. He says, in his Summer,

" A various group the herds and flocks compose :

on the grassy bank

Some ruminating lie ; while others stand
Half in the flood, and, often bending, sip
The circling surface."

Wolmer-pond, so called, I suppose, for eminence
sake, is a vast lake for this part of the world, containing,
in its whole circumference, 2646 yards, or very near a
mile and a half. The length of the north-west and
opposite side is about 704 yards, and the breadth of the
south-west end about 456 yards. This measurement,
which I caused to be made with good exactness, gives
an area of about sixty-six acres, exclusive of a large
irregular arm at the north-east corner, which we did not
take into the reckoning.

On the face of this expanse of waters, and perfectly
secure from fowlers, lie all day long, in the winter season,
vast flocks of ducks, teals,1 and widgeons, of various

1 In a letter from Gilbert White to his brother John, dated ' Selborne,
June 26, 1773,' he says: "Some boys killed lately at Oakhanger-ponds some
flappers or young wild-ducks : among the rest they took some teals alive ; one I
saw and turned into James Knight's ponds. Till now I never knew that teals
bred in England. So you see information crowds in every day." — (Bell's ed., ii.
pp. 12, 2S.)-[R. B. S.]

^

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 31

denominations ; where they preen and solace, and rest
themselves, till towards sunset, when they issue forth in
little parties (for in their natural state they are all birds of
the night) to feed in the brooks and meadows ; returning
again with the dawn of the morning. Had this lake an
arm or two more, and were it planted round with thick
covert (for now it is perfectly naked), it might make a
valuable decoy.

Yet neither its extent, nor the clearness of its water,
nor the resort of various and curious fowls, nor its
picturesque groups of cattle, can render this meer so
remarkable as the great quantity of coins that were
found in its bed about forty years ago. But, as such dis-
coveries more properly belong to the antiquities of this
place, I shall suppress all particulars for the present, till
I enter professedly on my series of letters respecting the
more remote history of this village and district.1

1 See vol. ii. "Antiquities of Selborne"; also Lord Selborne's Appendix to
Bell's edition (vol. ii. pp. 378-394), on "The Roman - British Antiquities of
Selborne."— [R. B. S.]

LETTER IX

TO THE SAME

BY way of supplement, I shall trouble you once more on
this subject, to inform you that Wolmer, with her sister
forest Ayles Holt, alias Alice Holt,1 as it is called in old
records, is held by grant from the crown for a term of
years.

The grantees that the author remembers are Brigadier-
General Emanuel Scroope Howe, and his lady, Ruperta,
who was a natural daughter of Prince Rupert by Margaret
Hughs; a Mr. Mordaunt, of the Peterborough family, who
married a dowager Lady Pembroke ; Henry Bilson Legge
and lady ; and now Lord Stawcl, their son.

The lady of General Howe lived to an advanced age,
long surviving her husband ; and, at her death, left behind
her many curious pieces of mechanism of her father's con-
structing, who was a distinguished mechanic and artist,2 as
well as warrior ; and among the rest, a very complicated
clock, lately in possession of Mr. Elmer, the celebrated
game-painter at Farnham, in the county of Surrey.

Though these two forests are only parted by a narrow
range of enclosures, yet no two soils can be more different ;
for The Holt consists of a strong loam, of a miry nature,
carrying a good turf, and abounding with oaks that grow

1 " In Rot. Inquisit. de statu forest, in Scaccar. 36 Edw. III., it is called
Aisholt."— [G. W.]

In the same, " Tit. Woolmer and Aisholt Hantisc. Dominus Rex habet
unam capellam in haia sua de Kingesle." " Haia, sepes, sepimtntum, parcus ; a
Gall, hate and kaye." — SPELMAN'S Glossary. — [G. W.]

2 This prince was the inventor of mezzotinto. — [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 33

to be large timber ; while Wolmer is nothing but a hungry,
sandy, barren waste.

The former being all in the parish of Btnsted, is about
two miles in extent from north to south, and near as much
from east to west ; and contains within it many woodlands
and lawns, and the great lodge where the grantees reside,
and a smaller lodge called Goose-green ; and is abutted
on by the parishes of Kingsley, Frinsham,1 Farnham, and
Bentley ; all of which have right of common.

One thing is remarkable, that though The Holt has been
of old well stocked with fallow-deer, unrestrained by any
pales or fences more than a common hedge, yet they were
never seen within the limits of Wolmer ; nor were the red
deer of Wolmer ever known to haunt the thickets or glades
of The Holt.

At present the deer of The Holt are much thinned and
reduced by the night hunters, who perpetually harass
them in spite of the efforts of numerous keepers, and the
severe penalties that have been put in force against them
as often as they have been detected, and rendered liable to
the lash of the law. Neither fines nor imprisonments can
deter them ; so impossible is it to extinguish the spirit of
sporting which seems to be inherent in human nature.

General Howe turned out some German wild boars and
sows in his forests, to- the great terror of the neighbour-
hood, and, at one time, a wild bull or buffalo ; but the
country rose upon them and destroyed them.

A very large fall of timber, consisting of about one
thousand oaks, has been cut this spring (viz., 1784) in The
Holt forest ; one-fifth of which, it is said, belongs to the
grantee, Lord Stawell. He lays claim also to the lop and
top ; but the poor of the parishes of Btnsted and Frinsham?
Bentley and Kingsley, assert that it belongs to them, and
assembling in a riotous manner, have actually taken it all
away. One man, who keeps a team, has carried home for
his share forty stacks of wood. Forty-five of these people
his lordship has served with actions. These trees, which

1 Frensham.— [R. B. S.]

E

34 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

were very sound and in high perfection, were winter-cut,
viz., in February and March, before the bark would run.
In old times The Holt was estimated to be eighteen miles,
computed measure from water-carriage, viz., from the town
of Chertsey, on the Thames; but now it is not half that
distance, since the Wey is made navigable up to the town
of Godalming in the county of Surrey.1

1 Mr. Harting gives the following note on the above passages (ed. " Selborne,"
p. 32) : " Mr. Bennett ascertained that the defendants in these actions, though
they made a show of resistance, suffered judgment to go by default. The question
of right had, in fact, been tried in 1741, and determined against the claimants.
Yet notwithstanding this, so soon after as 1788, on the occasion of another fall of
timber in The Holt, the people of Frensham again assembled and carried off
openly upwards of six thousand faggots. So difficult is it to convince where interest
opposes."

"The formation of the Basingstoke Canal has again reduced the distance of
The Holt from water-carriage ; and it is now accessible, either at Odiham or
Bagman's Castle, within about seven miles." — [R. B. S.]

LETTER X1

TO THE SAME

2 August 4, 1767.

[SiR,3 — Nothing but the obliging notice you were so
kind as to take of my trifling observations in the natural
way, when I was in town in the spring, and your repeated
mention of me in some late letters to my brother, could
have emboldened me to have entered into a correspon-
dence with you : in which though my vanity cannot suggest
to me that I shall send you any information worthy your
attention ; yet the communication of my thoughts to a
gentleman so distinguished for these kinds of studies will
unavoidably be attended with satisfaction and improve-
ment on my side.]

It has been my misfortune never to have had any
neighbours whose studies have led them towards the
pursuit of natural knowledge : so that, for want of a com-

1 This is the first of the actual letters sent to Pennant. As published it differs
considerably from the letter as it was originally written, and it is evident that the
author revised his MS. with great care before publishing it in book form. I
have ventured in the present edition to restore a few of the notes from the
original letters where they seem to lend additional interest to the study of
Gilbert White as a man. This has been already done in a small degree by
Professor Bell, who also had the original letters before him when he wrote his
valuable edition of 'Selborne.' Any additions to the original text from the MS.
letters are enclosed in square brackets [ ]. — [R. B. S.]

2 In the published work the date of this letter is given as Aug. 4, 1767, but it
was actually written on " Aug. loth." — [R. B. S.]

3 The author suppressed this first paragraph in his published work, but it is
extremely interesting as showing the circumstances under which Gilbert White
was induced to correspond with Pennant, to the great advantage of the latter.
Professor Bell also reproduces the paragraph, and adds, "At this time so little was
he acquainted with Pennant that he did not know his Christian name, and the
letter is addressed to — Pennant, Esq., at Downing, in Flintshire, North Wales."
—(Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 27 note.)— [R. B. S.]

35

36 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

panion to quicken my industry and sharpen my attention,
I have made but slender progress in a kind of information
to which I have been attached from my childhood.

As to swallows (hirundines rusticce) being found in a
torpid state during the winter in the isle of Wight, or
any part of this country, I never heard any such account
worth attending to.1 But a clergyman, of an inquisitive
turn, assures me, that, when he was a great boy, some
workmen, in pulling down the battlements of a church
tower early in the spring, found two or three swifts
(hirundines apodes) among the rubbish, which were, at first
appearance, dead ; but, on being carried towards the fire,
revived. He told me that, out of his great care to preserve
them, he put them in a paper-bag, and hung them by the
kitchen fire, where they were suffocated.

Another intelligent person has informed me that, while
Jie was a schoolboy at Brighthelmstone, in Sussex, a great
fragment of the chalk-cliff fell down one stormy winter on
the beach ; and that many people found swallows among
the rubbish : but, on my questioning him whether he saw
any of those birds himself ; to my no small disappointment,
he answered me in the negative ; but that others assured
him they did.

Young broods of swallows began to appear this year
on July the nth, and young martins (hirundines urbicce)
were then fledged in their nests. Both species will breed
again once. For I see by my fauna of last year, that young
broods came forth so late as September the eighteenth.
Are not these late hatchings more in favour of hiding than
migration ? Nay, some young martins remained in their
nests last year so late as September the twenty-ninth ; and
yet they totally disappeared with us by the fifth of October?

1 The supposed torpidity of Swallows and Swifts during the winter months was
a subject which interested the author greatly, and he returns to it again and
again.— [R. B. S.]

2 The latest date on which I have seen the House-martin was on the 22nd of
November, when a small flock passed over Avington Park, in Hampshire, late in
the afternoon. Captain G. E. Shelley and I fired several shots at the birds, but
they were at too great a height : of the identity of the species there was no

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 37

How strange is it that the swift, which seems to live
exactly the same life with the swallow and house-martin,
should leave us before the middle of August invariably !
while the latter stay often till the middle of October; and
once I saw numbers of house-martins on the seventh of
November. The martins and red-wing fieldfares were flying
in sight together ; an uncommon assemblage of summer
and winter-birds !

A little yellow bird (it is either a species of the alauda
trivialis, or rather perhaps of the motacilla trochilus) still con-
tinues to make a sibilous shivering noise in the tops of
tall woods.1 The stoparola of Ray (for which we have as
yet no name in these parts) is called, in your Zoology, the
fly-catcher? There is one circumstance characteristic of
this bird, which seems to have escaped observation, and
that is, it takes its stand on the top of some stake or post,
from whence it springs forth on its prey, catching a fly in
the air, and hardly ever touching the ground, but return-
ing still to the same stand for many times together.

I perceive there are more than one species of the
motacilla trochilus: Mr. Derham supposes, in Ray's Philos.
Letters, that he has discovered three. In these there is
again an instance of some very common birds that have
as yet no English name.3

Mr. Stillingfleet makes a question whether the black-
cap (motacilla atricapilla} be a bird of passage or not : I
think there is no doubt of it : for, in April, in the first fine
weather, they come trooping, all at once, into these parts,

doubt. In the British Museum there is a specimen obtained near Brighton on
the 22nd of November 1883, apparently a belated young bird. Yarrell con-
tributed a note to Bennett's edition, that upwards of a. hundred Martins were seen
collected on the I3th of November at Dover. Professor Bell mentions an instance
of Martins being seen on the 22nd of November 1873 by Mr. Montague Knight of
Chawton House, about four miles from Selborne (Bell's ed., p. 28 note). See also
Letter XXI (p. 91), where Gilbert White records a Martin as having been seen
in a sheltered hollow on the 26th of November, and adds, "I am now perfectly
satisfied that they do not all leave this island in the winter." — [R. B. S.]

1 This was probably the Wood-warbler (Phylloscopus sibilator), more fully
discussed by the author in subsequent letters (see pp. 79-82). — [R. B. S.]

2 Muscicapa grisola.— [R. B. S.] 3 See Letter XIX (fostea, p. 79).— {R. B. S.]

38 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

but are never seen in the winter. They are delicate
songsters.1

Numbers of snipes breed every summer in some moory
ground on the verge of this parish. It is very amusing
to see the cock bird on wing at that time, and to hear his
piping and humming notes.2

I have had no opportunity yet of procuring any of
those mice which I mentioned to you in town. The
person that brought me the last says they are plenty in
harvest, at which time I will take care to get more ; and
will endeavour to put the matter out of doubt, whether it
be a non-descript species or not.

I suspect much there may be two species of water-rats.
Ray says, and Linnceus after him, that the water-rat is
web-footed behind. Now I have discovered a rat on the
banks of our little stream that is not web-footed, and yet
is an excellent swimmer and diver : it answers exactly to
the mus amphibius of Linnceus (see Syst. Nat.} which he
says " natat in fossis et urinatur." I should be glad to pro-
cure one " plantis palmatis." Linnceus seems to be in a
puzzle about his mus amphibius, and to doubt whether it
differs from his mus terrestris; which if it be, as he allows,
the " mus agrestis capite grandi brachyuros," of Ray, is widely
different from the water-rat, both in size, make, and
manner of life.8

1 That a stray Blackcap occasionally stays with us during the winter can, I
think, scarcely be doubted, but the species is otherwise migratory, visiting Sene-
gambia in winter, as well as North-East Africa and the Mediterranean countries.
The British Museum possesses a male Blackcap shot near Christiansund, in
Northern Norway, on the 1st of December 1897 ! Blackcaps are to be noticed in
some numbers in the neighbourhood of London. They nest in the old garden of
Little Sutton near my house at Chiswick, and many are to be seen feeding on
the elder-berries in autumn within a few yards of my study- window. — [R. B. S.]

2 See Letter XVI (postea, p. 65).— [R. B. S.]

3 Professor Bell, who was the greatest authority on British Mammals in his
day, gives the following interesting note on these species, which had also been
dealt with by Mr. Bennett in his edition: "This confusion, as Mr. Bennett
observes, was originated by Willughby, copied by Ray, and appears to have
given rise to the complication by Linnaeus, from which White's doubts and per-
plexities were derived. The fact is that the Water- Vole, as it ought to be called,
is, on the one hand, quite distinct from the family Murida, to which the rats

*/s A/re s/z<?.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 39

As to the falco, which I mentioned in town, I shall
take the liberty to send it down to you into Wales; pre-
suming on your candour, that you will excuse me if it
should appear as familiar to you as it is strange to me.
Though mutilated " qualem dices . . . antehac fut'sse, tales
cum sint reliquice ! "

It haunted a marshy piece of ground in quest of wild-
ducks and snipes ; but, when it was shot, had just knocked
down a rook, which it was tearing in pieces. I cannot
make it answer to any of our English hawks ; neither
could I find any like it at the curious exhibition of stuffed
birds in Spring Gardens.1 I found it nailed up at the end
of a barn, which is the countryman's museum.

The parish I live in is a very abrupt, uneven country,
full of hills and woods, and therefore full of birds.

belong, in structure as well as in habits ; and on the other, the hinder feet are
not webbed, though the toes are connected to a short distance from the base.

" The Water-vole frequented both the streams of the village, near their junction,
a few years ago ; and I have repeatedly seen it sporting in that which runs
through the meadow below the vicarage. I have not, however, seen one for some
years past, and believe that it has become extinct, though its holes still remain
in the bank. The common brown rat, from its power of swimming well,
appears to have given rise to some mistakes among the inhabitants of the place,
who have occasionally confounded the two animals." — (Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 30 note.)
See also Letter XXVI to Pennant (posiea, p. 113).— [R. B. S.]
1 " In the Haymarket," says the original letter, which concludes —

" I am, with the greatest regard,

"August I o, 1767, Your most humble servant

at Selborne, GIL : WHITE.

near Alton,

Hants." — [R. B. S.]

LETTER XI

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, September ^tk, 1767.

[I HAD the favour of your letter ; and am much obliged to
you for the candour with which you received my trifling
observations.]

It will not be without impatience that I shall wait for
your thoughts with regard to the falco ; as to its weight,
breadth, &c., I wish I had set them down at the time :
but, to the best of my remembrance, it weighed two
pounds and eight ounces, and measured, from wing to
wing, thirty-eight inches. Its cere and feet were yellow,
and the circle of its eyelids a bright yellow. As it had
been killed some days, and the eyes were sunk, I could
make no good observation on the colour of the pupils and
the irides}

The most unusual birds I ever observed in these parts
were a pair of hoopoes (upupa), which came several years
ago in the summer, and frequented an ornamented piece
of ground, which joins to my garden, for some weeks.
They used to march about in a stately manner, feeding in

1 Pennant apparently determined that the specimen sent by Gilbert White
was a Peregrine falcon, and the latter acquiesced in this identification. (See his
Letter LVII to Daines Barrington.) It was probably a young Peregrine in
striped plumage, and if the iris had been yellow, the colour would not have
escaped White's observation, even if ' the eyes were sunk.' The note by the
author that the ' circle of its eyelids ' was ' a bright yellow ' seems not unnaturally
to have puzzled some of the naturalists who have edited his letters, as it is not
a correct description of the Peregrine's eyelid, and was probably due to the stale
condition of the specimen when Gilbert White first examined it.— [R. B. S.]

'/3 Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 41

the walks, many times in the day ; l and seemed disposed
to breed in my outlet ; 2 but were frighted and persecuted
by idle boys, who would never let them be at rest.

Three gross-beaks {loxia coccothraustes)* appeared some
years ago in my fields, in the winter ; one of which I shot :
since that, now and then one is occasionally seen in the
same dead season.

A crossbill (loxia curvirostra) 4 was killed last year in this
neighbourhood.

Our streams, which are small, and rise only at the end
of the village, yield nothing but the buWs head or miller's
thumb (gobius fluviatilis capitatus)? the trout (trutia fluviatilis)?
the eel (anguilla),1 the lampern (lampcetra parva et fluviatilis)?
and the stickle-back (pisciculus aculeatus)?

1 In Budapest, in 1891, the late John Xantus showed me Hoopoes frequenting
his garden in exactly the same manner as here described by Gilbert White. Bell
mentions several more instances of the occurrence of the Hoopoe near Selborne.
— [R. B. S.]

2 As appears from the original letter to Pennant, Gilbert White at first believed
that this pair of Hoopoes actually nested in his meadow, "but," he adds, " before
I knew anything of the matter, the nest and eggs (neither of which I saw) were
taken by some idle boys." The nest, as reported to the author, could not have
been that of the Hoopoes, and the event was therefore very properly omitted in
his published work. I only allude to the circumstance here to show the scrupu-
lous punctiliousness of Gilbert White's mature publication. — [R. B. S.]

3 The Hawfinch (Coccothrattstes coccothraustes) was apparently a rare bird in
Hampshire in Gilbert White's time, but of recent years the range of the species
in England has been found to be much more extensive than was formerly
supposed, and it is now known to nest regularly in most of the southern
counties. Professor Bell mentions several specimens from Selborne that came
under his notice, and states that it had repeatedly bred in Captain Chawner's
park at Newton Valence. — (Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 32 note.) — [R. B. S.]

4 Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) were observed in some numbers in the
southern counties in 1898. Dr. F. D. Godman informs me that he saw several
in his woods at Horsham, and believes that they had nested there. — [R. B. S.]

5 Cottusgobio, Linn.— [R. B. S.] 6 Salmofario, Linn.— [R. B. S.]

7 Anguilla vulgaris. — [R. B. S.]

8 Ammoccetes branchialis. Professor Bell remarks : " This fish is rarely found ;
I do not remember to have seen it more than once or twice. It lives entirely
in the mud ; and an intelligent person residing near Oakhanger Pond, the
most likely place for its occurrence, is not acquainted with it." — (Bell's ed., vol. i.
p. 32 note.} — [R. B. S.]

9 " Of the six species of stickle-back described by Yarrell as British, the only
one which I am aware of as inhabiting the stream at Selborne is the common
three-spined Gasterosteus trachums." — (Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 32 note.) — [R. B. S.]

F

42 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

We are twenty miles from the sea, and almost as many
from a great river, and therefore see but little of sea-birds.
As to wild fowls, we have a few teems of ducks bred in
the moors where the snipes breed ; and multitudes of
widgeons and teals in hard weather frequent our lakes in
the forest.

Having some acquaintance with a tame brown ozo/,1 1
find that it casts up the fur of mice and the feathers of
birds in pellets, after the manner of hawks : when full, like
a dog, it hides what it cannot eat.

The young of the barn-owl are not easily raised, as
they want a constant supply of fresh mice : whereas the
young of the brown owl will eat indiscriminately all that
is brought ; snails, rats, kittens, puppies, magpies, and any
kind of carrion or offal.

The house-martins have eggs still, and squab young.
The last swift I observed was about the twenty-first of
August: it was a straggler.

Red-starts, fly-catchers, white-throats, and reguli non cristati,
still appear ; but I have seen no black-caps lately.

I forgot to mention that I once saw, in Christ Church
College quadrangle in Oxford, on a very sunny warm
morning, a house-martin flying about, and settling on the
parapet, so late as the 2oth of November.

At present I know only two species of bats, the common
vespertilio murinus 2 and the vespertilio auribus.3

1 Syrnium aluco (the Tawny or Wood-owl). — [R. B. S.]

4 The Pipistrelle is here intended.— [R. B. S.]

3 Professor Bell's note on the Bats of Selborne is very interesting. He
writes : "The Bats which I have found at Selborne are the Noctule (Scotophilus
noctula), the Pipistrelle (Sc.pipistrellus), the Reddish-grey Bat ( Vespertilio nattereri),
Daubenton's Bat (V. daubentonii}, and the Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus). Of
the first of these White was undoubtedly the first observer in this country ; and
he was not sufficiently acquainted with the zoological literature of the Continent
to be aware that as early as 1759 Daubenton had described it in the Memoirs of
the Academy, with a figure of its head, and that Buffon had subsequently, but
before White's discovery, given it a place in his great work, with a plate (vol.
iii. p. 128, pi. 18, f. i). White's name, altivolans, is very appropriate. I have
seen it at Selborne for several successive years, passing up and down the whole
length of the valley between the Lythe and Dorton wood, flying as high as the

N

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 43

I was much entertained last summer with a tame bat,
which would take flies out of a person's hand. If you
gave it anything to eat, it brought its wings round before
the mouth, hovering and hiding its head in the manner of
birds of prey when they feed. The adroitness it showed
in shearing off the wings of the flies, which were always
rejected, was worthy of observation, and pleased me much.
Insects seemed to be most acceptable, though it did not
refuse raw flesh when offered : so that the notion, that
bats go down chimneys and gnaw men's bacon, seems
no improbable story.1 While I amused myself with this
wonderful quadruped, I saw it several times confute the
vulgar opinion, that bats when down upon a flat surface
cannot get on the wing again, by rising with great ease
from the floor. It ran, I observed, with more dispatch
than I was aware of ; but in a most ridiculous and
grotesque manner.

Bats drink on the wing, like swallows, by sipping the
surface, as they play over pools and streams. They love
to frequent waters, not only for the sake of drinking,
but on account of insects, which are found over them
in the greatest plenty. As I was going, some years ago,
pretty late, in a boat from Richmond to Sunbury, on
a warm summer's evening, I think I saw myriads of
bats between the two places : the air swarmed with them
all along the Thames, so that hundreds were in sight at
a time.

[After a request for " the seeds of any of the following

tops of the trees on the hills on each side, and occasionally dipping towards the
stream that flows through the valley after insects, or possibly to drink. I have
also seen a pair of them coming at twilight out of a large beech near the spot
where Gilbert White's summer-house stood, and which I could not but fancy
might have been the place where it was first seen by him. ... Of the other
species found at Selborne, V. naltereri was taken among the rafters of a cottage
and V. daubentonii in my cellar. Plecotus auritus is, as far as I have observed,
less common here than in many other places." — (Bell's ed., vol. i. pp. 33,
34 note.)— [R. B. S.]

1 On this Professor Bell remarks : " There is no doubt of the fact alluded to. I
have known more than one instance of bacon being gnawed by bats when hung in a
cottager's wide chimney to be smoked."— (Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 34 note.) — [R. B. S.]

44 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

plants, which we never see in the south : viz. the Cypri-
pedium calceolus, Pinguicula vulg., &c," the letter concludes,

I am, with the greatest esteem,

Your most obliged, and obedient servant,

GIL : WHITE.

Selbome, near Alton,
Septemr 9, 1767.]

LETTER XII

TO THE SAME

November qtht 1767.

SIR, — It gave me no small satisfaction to hear that the
falco^ turned out an uncommon one. I must confess I
should have been better pleased to have heard that I had
sent you a bird that you had never seen before ; but that,
I find, would be a difficult task.

I have procured some of the mice mentioned in my
former letters, a young one and a female with young, both
of which I have preserved in brandy. From the colour,
shape, size, and manner of nesting, I make no doubt but
that the species is nondescript. They are much smaller,
and more slender, than the mus domesticus medius of Ray ;
and have more of the squirrel or dormouse colour : their
belly is white ; a straight line along their sides divides the
shades of their back and belly. They never enter into
houses ; are carried into ricks and barns with the sheaves ;
abound in harvest ; and build their nests amidst the straws
of the corn above the ground, and sometimes in thistles.
They breed as many as eight at a litter, in a little round
nest composed of the blades of grass or wheat.

One of these nests I procured this autumn, most artifi-
cially platted, and composed of the blades of wheat ; per-
fectly round, and about the size of a cricket-ball; with
the aperture so ingeniously closed, that there was no
discovering to what part it belonged. It was so compact
and well filled, that it would roll across the table without

1 This letter is dated from "Selborne, near Alton, Hants, Nonf 6, 1767."
— [R. B. S.]

2 This hawk proved to be the falco peregrinus ; a variety. — [G. W.]

45

46 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

being discomposed, though it contained eight little mice
that were naked and blind. As this nest was perfectly full,
how could the dam come at her litter respectively so as
to adminster a teat to each ? Perhaps she opens different
places for that purpose, adjusting them again when the
business is over : but she could not possibly be contained
herself in the ball with her young, which moreover would
be daily increasing in bulk. This wonderful procreant
cradle, an elegant instance of the efforts of instinct, was
found in a wheat-field suspended in the head of a thistle.1

A gentleman, curious in birds, wrote me word that his
servant had shot one last January, in that severe weather,
which he believed would puzzle me. I called to see it this
summer, not knowing what to expect : but, the moment I
took it in hand, I pronounced it the male garrulus bohemicus
or German silk-tail, from the five peculiar crimson tags or
points which it carries at the ends of five of the short
remiges.2 It cannot, I suppose, with any propriety, be
called an English bird : and yet I see, by Ray's " Philo-
sophical Letters," that great flocks of them, feeding on haws,
appeared in this kingdom in the winter of 1685.'

1 The Harvest Mouse (Mus minutus, Pall.) was first introduced to notice as
a British animal by Gilbert White, and appears in Pennant's ' British Zoology '
on White's authority. Professor Bell points out, however, that it had been
previously known to Montagu, but had not been described by him in print. It is
fairly common in the southern and midland counties of England, reaching to
Southern Scotland, but it is not definitely determined as an Irish species (cf.
Lydekker, 'Handb. Brit. Mamm.' 1895, p. 182).— [R. B. S.]

* The Wax-wing (Ampelts garrulus).— [R. B. S.] "

8 Sir William Jardine in his edition of White's " Selborne," gives the following
note : "The letter alluded to was from Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray, in 1686. ' On
the back-side you have the description of a new English bird. They came near
us in great flocks like fieldfares, and fed upon haws as they do.' And in another
letter from Mr. Thoresby to Mr. Ray, 1703, it is said, 'I am tempted to think
the German Silk-tail is become natural to us, there being no less than three killed
nigh this town the last winter." Thus has the Wax-wing occurred occasionally
in this county, but there is no record of any great numbers appearing together
since R.iy's time, until in 1849-50, when an unusual number visited us. The
direction of the flight was from east to west, and the principal localities where
they occurred, were the eastern or coast districts of Durham and Yorkshire in the
north, and of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent in the south. Their occurrence
reached over a period from November 1849 to March 1850, January being the
principal month of their appearance ; no fewer than 429 are recorded to have

ff

*/s /./Te s/ze.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 47

The mention of haws puts me in mind that there is a
total failure of that wild fruit, so conducive to the support
of many of the winged nation. For the same severe
weather, late in the spring, which cut off all the produce
of the more tender and curious trees, destroyed also that
of the more hardy and common.

Some birds, haunting with the missel -thrushes, and
feeding on the berries of the yew-tree, which answered to
the description of the merula torquata, or ring-ouzel, were
lately seen in this neighbourhood. I employed some people
to procure me a specimen, but without success. See
Letter VIII.

Query. — Might not Canary birds be naturalised to this
climate, provided their eggs were put, in the spring, into
the nests of some of their congeners, as goldfinches, green-
finches, &c.? Before winter perhaps they might be hardened,
and able to shift for themselves.

About ten years ago I used to spend some weeks yearly
at Sunbury, which is one of those pleasant villages lying on
the Thames, near Hampton Court. In the autumn, I could
not help being much amused with those myriads of the
swallow kind which assemble in those parts. But what
struck me most was, that, from the time they began to con-
gregate, forsaking the chimneys and houses, they roosted
every night in the osier-beds of the aits of that river.1

been killed in that month, and during the whole time they were observed, 586
specimens were known to have been obtained — a very wanton destruction."

The Wax-wing, which is an inhabitant of the Arctic Regions of both Hemi-
spheres, seems, at certain epochs, to undergo an impulse of migration, similar to
that of Pallas' Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus) and the Nutcracker (Nucifraga
brachyrhyncha\ when numbers of individuals migrate westwards and reach the
British Islands. Thus, since Gilbert White's day, an invasion of Wax-wings has
taken place in 1830-31, 1834-35, 1849-50, 1866-67, 1872-73, and 1892-93. In
the winter of 1872-73 I myself saw several specimens which had been captured
in the Highgate woods close to London. — [R. B. S.]

1 Professor Bell (1877) records an observation of his father, written "nearly a
century ago," of the gatherings of Swallows in the aits off Chelsea ! (vol. i. p.

37 ™tt)>

To this day the reed-beds and osiers of the Thames are the resort of myriads
of Swallows and Martins in the autumn, just before the season of migration. The
late John Gould was so struck with the phenomenon, that he had a picture of one

48 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Now this resorting towards that element, at that season
of the year, seems to give some countenance to the
northern opinion (strange as it is) of their retiring under
water. A Swedish naturalist l is so much persuaded of
that fact, that he talks, in his calendar of Flora, as
familiarly of the swallow's going under water in the
beginning of September, as he would of his poultry going
to roost a little before sunset.

An observing gentleman in London writes me word that
he saw an house-martin, on the twenty-third of last October,
flying in and out of its nest in the Borough. And I
myself, on the twenty-ninth of last October (as I was travel-
ling through Oxford), saw four or five swallows hovering
round and settling on the roof of the county hospital.

Now is it likely that these poor little birds (which
perhaps had not been hatched but a few weeks) should,
at that late season of the year, and from so midland a
county, attempt a voyage to Goree or Senegal, almost as
far as the equator ?z

I acquiesce entirely in your opinion — that, though
most of the swallow kind may migrate, yet that some do
stay behind and hide with us during the winter.3

As to the short - winged soft-billed birds, which

of the gatherings of Sand-Martins prepared for his " Birds of Great Britain " (vol. ii.
pi. 8). In the autumn of 1872 I was myself witness to an enormous gathering
of Swallows, Sand-Martins, and Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla campestris) in the reed-
beds near Pagham Harbour, in Sussex : the birds assembled in these reed-beds to
roost, before they finally took flight across the Channel. Only recently (Sept. 14,
1899) I found a large assemblage of Swallows and Sand-Martins gathered together,
evidently on migration, close to Barnes Bridge, and as twilight fell, commencing
to roost in some small osier-beds on the banks of the Thames in that vicinity.
See further remarks by Gilbert White in Letter XXXIII (postea, p. 134), and
Letter IX to Daines Barrington.— [R. B. S.]

1 Linnaeus.— [R. B. S.]

2 See " Adanson's Voyage to Senegal." — [G. W.]

3 The Common Swallow (Hirundo rustica) has been found during our winter
in nearly every part of Africa, and occurs plentifully in the Cape Colony. The
House-Martin (Chelidon urbica) and the Sand-Martin (Clivicola riparia) have
both been found in the Transvaal, but very sparingly, and where the millions of
these birds which are reared during the European summer pass the winter
months, is still a mystery. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 49

come trooping in such numbers in the spring, I am at a
loss even what to suspect about them. I watched them
narrowly this year, and saw them abound till about
Michaelmas, when they appeared no longer. Subsist they
cannot openly among us, and yet elude the eyes of the
inquisitive : and, as to their hiding, no man pretends to
have found any of them in a torpid state in the winter.
But with regard to their migration, what difficulties attend
that supposition ! that such feeble bad fliers (who the
summer long never flit but from hedge to hedge) should
be able to traverse vast seas and continents in order to
enjoy milder seasons amidst the regions of Africa ! l

[Begging the continuance of yr most agreeable corre-
spondence I conclude with great esteem,

Your most obedient servant,

GIL: WHITE.

P.S. — What parts of England does the Goss-Hawk
frequent ?]

1 And yet they do I No one would have more rejoiced at the discovery of the
winter homes of our small British migrants than Gilbert White. The Nightingale
and Spotted Flycatcher wend their way to the Gold Coast, where also the Garden
Warbler, the Willow Warbler, and the Wood Warbler are found during our winter.
The Blackcap then visits Senegambia, while the little Sedge Warbler reaches
South Africa in its migration, accompanied by the Willow Warbler, the
Garden Warbler, and the Spotted Flycatcher, to this distant portion of the earth.
Specimens of all these Warblers, from the winter localities above named, are in
the British Museum. See Letter XXXIII to Pennant (postea, p. 134), and
Letter IX to Barrington.— [R. B. S.]

G

1

LETTER XIII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE,/a«. 22nd, 1768

SIR, — As in one of your former letters you express
the more satisfaction from my correspondence on accou
of my living in the most southerly county ; so now I m
return the compliment, and expect to have my curiosi
gratified by your living much more to the north.

For many years past I have observed that towar
Christmas vast flocks of chaffinches have appeared in t
fields ; many more, I used to think, than could be hatch
in any one neighbourhood. But, when I came to obser
them more narrowly, I was amazed to find that th
seemed to me to be almost all hens. I communicat
my suspicions to some intelligent neighbours, who, afl
taking pains about the matter, declared that they al
thought them all mostly females : at least fifty to or
This extraordinary occurrence brought to my mind t
remark of Ltnnceus; that " before winter all their hi
chaffinches migrate through Holland into Italy." Now
want to know, from some curious person in the norl
whether there are any large flocks of these finches wi
them in the winter, and of which sex they mostly consis
For, from such intelligence, one might be able to jud
whether our female flocks migrate from the other end
the island, or whether they come over to us from 1
continent.1

1 Both Sir William Jardine in a footnote to his edition (p. 39) and Profes
Newton, as quoted by Bell (vol. i. p. 39 note), incline to the belief that
supposed superabundance of female Chaffinches may arise from the faulty <

50

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 51

We have, in the winter, vast flocks of the common
linnets : more, I think, than can be bred in any one
district. These, I observe, when the spring advances,
assemble on some tree in the sunshine, and join all in a
gentle sort of chirping, as if they were about to break
up their winter quarters and betake themselves to their
proper summer homes. It is well known at least, that
the swallows and the fieldfares do congregate with a
gentle twittering before they make their respective de-
parture.

You may depend on it that the bunting, emberiza
mth'aria, does not leave this county in the winter.1 In
January 1767, I saw several dozen of them, in the midst
of a severe frost, among the bushes on the downs near
Andover : in our woodland enclosed district it is a rare
bird.

Wagtails, both white and yellow, are with us all the

crimination of naturalists as regards the young males, which have not attained
their full plumage, and may thus be confounded with the adult females. In his
original letter Gilbert White says : " For many years past I have observed that
about November vast flocks of chaffinches, " &c. At that time of year, "towards
Christmas," there can be no question of confounding a male and female Chaffinch,
for at the first autumn moult the young male puts on his full plumage, obscured
slightly no doubt by the overlying winter plumage. The full spring dress in this
and in other species of Finches is gained, not by a moult, but by the shedding
of the brown edges of the feathers, and at any time during the winter the perfect
spring plumage can be detected by lifting the feathers, and discounting the effect
of the dusky margins sooner or later to be shed. In a mild winter the young
males would soon commence to throw off their dull aspect, and would not be
distinguishable from the old males, which go through the same transformation.
Some of the changes of plumage are fully described by me in the " Catalogue of
Birds" (vol. xiii. p. 172). Mr. Harting says that the separation of the sexes in
winter is not universally the rule, for in some parts of the country many indi-
viduals of both sexes remain throughout the winter and do not flock (ed. Selborne,
p. 47 note).— [R. B. S.]

1 Professor Bell (vol. i. p. 40 note) confirms Gilbert White's opinion that the
Common Bunting is a rare bird near Selborne. He also alludes to the fact that
White never appears to have detected the Cirl Bunting (Emberiza ctrlus} in the
neighbourhood, though Bell found it actually nesting in his garden in the year
1848. It was recorded for the first time as a British species by Montagu after
White's death. Bell also mentions the occurrence of the Brambling (Fringilla
monlifringilla) in the beech-woods near Selborne, another species supposed to
have been undetected by Gilbert White.— [R. B. S.]

52 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

winter.1 Quails crowd to our southern coast, and are
often killed in numbers by people that go on purpose.

Mr. Stillingfleet, in his Tracts, says that " if the wheat-
ear (cenanthe) 2 does not quit England, it certainly shifts
places ; for about harvest they are not to be found, where
there was before great plenty of them." This well
accounts for the vast quantities that are caught about that
time on the south downs near Lewes, where they are
esteemed a delicacy. There have been shepherds, I
have been credibly informed, that have made many
pounds in a season by catching them in traps. And
though such multitudes are taken, I never saw (and I
am well acquainted with those parts) above two or three
at a time ; for they are never gregarious. They may
perhaps migrate in general ; and, for that purpose, draw
towards the coast of Sussex in autumn : but that they do
not all withdraw I am sure ; because I see a few stragglers
in many counties, at all times of the year, especially about
warrens and stone quarries.

I have no acquaintance, at present, among the gentle-
men of the navy : but have written to a friend, who was
a sea-chaplain in the late war, desiring him to look into

1 The Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris) is almost entirely a British bird,
but is subject to a partial migration, as the species visits in winter the south-west
of France and Spain. Many, however, remain throughout the winter in England.
The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a tolerably regular visitor to Great Britain
every year, and has been known to breed with us. It is a wide-spread species in
Europe and Northern Asia during the nesting-season, and migrates to Northern
Africa and India in winter. The only other species of Wagtail found in winter in
England is the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla mclanope), a bird of nearly the same dis-
tribution as the White Wagtail. The ' Yellow ' Wagtail of our fields in summer is
Motacilla campestris. It is known as Ray's Wagtail, and leaves for West and
South Africa in the autumn. It would be the Grey Wagtail to which Gilbert
White was alluding.— [R. B. S.]

2 Professor Bell (vol. i. p. 41 note) says that the Wheatear is a rare bird in
the vicinity of Selborne, though ' multitudinous ' on the downs in Hampshire. The
fact that Gilbert White mentions his observation of Wheatears " at all times of
the year" makes one doubt whether he had not also the Stonechat (Pratittcola
rubicola) in his mind. The Wheatear (Saxicola cenanthe) leaves England in the
autumn and betakes itself to Senegambia and North-eastern Africa, reaching to
the Equatorial provinces of the latter continent. — [R. B. S.]

'/2 Life

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 53

his minutes, with respect to birds that settled on their
rigging during their voyage up or down the channel.
What Hasselquist says on that subject is remarkable ; there
were little short-winged birds frequently coming on board
his ship all the way from our channel quite up to the
Levant, especially before squally weather.

What you suggest, with regard to Spain, is highly
probable. The winters of Andalusia are so mild, that, in
all likelihood, the soft-billed birds that leave us at that
season may find insects sufficient to support them there.

Some young man, possessed of fortune, health, and
leisure, should make an autumnal voyage into that
kingdom ; and should spend a year there, investigating
the natural history of that vast country. Mr. Willughby l
passed through that kingdom on such an errand ; but he
seems to have skirted along in a superficial manner and
an ill-humour, being much disgusted at the rude, dissolute
manners of the people.

I have no friend left now at Sunbury to apply to about
the swallows roosting on the aits of the Thames : nor can
I hear any more about those birds which I suspected were
merulce torquatce.

As to the small mice, I have farther to remark, that
though they hang their nests for breeding up amidst the
straws of the standing corn, above the ground ; yet I find
that, in the winter, they burrow deep in the earth, and
make warm beds of grass : but their grand rendezvous
seems to be in corn-ricks, into which they are carried at
harvest. A neighbour housed an oat-rick lately, under
the thatch of which were assembled near an hundred,
most of which were taken ; and some I saw. I measured
them ; and found that, from nose to tail, they were just two
inches and a quarter, and their tails just two inches long.
Two of them, in a scale, weighed down just one copper
half-penny, which is about the third of an ounce avoir-
dupois : so that I suppose they are the smallest quad-
rupeds in this island. A full-grown Mus ntedius domesticus
1 See " Ray's Travels," p. 466.— [G. W.]

54 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

weighs, I find, one ounce lumping weight, which is more
than six times as much as the mouse above ; and measures
from nose to rump four inches and a quarter, and the same
in its tail. We have had a very severe frost and deep
snow this month. My thermometer was one day four-
teen degrees and a half below the freezing-point, within
doors. The tender evergreens were injured pretty much.
It was very providential that the air was still, and the
ground well covered with snow, else vegetation in general
must have suffered prodigiously. There is reason to
believe that some days were more severe than any since
the year I739-4O.1

[Your friend Mr. Barrington (to whom I am an entire
stranger) has been so obliging as to make me a present of
one of his Naturalist's Journals, which I hope to fill in the
course of the year. Hoping you will excuse the unreason-
able length of this letter

I conclude with great regard,

Yr obedient servant

GIL : WHITE.

SELBORNE, Jan. 22, 1768.

P.S. — I have just ascertained the Nut-hatch, sitta : it
is not a common bird with us. This last frost brought us
no new fowls.]

1 See Letters LXI, LXII to Barrington.— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XIV

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, March I2th, 1768.

DEAR SIR, — If some curious gentleman would procure
the head of a fallow-deer, and have it dissected, he would
find it furnished with two spiracula, or breathing-places,
besides the nostrils ; probably analogous to the puncta
lachrymalia in the human head. When deer are thirsty
they plunge their noses, like some horses, very deep under
water, while in the act of drinking, and continue them in
that situation for a considerable time ; but, to obviate any
inconveniency, they can open two vents, one at the inner
corner of each eye, having a communication with the
nose.2 Here seems to be an extraordinary provision

1 The date of the actual letter was "March 14, 1768."— [R. B. S.]

2 Sir William Jardine writes : ' ' This short letter is devoted entirely to one
subject, to which White's attention was most probably directed by his visits to
the deer in Wolmer Forest ; it is one of those which requires explanation, especi-
ally in a popular work so much read as ' Selborne,' and the very error into
which White has fallen with his remarks will lead to the future explanation of a
structure which even at this time is not completely understood. The statement
in the letter, 'When deer are thirsty,' &c., is quite correct so far as 'they
plunge their noses,' but the nostril is then not used, and the whole will is exerted
in quenching a thirst at the time excessive. These other orifices are glandular
cavities, and so far as we know or can judge, have reference to the season of
rutting, and have no connexion whatever with respiration. They exist in greater
or less development in all the deer and antelopes, and also in the common sheep,
and a peculiar secretion may be seen to exude from it, having also a peculiar
odour. Some animals have glandular secretions in other parts of the body — musk,
civet, zibet, &c. — known as perfumes, and the peculiar utilities of these glands,
except in secreting a strong scent, is unknown."

Professor Bell (vol. i. p. 44 note) says : " The view taken by White both of
the structure and use of these cavities or glands is entirely erroneous. They have
no relation to the function of respiration. See Owen's description of them in the
Proc. ZooL Soc. for 1836, and Mr. Bennett's observations in his edition of this

55

56 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

of nature worthy our attention ; and which has not, that
I know of, been noticed by any naturalist. For it looks
as if these creatures would not be suffocated, though both
their mouths and nostrils were stopped. This curious
formation of the head may be of singular service to
beasts of chase, by affording them free respiration : and
no doubt these additional nostrils are thrown open when
they are hard run.1 Mr. Ray observed that at Malta the
owners slit up the nostrils of such asses as were hard
worked : for they, being naturally straight or small, did
not admit air sufficient to serve them when they travelled,
or laboured, in that hot climate. And we know that
grooms and gentlemen of the turf, think large nostrils
necessary, and a perfectio'n, in hunters and running
horses.

Oppian, the Greek poet, by the following line, seems to
have had some notion that stags have four spiracula :

" Trrpa6*v/iOi pivts, iricrvpts TTVOITJITI dtavAoi."

" Quadrifidse nares, quadruplices ad respirationem canales."

OPP. CYN. Lib. ii. 1. 181.

Writers, copying from one another, make Aristotle
say that goats breathe at their ears ; whereas he asserts
just the contrary : — " AX/c/xato)i/ yap OVK dXrjQri Xe-yet, (^ayuevo?
avairvetv ray cuya? Kara ra wra." " Alctnceon does not ad-
vance what is true, when he avers that goats breathe
through their ears." — History of Animals. Book I.
chap. xi.

work, pp. 73, 74." See also interesting notes on the subject in Harting's edition
(pp. 51, 52, notes).— [R. B. S.]

1 In answer to this account, Mr. Pennant sent me the following curious and
pertinent reply. " I was much surprised to find in the antelope something
analogous to what you mention as so remarkable in deer. This animal also has
a long slit beneath each eye, which can be opened and shut at pleasure. On
holding an orange to one the creature made as much use of those orifices as of his
nostrils, applying them to the fruit, and seeming to smell it through them."
-[G. W.]

LETTER XV

TO THE SAME1

SELBORNE, March y>th, 1768.

DEAR SIR, — [Your account of the Moose gives me a
great deal of satisfaction ; not only because I am glad to
hear that two such animals, so little known, are arrived in
this neighbourhood ; but because in it you give me hopes
that I may have the Honour of yr Company at Selborne ;
and I earnestly desire that you will not disappoint me of
that satisfaction. Tho' the direct way to Goodwood from
Town is down the Chichester road, yet if you will come
the Alton, and so to Petersfield, there will be but a very
few miles' difference ; and in yr way to Petersfield you
will pass within three miles of my House ; and my
Horses shall meet you on the turnpike to carry you to
this place.]

Some intelligent country people have a notion that we
have, in these parts, a species of the genus mustelinum,
besides the weasel, stoat, ferret, and polecat ; a little
reddish beast, not much bigger than a field-mouse, but
much longer, which they call a cane. This piece of in-
telligence can be little depended on ; but farther inquiry
may be made.2

A gentleman in this neighbourhood had two milk-

1 This letter, as the MS. in the British Museum shows, formed part of the
former one of March 14, 1768, and the author must have divided the two and
given a new date to the second half, as the subjects treated of were somewhat
different. The invitation to Selborne was omitted in the published work, but is
here restored, as being of undoubted interest. — [R. B. S.]

2 Professor Bell (vol. i. p. 44 note} says that one Cane or Kine is " nothing
more than an unusually small female Weasel, the latter being always considerably
smaller than the male ; and it would appear that in some localities it is even

57 H

58 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

white rooks in one nest. A booby of a carter, finding
them before they were able to fly, threw them down
and destroyed them, to the regret of the owner, who
would have been glad to have preserved such a curiosity
in his rookery. I saw the birds myself nailed against the
end of a barn, and was surprised to find that their bills,
legs, feet, and claws were milk-white.1

A shepherd saw, as he thought, some white larks on
a down above my house this winter : were not these the
emberiza nivalis, the snow-flake of the Brit. Zoo/. ? No
doubt they were.

A few years ago I saw a cock bullfinch in a cage,
which had been caught in the fields after it was come to
its full colours. In about a year it began to look dingy ;
and, blackening every succeeding year, it became coal-
black at the end of four. Its chief food was hempseed.
Such influence has food on the colour of animals ! The
pied and mottled colours of domesticated animals are
supposed to be owing to high, various, and unusual
food.2

I had remarked, for years, that the root of the cuckoo-
pint (arum) was frequently scratched out of the dry banks
of hedges, and eaten in severe snowy weather. After
observing, with some exactness, myself, and getting others
to do the same, we found it was the thrush kind that

smaller than ordinary." He states that he has received it both from Kent and
Sussex, and that "it cannot be considered a distinct variety, as it does not differ
from the ordinary character in any other respect." — [R. B. S.]

1 Sir William Jardine observes : "We possess a large rookery, and although
we have never had an entire white or cream-coloured variety, scarcely a year
passes without some young being observed with more or less white in the plumage,
and in these the bill and feet, as well as the claws, are also white."

For some years in succession there was always a nest within a small area
of a gigantic lime-avenue at Avington Park, in Hampshire, in which all the
young birds had white chins. Some of the specimens are preserved in the
British Museum, where there is also a very curious variety of a young Rook,
presented by Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, which has white tips to nearly every
feather of the body.— [R- B. S.]

2 This black Bullfinch occurred at Faringdon, while Gilbert White was
Curate of that parish, according to Professor Bell (i. p. 45 note). It formed the
subject of a letter to his nephew, Samuel Barker. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 59

searched it out. The root of the arum is remarkably
warm and pungent.

Our flocks of female chaffinches have not yet forsaken
us. The blackbirds and thrushes are very much thinned
down by that fierce weather in January.

In the middle of February I discovered, in my tall
hedges, a little bird that raised my curiosity : it was of
that yellow-green colour that belongs to the salicaria kind,
and, I think, was soft-billed. It was no parus; and was
too long and too big for the golden-crowned wren, ap-
pearing most like the largest willow wren. It hung some-
times with its back downwards, but never continuing one
moment in the same place. I shot at it, but it was so
desultory that I missed my aim.1

I wonder that the stone-curlew, charadrius cedicnemus?
should be mentioned by the writers as a rare bird : it
abounds in all the campaign parts of Hampshire and
Sussex, and breeds, I think, all the summer, having young
ones, I know, very late in the autumn. Already they
begin clamouring in the evening. They cannot, I think,
with any propriety, be called, as they are by Mr. Ray,3
"circa aquas versantes;" for with us, by day at least, they
haunt only the most dry, open, upland fields and sheep-
walks, far removed from water : what they may do in the
night I cannot say. Worms are their usual food, but they
also eat toads and frogs.4

1 I agree with Mr. Harting (ed. Selbome, p-54 note) that this bird must have
been a Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus minor), a species which must occasionally winter
with us in mild seasons. Mr. Robert Read recently presented to the British
Museum a specimen obtained by him near Taunton on the I2th of December
i89i.-[R. B. S.]

2 CEdicnemus cedicnemus (Linnaeus), called also CEdicnemus scolopax (Scop.),
and CEdicnemus crepitans (Temm.) by modem authors. — [R. B. S.]

3 During the autumn migration they are sometimes shot on the sea-shore. —
[R. B. S.]

4 Mr. Harting says (ed. p. 55 note) that the stomachs of specimens examined
by him were filled chiefly with the remains of beetles, but in one the remains
of a long-tailed Field-Mouse were found. Some living birds which Dr. Gunther
and I kept alive in our gardens, were principally fed on raw meat and the
bodies of Sparrows. Gilbert White, though duly noting the perfect assimila-
tion of their plumage to their surroundings, does not allude to the curious method

60 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

I can show you some good specimens of my new mice.
Linnceus perhaps would call the species tnus minimus.

[When yr sheets containing a list of the British birds,
&c., come out, you will gratify me much by yr sending me
one. I am glad to hear you intend to continue yr publica-
tions in the natural way. My Relation at Gibraltar1 had
never at all applyed to these kinds of studies, & has no
books of that sort : else he might be helpful to you with
regard to the Birds of Barbary and Andalucia. Pray give
my humble respects to Mr- Banks, & tell him I shall not
forget him next month with regard to the Lathraa squam-
maria. If he will do me the Honour to come & see me,
he will soon find how many curious plants I am acquainted
with in my own Country. I request also that you will be
pleased to pay my compliments & thanks to Mr- Barrington
for the agreeable present of his Journal, which I am filling
up day by day. Buntings I saw in plenty last week.
Requesting that you will continue to honour me with the
favour of yr correspondence,

I conclude, Sir,
Yr most obedient servant
GIL : WHITE.]

of concealment which these birds exhibit — viz., of throwing themselves flat on the
ground and lying quite still with their necks stretched out, at the approach of the
slightest cause of alarm. Even the tiny nestlings perform this trick, and in fallow
and stony ground they are perfectly indistinguishable ; but it is laughable to see
an old bird stretching himself out, and fancying himself concealed, in the middle of
a tennis-lawn, as my captive pets used to do, their tawny plumage rendering them
conspicuous objects at a distance of twenty yards. So strong is the force of instinct !
A Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) will stand in front of a green bush in the Zoological
Gardens, and make himself thin like a dead bulrush, with his neck stiffened out,
and then gradually turn his rush-like neck to the spectators, moving it as the
latter walk to one side or the other. In a reed-bed this method of concealment
would be effectual, but with a dark green back -ground showing up the light plumage
of the bird, the device is of no avail, and yet the instinct of concealment remains
unabated.— [R. B. S.]

1 His brother John, who was chaplain there. — [R. B. S.]

LETTER XVI

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, April i8tA, I768.1

DEAR SIR, — [As I had set my mind on the pleasure of
yr conversation, so I was in proportion disappointed when
I found that you could not come. But as yr business may
be over now I shall still live in hopes of seeing you at
this beautiful season, when every hedge and field abounds
with matter of entertainment for the curious. If you could
come down at the end of this week, or the beginning of
next, I should be ready to partake with you in a post-chaise
back to town on the second of May.]

The history of the stone-curlew, charadrius cedicnemus,
is as follows.2 It lays its eggs, usually two, never

1 Actual date of letter " April 19 : 1768."— [R. B. S.]

2 Thick-Knee is the proper name for this bird. It is not a Curlew (Numenius)
at all, the latter bird being allied to the Sand-pipers and Snipes, whereas the genus
CEdicnemus belongs to the Plovers ( Charadriina} and not to the Snipes ( Totanimz),
two very distinct sub-families of Wading Birds or Limicolez, as they are called.
The Thick-Knees are not far removed from the Bustards (Otides). In past years
I have seen many pairs on Salisbury Plain and an occasional pair on the downs
above Avington, in Hampshire, but near Selborne the species is evidently much
less plentiful than it was in Gilbert White's day, for Professor Bell writes: "I
have occasionally heard its cry late in the evening as it has passed at a con-
siderable height over the village ; but in thirty years I have never seen one, alive
or dead" (vol. i. p. 47).

Mr. Paxton Parkin tells me that he has occasionally heard the cry of the
Thick- Knee at night, but has not seen one since he has lived at the Wakes.

Although rarer in most parts of the south of England than it was formerly,

61

62 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

more than three, on the bare ground, without any nest,
in the field ; so that the countryman, in stirring his
fallows, often destroys them. The young run immedi-
ately from the egg, like partridges, &c., and are with-
drawn to some flinty field by the dam, where they
sculk among the stones, which are their best security ; for
their feathers are so exactly of the colour of our grey
spotted flints, that the most exact observer, unless he
catches the eye of the young bird, may be eluded. The
eggs are short and round ; of a dirty white, spotted with
dark bloody blotches. Though I might not be able, just
when I pleased, to procure you a bird, yet I could show
you them almost any day ; and any evening you may hear
them round the village, for they make a clamour which
may be heard a mile. (Edicnemus is a most apt and expres-
sive name for them, since their legs seem swoln like those
of a gouty man.1 After harvest I have shot them before the
pointers in turnip-fields.2

I make no doubt but there are three species of the
willow-wrens : 3 two I know perfectly ; but have not been
able yet to procure the third. No two birds can differ
more in their notes, and that constantly, than those two
that I am acquainted with ; for the one has a joyous, easy,
laughing note ; the other a harsh loud chirp. The former is
every way larger, and three-quarters of an inch longer, and
weighs two drams and a half ; while the latter weighs but
two : so the songster is one-fifth heavier than the chirper.

the bird must still occur in the neighbourhood of Selbome, for there is plenty
of wild down-land suited to its habits. Lord Walsingham informs me that the
species is still found on his property in Norfolk, whence came the well-known
family group of these birds in the Natural History Museum, but that it is not so
frequent as formerly. It does not stay the winter. — [R. B. S.]

1 Mr. Harting, who is one of the best authorities on the Wading-birds, says,
that this swelling of the upper part of the tarsus is characteristic only of the
young birds of the year (ed. Selborne, p. 56, note). — [R, B. S.]

* See Letter XXIII.— [R. B. S.]

3 The differences between the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) and
the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus minor) could scarcely be better described than is
here done by Gilbert White, who was then on the track of the third species, viz.
the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilator). (See Letter XIX, p. 79.)— [R. B. S.]

"AFTER HARVEST i HAVE SHOT THEM BEFORE THE POINTERS IN
TURNIP FIELDS"

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 63

The chirper (being the first summer-bird of passage that
is heard, the wryneck sometimes excepted) begins his two
notes in the middle of March, and continues them through
the spring and summer till the end of August, as appears
by my journals. The legs of the larger of these two are
flesh-coloured ; of the less, black.

The grasshopper-lark1 began his sibilous note in my
fields last Saturday. Nothing can be more amusing than
the whisper of this little bird, which seems to be close by
though at an hundred yards distance ; and, when close at
your ear, is scarce any louder than when a great way off.
Had I not been a little acquainted with insects, and known
that the grasshopper kind is not yet hatched, I should
have hardly believed but that it had been a locusta whisper-
ing in the bushes. The country people laugh when you
tell them that it is the note of a bird. It is a most artful
creature, sculking in the thickest part of a bush ; and will
sing at a yard distance, provided it be concealed. I was
obliged to get a person to go on the other side of the
hedge where it haunted, and then it would run, creeping
like a mouse, before us for an hundred yards together,
through the bottom of the thorns ; yet it would not come
into fair sight : but in a morning early, and when un-
disturbed, it sings on the top of a twig, gaping and shiver-
ing with its wings. Mr. Ray himself had no knowledge
of this bird, but received his account from Mr. Johnson,
who apparently confounds it with the reguli non cristati,
from which it is very distinct. See Ray's "Philosophical
Letters" p. io8.2

1 The Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella n<evta).—[R. B. S.]

2 As Professor Newton has pointed out in Bell's edition (vol. i. p. 49),
Linnaeus did not know the ' Grasshopper Lark ' ; and the name of Alauda
trivialis applies to the Tree-Pipit. Seebohm (Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 340)
observes that the specimen sent to Willoughby and Ray by Mr. Johnson of Greta
Bridge, in Yorkshire, was certainly, from the description, a Grasshopper Warbler,
" but the habits of the bird described resemble most those of the Wood Warbler.
Possibly Mr. Johnson confounded the notes of the two species together : " hence
White's observation !— [R. B. S.]

64 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

A LIST OF THE SUMMER BIRDS OF PASSAGE DISCOVERED IN THIS

NEIGHBOURHOOD, RANGED SOMEWHAT IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY APPEAR : l

LINN/EI NOMINA.

Smallest willow-wren, Motacilla trochilus.

Wryneck, Jynx 2 torquilla.

House-swallow, Hirundo rustica,

Martin, Hirundo urbica.

Sand-martin, Hirundo riparia.

Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus.

Nightingale, Motacilla luscinia.

Blackcap, Motacilla atricapilla.

Whitethroat, Motacilla sylvia.

Middle willow-wren, Motacilla trochilus.

Swift, Hirundo opus.

Stone-curlew ? Charadrius cedicnemus ?

Turtle-dove ? Turtur aldrovandi?

Grasshopper-lark, Alauda trivialis.

Landrail, Rallus crex.

Largest willow-wren, Motacilla trochilus.

Redstart, Motacilla phanicurus.

Goat-sucker, or fern-owl, Caprimulgus europceus.

Fly-catcher, Muscicapa grisola.

The fly-catcher (stoparold) has not yet appeared ; it
usually breeds in my vine. The redstart begins to sing :

1 The smallest 'Willow Wren' of this list is the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus
minor}, 'the Middle Willow Wren' is the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus
trochilus), the ' Grasshopper Lark ' is the Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella
mzvia), and Linnaeus' name of Alauda trivialis applies not to this species, but to
the Tree - Pipit (Anthus trivialis), a bird which must certainly occur near
Selborne, for it is by no means uncommon in summer at Avington, only a few
miles off. The ' Largest Willow Wren ' is the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibila-
tor). Here Gilbert White distinctly affirms the presence of a third species of
Willow Warbler in England. (See/arfca, Letter XIX.)— [R. B. S.]

2 The spelling of the name lynx is of curious interest. For years the generic
name of the Wryneck was published as Yunx, and pronounced as such, but in
1883 the British Ornithologists' Union issued a ' List of British Birds,' of which
the Editor was my late friend Henry T. Wharton, who took extraordinary pains
with the determination of the classical signification of the names employed. He
defined the derivation of the genus lynx to be from tvfa (I shout), but it would
seem that Gilbert White, good classic as he was, also knew the source whence
Linnaeus derived his name, and wrote it correctly. — [R. B. S.]

'/s Life

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 65

its note is short and imperfect, but is continued till about
the middle of June. The willow-wrens (the smaller sort)
are horrid pests in a garden, destroying the peas, cherries,
currants, &c. ; and are so tame that a gun will not scare
them.

My countrymen talk much of a bird that makes a
clatter with its bill against a dead bough, or some old
pales, calling it a jar-bird. I procured one to be shot in
the very fact ; it proved to be the sitta europcsa (the nut-
hatch}. Mr. Ray says that the less spotted woodpecker
does the same. This noise may be heard a furlong or
more.1

Now is the only time to ascertain the short-winged
summer birds ; for, when the leaf is out, there is no
making any remarks on such a restless tribe ; and, when
once the young begin to appear, it is all confusion ; there
is no distinction of genus, species, or sex.

In breeding-time snipes play over the moors, piping
and humming : they always hum as they are descending.
Is not their hum ventriloquous like that of the turkey ?
Some suspect it is made by their wings.2

1 The jarring noise produced by the Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers
(Dendrocopus major and D. minor'] is often to be heard in the south of England in
the spring, and carries a great distance. It is brought about by the rapid hammer-
ing on slender boughs at the top of some hollow poplar or elm, and appears to be
a call-note from one bird to another, as it is immediately answered by a second
individual from some distant tree. I have often heard the birds do this in the
park-land near Cookham, in Berkshire, but I never heard a Nuthatch (Sitta ccesia),
which is a common enough species in the neighbourhood, signal in the same
manner. The hammer-like strokes of the latter bird can be heard a long way off,
but they consist of the deliberate tapping and hacking of the bark, not the vibrating
' whirr ' which the woodpeckers produce when they signal to each other. The
rasping sound made by the prising off of the bark by the vigorous little Nuthatch
can also be heard for some distance from the tree where it is at work. The large
size of some of the pieces of bark which fall to the ground could scarcely be
believed to be the achievement of such a small bird. — [R. B. S.]

2 Some naturalists have declared that the drumming is produced by the wings,
or by the tail-feathers, while others affirm that the effect proceeds from the bird's
throat. The balance of contemporary observation is in favour of the former theory.
— [R. B. S.]

I

66 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

This morning I saw the golden-crowned wren, whos<
crown glitters like burnished gold. It often hangs like ;
titmouse, with its back downwards.

[I look back not without confusion at the length of rm
letter : and am with great esteem,

Yr obedient servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

LETTER XVII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, June i8//4, I768.1

DEAR SIR, — [Your obliging letter dated May the 4th
came to Selborne while I was in London, but was sent up
after me. While I was in town I was often in company
with yr friend Mr. Barrington ; and cannot say enough
in commendation of the candor and affability of that
gentleman. Even Mr. Banks (notwithstanding he was so
soon to leave the kingdom and undertake his immense
voyage) afforded me some hours of his conversation at his
new house, where I met Dr. Solander.

I am now to return you my warmest thanks for yr
agreeable present of the British Zoology, which I accept
with great satisfaction as a token of yr friendship : and
shall look upon yr work as an ornament to my little shelf
of natural history. As far as I have been able to com-
pare any animals with yr descriptions, I find them just
and apt ; and such as may readily help the reader to
ascertain any quadrupede or bird that falls in his way."] 2

On Wednesday last arrived your agreeable letter of June
the zoth. It gives me great satisfaction to find that you

1 The date of the original letter is June 10, 1768. It is curious that the
author should have altered the actual date of so many of his letters in his
published work.— [R. B. S.]

2 The above paragraphs have been crossed out, doubtless by Gilbert White
himself, as not necessary for publication. Then follows a sentence so completely
obliterated that only a few words are decipherable. I can detect " with the good
sense and . . . and particularly that part of it which . . . in the study of nature."
The author then proceeds : " Last night arrived yr agreeable letter, &c.," which

fits in with the alteration of the date in the published volume. — [R. B. S.]

67

68 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

pursue these studies still with such vigour, and are in suet
forwardness with regard to reptiles and fishes.

The reptiles, few as they are, I am not acquainted with
so well as I could wish, with regard to their natural history
There is a degree of dubiousness and obscurity attending
the propagation of this class of animals, something ana
logous to that of the cryptogamia in the sexual system o
plants : and the case is the same with regard to some of the
fishes ; as the eel, &c.

The method in which toads procreate and bring forth
seems to be very much in the dark. Some authors saj
that they are viviparous : and yet Ray classes them amon^
his oviparous animals ; and is silent with regard to the
manner of their bringing forth. Perhaps they may be
eao) fiiev &>OTO/C<M, efo> Be £o>oTo/cot, as is known to be the case
with the viper.

The copulation of frogs (or at least the appearance o:
it ; for Swammerdam proves that the male has no pent,
intrans) is notorious to everybody : because we see their
sticking upon each others backs for a month together ir
the spring : and yet I never saw, or read, of toads bein^
observed in the same situation.1 It is strange that the
matter with regard to the venom of toads has not beer
yet settled. That they are not noxious to some animal;
is plain : for ducks, buzzards, owls, stone curlews, anc
snakes, eat them, to my knowledge, with impunity. Anc
I well remember the time, but was not eye-witness to the
fact (though numbers of persons were) when a quack, ai
this village, ate a toad to make the country-people stare
afterwards he drank oil.2

1 Among Gilbert White's papers Professor Bell found one " in a boy's hand '
(doubtless a note dictated to his nephew John) relating to the venom of a toad
He says that a little Terrier-bitch " touched it very gently with her nose . .
and instantly the foam came from her mouth, and her face and eyes wen
strongly convulsed. This continued upon her half-an-hour, &c." (Bell's ed.
vol. i. p. 52 note. ) — [R. B. S.]

* Sir William Jardine's edition of White's "Selborne" contains the following
interesting note on Letter XVII : " This is a letter upon reptiles, the natura
history of which, as well as that of fishes, White had little opportunity o
studying. Toads procreate exactly in the same manner as frogs, and both an

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 69

I have been informed also, from undoubted authority,
that some ladies (ladies you will say of peculiar taste) took
a fancy to a toad, which they nourished summer after
summer, for many years, till he grew to a monstrous size,
with the maggots which turn to flesh flies. The reptile used
to come forth every evening from an hole under the garden-
oviparous ; the bead-like chains which are often seen in pools in spring, as if
they were looped over each other, being the newly-deposited spawn of the former.
The venom of toads is discarded as a fable ; but there is an excretion from the
skin which can be exuded upon irritation, and serves for protection. It causes
the excessive secretion of saliva in the mouth of a dog, and evidently gives pain.
Mr. Herbert says a pike will seize a toad, but immediately disgorges it, while
a frog is swallowed.

"There has always been an aversion or disgust at toads. The older poets
clothed him in a garb ' ugly and venomous,' and one of our master-bards has
likened the Evil Spirit to him, as a semblance of all that is devilish or disgusting.

' Him they found

Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,

Assaying with all his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy. '

Thus we are taught, and the feeling is handed down from family to family, to
loathe a harmless animal. The bite is innocent of any after consequences, and
we never saw a toad attempt to bite. The exudation of the skin is only used in
self-defence. They are extremely useful in the destruction of insects, and they
will be found to be valuable as well as amusing assistants in a greenhouse or
conservatory. Sir Joseph Banks wrote : ' I have from my childhood, in con-
formity with the precepts of a mother void of all imaginary fear, been in the
constant habit of taking toads in my hand, holding them there some time, and
applying them to my face and nose as it may happen. My motive for doing this
very frequently is to inculcate the opinion I have held, since I was told by my
mother, that the toad is actually a harmless animal : and to whose manner of life
man is certainly under some obligation, as its food is chiefly those insects which
devour his crops and annoy him in various ways " (p. 51)-

Professor Bell adds the following remarks"(ed. " Selborne," p. 50 note) : " The
whole of the typical Batrachia, the frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, &c. , undergo
a complete metamorphosis. In the land species (of which we have no representative
in this country), as from their habits they cannot have constant access to water, the
aquatic portion of their existence, during which the gills remain attached, cannot
be passed in that medium in the same manner as the frogs, &c. This essential
process, therefore, takes place in the oviduct, before they are excluded from the
mother and come forth in the perfect condition. But in the other forms, to which
our native species all belong, the change takes place in the water, and the young
live there for a time in a fish-like state as regards not only their respiration but
most of the other functions of life. The common water-newt, or eft, exhibits a
beautiful example of this interesting change, retaining its pretty reddish leaf-like
gills till the animals are an inch or more in length." — [R. B. S.]

70 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

steps ; and was taken up, after supper, on the table to
fed. But at last a tame raven, kenning him as he put foi
his head, gave him such a severe stroke with his horny be
as put out one eye. After this accident the creatu
languished for some time and died.

I need not remind a gentleman of your extensive readi
of the excellent account there is from Mr. Derham, in Ra
" Wisdom of God in the Creation " (p. 365), concerning t
migration of frogs from their breeding ponds. In tl
account he at once subverts that foolish opinion of th
dropping from the clouds in rain ; showing that it is frc
the grateful coolness and moisture of those showers tl
they are tempted to set out on their travels, which th
defer till those fall. Frogs are as yet in their tadpole stat
but, in a few weeks, our lanes, paths, fields, will swarm I
a few days with myriads of those emigrants, no larger th
my little finger nail. Swammerdam gives a most accun
account of the method and situation in which the m;
impregnates the spawn of the female. How wonderful
the ceconomy of Providence with regard to the limbs of
vile a reptile ! While it is an aquatic it has a fish-like tz
and no legs : as soon as the legs sprout, the tail drops off
useless, and the animal betakes itself to the land !

Merret, I trust, is widely mistaken when he advanc
that the rana arborea is an English reptile ; it abounds
Germany and Switzerland^

It is to be remembered that the salamandra aquatica
Ray (the water-newt or eft) will frequently bite at t
angler's bait, and is often caught on his hook. I used
take it for granted that the salamandra aquatica v»
hatched, lived, and died, in the water. But John Eh
Esq., F.R.S. (the coralline Ellis\ asserts, in a letter to t

1 Professor Bell comments on this statement: "There is, of course,
ground for the statement that the Hyla viridis is a native of this coun
It is difficult to understand how Gilbert White could entertain a repugnance t
little creature so harmless and beautiful, and so interesting in its habits. As
Hyla lives on trees, and does not frequent the water except for breeding
changes its skin in the same manner as the toad. This I have ascertaine
(Bell's ed., i. p. 53 note.)— [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 71

Royal Society, dated June the 5th, 1766, in his account of
the mud inguana, an amphibious bipes from South Carolina,
that the water-eft, or newt, is only the larva of the land-eft,
as tadpoles are of frogs. Lest I should be suspected to
misunderstand his meaning, I shall give it in his own
words. Speaking of the opercula or coverings to the gills
of the mud inguana, he proceeds to say that, "The form
of these pennated coverings approach very near to what
I have some time ago observed in the larva or aquatic state
of our English lacerta, known by the name of eft, or newt ;
which serve them for coverings to their gills, and for fins
to swim with while in this state ; and which they lose, as
well as the fins of their tails, when they change their state
and become land animals, as I have observed, by keeping
them alive for some time myself."

LinncBus, in his Systema Natura, hints at what Mr. Ellis
advances more than once.

Providence has been so indulgent to us as to allow of
but one venomous reptile of the serpent kind in these
kingdoms, and that is the viper. As you propose the good
of mankind to be an object of your publications, you will
not omit to mention common sallad oil as a sovereign
remedy against the bite of the viper. As to the blind worm
(anguis fragilis, so called because it snaps in sunder with
a small blow), I have found, on examination, that it is
perfectly innocuous. A neighbouring yeoman (to whom
I am indebted for some good hints) killed and opened a
female viper about the 27th of May: he found her filled
with a chain of eleven eggs, about the size of those of a
blackbird ; but none of them were advanced so far towards
a state of maturity as to contain any rudiments of young.
Though they are oviparous, yet they are viviparous also,
hatching their young within their bellies, and then bringing
them forth. Whereas snakes lay chains of eggs every
summer in my melon-beds, in spite of all that my people
can do to prevent them ; which eggs do not hatch till the
spring following, as I have often experienced. Several
intelligent folks assure me that they have seen the viper

72 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

open her mouth, and admit her helpless young down he
throat on sudden surprises, just as the female opossui
does her brood into the pouch under her belly, upon th
like emergencies ; and yet the London viper-catchers insi:
on it, to Mr. Barringlon, that no such thing ever happens

1 Sir William Jardine's note in his edition of "Selborne" is as follows : "Tl
question remains, we believe, nearly as it did in White's time. There have bei
statements upon both sides, and some time since it gave rise to a very long di
cussion in the Gardener's Chronicle, but which, with the others, ended in nothii
that could be taken as undoubted proof of the fact. We have always looked up<
this as a popular delusion, and the supposed habit is so much at variance wi
what we know of the general manners and instincts of animals that, without «
doubted proof of its occurrence, we incline still to consider it as such. Somethii
always occurs to prevent the adder that has swallowed her young being capture
and the evidence rests on such an one having seen the young enter the mou
of the parent. Now, we do not mean to call in question the veracity of tl
observers reporting what they at the time believed to be the case, but we knc
how easy it is to be deceived, and how difficult it is to observe correctly. W
Bennett leaves the question open; but in the latest edition of 'Selborne,'
Bohn's Illustrated Library, the following note by the editor occurs : ' Havii
taken much pains to ascertain the fact of young vipers entering the mouth of the
mother, I can now have little doubt but that such is the case, after the eviden
of persons who assured me that they had seen it. I also found young vipers
the stomach of the mother of a much larger size than they would be when fii
ready to be excluded.' We presume that the young vipers in the stomach of ti
mother were found alive ; it is not so stated. Could the Zoological Society n
do something to solve this problem? A comparatively trifling expense wou
procure a good collection of adders were it known they were wanted, and amoi
them a female might be found and watched. See also Mr. White's remark
Letter XXXI, to Mr. Barrington, where he cut up an adder, and found youi
in the 'abdomen,' by which term he evidently means the uterus or ovarium,1 f
he adds, ' there was little room to suppose they were taken in for refuge.' Lett
XXXI should be turned to and read with this one to Pennant " (p. 53).

Professor Bell contributed the following observation to Mr. Bennett's editic
of "Selborne," and reproduces it in a note to his own edition (p. 54 note) : "
have been assured by a very honest and worthy gardener in Dorsetshire that 1
had seen the young vipers enter the mouth of the mother when alarmed. I ha'
never been able to obtain further reliable evidence of the fact, though I ha
made the most extensive inquiries in my power. If it be untrue, the popular en-
may have arisen from the fact of fully-formed young having been found in tl
abdomen of the mother, ready to be excluded." "Surely," says Bell, "the e
periment might be tried, and the question set at rest." Frank Buckland in I
edition of " Selborne " ridicules the idea of the young vipers seeking refuge fro
danger in the mouth of the mother, and an amusing skit on the subject is pr
vided by the late Harry Lee. A few years ago I contributed a weekly article
Lloyd's newspaper on natural history. These popular sketches were written 1

i Oviduct.— [W. P. P.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 73

The serpent kind eat, I believe, but once in a year ; or,
rather, but only just at one season of the year. Country
people talk much of a water-snake, but, I am pretty sure,
without any reason ; for the common snake (coluber natrix)
delights much to sport in the water, perhaps with a view to
procure frogs and other food.

I cannot well guess how you are to make out your
twelve species of reptiles, unless it be by the various species,
or rather varieties, of our lacerti, of which Ray enumerates
five. I have not had opportunity of ascertaining these ;
but remember well to have seen, formerly, several beautiful
green lacerti on the sunny sand-banks near Farnham, in
Surrey ; and Ray admits there are such in Ireland.1

myself or by my friends, Mr. Lydekker, Mr. R. I. Pocock, and other colleagues
in the Natural History Museum, and among the best of these articles was one
contributed by my friend Mr. Pickard-Cambridge, an excellent field -naturalist,
who would have none of the legend of the viper providing in its own body a
refuge for its little ones. I received a letter in reply (which, to my great regret,
I cannot at the moment lay hands upon) from a correspondent who averred that
he had witnessed the fact himself. " Brusher " Mills, the well-known snake-
catcher of the New Forest, affirms that the young vipers do take refuge in the
mouth of the mother (see Wide World Magazine for Oct. 1899, p. 153), and in
the face of so much independent testimony it seems scarcely possible to doubt
that the young are received into the old viper's oesophagus on the approach of
danger.— [R. B. S.]

1 Gilbert White never pretended to have more than a passing knowledge of
Reptiles and Fishes, and he laments his want of opportunity. Professor Bell is
doubtless right when he credits him with a "strong prejudice" against Reptilia
and Amphibia, but many people, even at the present day, are similarly prejudiced.
Bell says that this inherent dislike " prevented him from either acquiring a technical
knowledge of the different species, or of observing their habits and physiology."
Gilbert White was such a thorough field-naturalist that I feel sure that he would
have studied the life-history of any animal which came within his power of obser-
vation, but he was a horticulturist and an ornithologist first of all, and a very busy
man at all times, so that the absence of detailed notes on the habits of Reptilia
may actually have arisen from lack of opportunity to study the ways of animals, to
which he may also have entertained a natural antipathy.

The following note of Professor Bell's is of great interest : " The species
which I have myself seen at Selborne are the following : — of Reptilia, the little
viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara, which is common on the sandy heath of
Wolmer Forest; the blind-worm, Anguis fragilis ; the common snake, Natrix
torquata ; the viper, Pelias bents ; of Amphibia, the common frog, Rana tempor-
aria ; the common toad, Bitfo vulgaris ; the natter-jack, Bufo calamita ; the
warty newt, Triton cristatus ; the common smooth newt, Lissotriton punctatus ;
the palmated smooth newt, L issotriton palmipes. It is unnecessary now, and in

K

74 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

[I should now proceed to the answering some queries
in y last, and to congratulating you on the discovery of a
new Salicaria ; but having destined this epistle altogethei
to the service of reptiles, I shall stick to my text ; and defei
such matters 'til a further opportunity, ('til the next time
I have the honour to write to you).

I am with the greatest esteem,

Yr's &c., &c.]

this work, to enter into any detail of the physiology of these animals ; but a fev
facts respecting one or two of them as occurring at Selborne may not be out o
place. Some years ago the natter-jack was by far the most common species o
toad in my garden, taking the place of the ordinary species, which was then com
paratively rare ; but for some years past not one of the former has been seen,
and no cause has ever suggested itself for its disappearance. Its voice was fai
more powerful and resonant than that of any of its congeners, and could be hearc
at a great distance, resembling almost deceptively that of the night-jar ; it was
however, only heard during the breeding season. Another remarkable peculiarity
was its fondness for hot and dry situations ; one in particular took its statior
under a stone close to a south wall, and was frequently seen peeping out from it;
hiding-place, and if taken up in the hand would immediately resume its positior
upon being placed on the ground. I have seen hundreds of young ones not large:
than the finger-nail on the heath at Wolmer, not far from the pond, where doubt
less they had been bred. The palmated smooth newt formerly inhabited a pone
on the common ; but I have not seen it for some years." — [R. B. S.]

LETTER XVIII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, July 2^tk, I768.1

DEAR SIR, — I received your obliging and communicative
letter of June the 28th, while I was on a visit at a gentle-
man's house, where I had neither books to turn to, nor
leisure to sit down, to return you an answer to many
queries, which I wanted to resolve in the best manner that
I am able.

A person, by my order, has searched our brooks, but
could find no such fish as the gasterosteus pungitius : he
found the gasterosteus aculeatus in plenty. This morning,
in a basket, I packed a little earthen pot full of wet moss,
and in it some sticklebacks, male and female ; the females
big with spawn : some lamperns ; some bulls heads ; but
I could procure no minnows. This basket will be in Fleet
Street by eight this evening ; so I hope Mazel will have
them fresh and fair to-morrow morning.2 I gave some
directions, in a letter, to what particulars the engraver
should be attentive.3

Finding, while I was on a visit, that I was within a
reasonable distance of Ambresburyf I sent a servant over to
that town, and procured several living specimens of loaches,

1 Actual date, July 25, 1768,— [R. B. S.]

2 In the original letter the passage reads as follows : "As the coach goes every
day from Alton to London, I think that fish sent in wet moss by that conveyance
will arrive very fresh in town : therefore I intend to procure the fishes of our
streams, and will send them up to Mr. Mazel by means of my Brother, who will
order him to engrave them as you desire." — [R. B. S.]

3 Peter Mazell was the engraver of the plates in Pennant's works, and engraved
some of the plates for Gilbert White's original edition of "Selborne." — [R. B. S.]

4 Amesbury.— [R. B. S.]

75

76 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

which he brought, safe and brisk, in a glass decanter. The}
were taken in the gullies that were cut for watering the
meadows. From these fishes (which measured from twc
to four inches in length) I took the following description
"The loach,1 in its general aspect, has a pellucid appear
ance : its back is mottled with irregular collections of smal
black dots, not reaching much below the linea lateralis, a;
are the back and tail fins ; a black line runs from each ey(
down to the nose ; its belly is of a silvery white ; the uppei
jaw projects beyond the lower, and is surrounded with sb
feelers, three on each side ; it's pectoral fins are large, it's
ventral much smaller ; the fin behind it's anus small ; it's
dorsal-fin large, containing eight spines ; it's tail, where i
joins to the tail-fin, remarkably broad, without any taperness
so as to be characteristic of this genus ; the tail-fin is broad
and square at the end. From the breadth and musculai
strength of the tail it appears to be an active nimble fish."
In my visit I was not very far from Hungerford, and die
not forget to make some inquiries concerning the wonderfu
method of curing cancers by means of toads. Several in
telligent persons, both gentry and clergy, do, I find, give '<
great deal of credit to what was asserted in the papers : anc
I myself dined with a clergyman who seemed to be per
suaded that what is related is matter of fact ; but, when
came to attend to his account, I thought I discerned cir
cumstances which did not a little invalidate the woman':
story of the manner in which she came by her skill. Sh<
says of herself " that, labouring under a virulent cancer, sh<
went to some church where there was a vast crowd : on goin^
into a pew, she was accosted by a strange clergyman ; who
after expressing compassion for her situation, told her tha
if she would make such an application of living toads as ii
mentioned she would be well." Now is it likely that thi:
unknown gentleman should express so much tenderness foi
this single sufferer, and not feel any for the many thousand;
that daily languish under this terrible disorder ? Would h<
not have made use of this invaluable nostrum for his owr

1 Ntmachilus barbatulus, L. — [G. A. B.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 77

emolument ; or at least, by some means of publication or
other, have found a method of making it public for the good
of mankind ? In short, this woman (as it appears to me)
having set up for a cancer-doctress, finds it expedient to
amuse the country with this dark and mysterious relation.

The water-eft has not, that I can discern, the least
appearance of any gills ; for want of which it is continually
rising to the surface of the water to take in fresh air. I
opened a big-bellied one indeed, and found it full of spawn.
Not that this circumstance at all invalidates the assertion
that they are larva: for the larva of insects are full of eggs,
which they exclude the instant they enter their last state.
The water-eft is continually climbing over the brims of the
vessel, within which we keep it in water, and wandering
away : and people every summer see numbers crawling, out
of the pools where they are hatched, up the dry banks.
There are varieties of them, differing in colour ; and some
have fins up their tail and back, and some have not.1

[I am not certain that the stone curlew, cedicnemus, stays
with us quite in the dead of winter. I had often seen them
late in the autumn and early in spring. It is probable they
may depart for a time : for they have been seen in this
neighbourhood & in Sussex near Chichester, 30 & 40, nay
100 in a flock towards winter. They are not usually brought
to table : but a Gent : told me he dressed one last summer,
& it proved a juicy, well-flavoured bird. I have been en-
deavouring all the summer to procure you some of their
eggs, but without success.

First young swallows appeared on July the 4th- Martins
(perhaps the new-flown young ones) began to congregate
on the top of our may-pole July 23.

My heart & inclinations will be with you when you
climb the rocks of Snowdon, & traverse the shores of
Anglesea and Caernarvon, but there are insuperable diffi-
culties between us. That romantic and Alp-like country
must afford much of entertainment for a naturalist.

1 The fins or membranes upon the tail and back are an appendage to the males
only, and are developed at the season of their breeding. — [W. J.]

78 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

A man brings me word just this minute that a person at
Alton has got a couple of eggs of the cedicnemus, which he
took this summer in a bean-field ; they are large and round,
& very much of the shape & colour of those of the Falco
y the Kite.

I am with the greatest respect &c., &c.]

Life size

LETTER XIX1

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, August I'jth, 1768.

DEAR SIR, — [I wrote to you about the 25th of July, &
hope my letter reached you as it was directed to Sr R :
Mostyn as usual. In that letter I gave you an account that

1 This is one of the most important letters in the book. It is the first clear
definition of the three migratory species of Willow-Wrens, or Willow Warblers
(as they are variously called), which annually visit Great Britain. Although the
three species are perfectly distinct, it requires to be a trained naturalist to estimate
their specific characters, and to recognise their notes. On the 2oth of May 1899, 1
first visited Gilbert White's country, in company with Mr. Freemantle and Mr.
Herbert Railton, and I undertook to show them the three species of Willow
Warblers. The Chiff-chaff was detected by his note among the ivy-covered trees
and bushes which adjoin the path leading to the " zigzag " ; the Willow Wren sang to
us from the bushy trees which fringe the Hanger, close to the Park which belongs
to the "Wakes " ; and without moving from the spot, the Wood Warbler's song
was heard from the beech-trees of the adjacent Hanger, then in the full spring
perfection of its new foliage. The latter was Gilbert White's " yellowish bird,"
the largest of our three British Willow Warblers : it is distinguished by its white
breast and abdomen, and brown or flesh coloured legs, and is the Phylloscopus
sibilator of modern naturalists. The Willow Wren (P. trachilus} has also light-
coloured legs, is intermediate in size between the other two, and is altogether a
yellower bird, while the Chiff-chaff (P. minor) is the smallest, and has black legs.
The latter bird, one of the earliest of our spring migrants, has a more rounded
wing than the other two species. The second primary is intermediate in length
between the sixth and ninth. It migrates to the Mediterranean countries and reaches
Abyssinia and Somali Land. The Willow Warbler always has the second primary
intermediate in length between the fifth and sixth. It has a more extended winter
range than the Chiff-chaff or the Wood Warbler, and is found during our cold
season throughout Africa, reaching even to the Cape Colony. The winter home
of the Wood Warbler is in North-east Africa and West Africa, for it has been met
with on the Gold Coast during our winter months. The above-mentioned differ-
ences in the proportions of the primaries or flight-feathers are of great service
in distinguishing the three species at all seasons of the year, and particularly
in the autumn, when the yellow tint of the plumage assumed by old and young

79

8o NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

I had sent the fishes of our streams up to Mazel to be
engraved. You had in it also a pretty exact description of
the Ambresbury loach taken from living specimens pro-
cured from thence ; my sentiments with regard to the use
of toads near Hungerford ; and my suspicions with regard
to the water-eft.

Now I present you with a paper of remarks from Thomas
Barker Esq. of Lyndon-hall in Rutland, a Gent : who
marryed one of my Sisters. In it you will find, I think,
a curious register, kept by himself for 32 years, relative
to the coming and departure of birds of passage. If you
find anything in it, or among ye rest of the observations
worthy yr notice you are wellcome, he says, to make
what use you please of any of them.] 1

I have now, past dispute, made out three distinct species
of the willow- wrens (motacilloe trochili) which constantly and
invariably use distinct notes. But at the same time I am
obliged to confess that I know nothing of your willow-lark.2
In my letter of April the i8th, I had told you peremptorily
that I knew your willow-lark, but had not seen it then ;
but when I came to procure it, it proved, in all respects,
a very motacilla trochilus ; only that it is a size larger than
the two other, and the yellow-green of the whole upper
part of the body is more vivid, and the belly of a clearer
white. I have specimens of the three sorts now lying
before me ; and can discern that there are three gradations

birds after their autumn moult renders their identification more difficult than
in the breeding season.

The Willow Warbler and the Wood Warbler both build a half-domed grass-
nest on the ground, and the former bird lines its nest with feathers, while the
Wood Warbler lines its nest with horse-hair, and its eggs are unmistakable from
the purplish colour of the spots, which are often thickly clustered together at the
larger end. The spots on the eggs of the Willow Warbler are smaller and more
decidedly rufous in tint. The Chiff-chaff builds its nest a little way off the ground,
sometimes at a height of three or four feet, forms it of grass, but uses no moss like
the Willow Warbler, although it lines the nest with feathers. The eggs are
slightly smaller than those of the other two species, and the spots, either reddish
or purple, are more equally distributed over the surface of the egg. — [R. B. S.]

1 This "curious" (i.e. carefully made) register of the migration of birds in
Rutlandshire seems no longer to be in existence. — [R. B. S.]

2 "Brit. Zool.," edit 1776, octavo, p. 381.— [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 81

of sizes, and that the least has black legs, and the other two
flesh-coloured ones. The yellowest bird is considerably
the largest, and has its quill-feathers and secondary feathers
tipped with white, which the others have not. This last
haunts only the tops of trees in high beechen woods, and
makes a sibilous grasshopper-like noise, now and then, at
short intervals, shivering a little with its wings when it
sings ; and is, I make no doubt now, the regulus non cristatus
of Ray ; which he says, " cantat voce stridula locustce." Yet
this great ornithologist never suspected that there were
three species.1

[The behaviour of the antelope which you saw in town,
strongly corroborates my suspicions concerning the deer.
I desire you will not fail to procure a buck's head from
Sr R : M : 2 & will have it dissected with care. I could
have procured one with ease myself 'til this year : but now
my neighbour Sr Simeon Stuart has destroyed his stock,
& turned his park into sheep-walks.

The first young swallows appeared on July 4th & ye
first martins began to congregate on ye bush of the village
may-pole on July 23.

To me it is very plain, that the first swallows & martins
that congregate, are the birds of the first brood, & that
thro' an inability of flying long at a time. For while these
first flyers are spending as much time on a may-pole, the
battlements of a tower, &c. : the old ones are busily
employed in rearing a second brood.

The swifts have never been seen with us since Aug : 5th
& I conclude will come no more this season. I am always

1 In the original letter follows a repetition of the note on the Thick-knee
which occurred in Letter XVIII, and which I have there restored. The two
notes are identical, with the exception that the words "nay 100 in a flock" are
not repeated, as if the author fancied that his estimate might have been too large.
He then continues : " Understanding that a Quaker at Alton had got two of
their eggs which he took in a bean-field as they lay in a hollow place on the
naked ground, I went over to see them, and found them round and large, and of
a yellow-white blotched with red, and not unlike those of the Falco milvus. The
man was very civil, and says I may have them when I chuse to send : so I shall
preserve them for you." — [R. B. S.]

2 Sir Roger Mostyn.— [R. B. S.]

L

82 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

amazed that this species should constantly depart so man>
months before their congeners. It is worth our remarking
that tho' the swift is at its arrival of a dark sootty colour
yet by being for 16 hours together almost constantly in th<
sun & air, it becomes before its departure much bleached
& as it were what the country people call piss-burnt, lik<
an old weather-beaten brown wig : & yet it returns soott]
again in the spring. Now if they go into warm region
during our winter, why do they not return sun-burnt, a;
they went off ? It is a matter of curious enquiry to con
sider when swifts moult. Change their feathers here the;
certainly do not : & if they have as much occasion fo
their wings while absent, as while here, they would fin<
no opportunity to spare several feathers at a time,
would not pretend to lay too much stress on thesi
reflections : but certainly can't refrain from observing
that they tend rather to make one suspect that they hide
rather than migrate ... at least for part of the long tim
they are absent from us : and perhaps that at that junctur
they moult.

Hoping for a long and communicative letter soon,
I conclude, with great esteem,

Yr most obedient servant,

GIL : WHITE.

P.S. — When you have done with Mr- Barker's remarks
please to return them.]

LETTER XX

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE: Octobr 8, 1768.

DEAR SIR, — [Your letter of Septemr 6th gave me a great
deal of entertainment & satisfaction: & the more satisfac-
tion because I really began to fear from yr long & unusual
silence that you might be prevented from writing by sick-
ness or some accident that might have befallen you in yr
Caernarvon tour. But as I much esteem yr friendly cor-
respondence already, I desire you will not make use of any
such methods of enhancing the value of it for the future.

I receive yr kind invitation into Flintshire as a fresh
instance of yr friendly disposition towards me : but whether
my health, or the want of command of my time will ever
permit me to gratify myself with so pleasing a tour & visit,
I cannot pretend to say : however I depend much on having
it in my power to give you a meeting in town next spring :
& it would be matter of high entertainment & instruction
to me to be able to accompany you in yr pursuits after
natural knowledge.

As I do not live nearer to any sand-banks than three
miles, I am not so conversant with ye sand-martins as
with their congeners. However I know in general that
they appear as soon as the swallows, and retire much
about the same time. As their stay is of such length, there
is little reason to doubt but that they breed twice like the
swallow, & house-martin : but this I do not advance as

from my own knowledge. How strange is it that so feeble

83

84 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

a little bird as the sand-martin with its soft bill & weak
claws should be able to terebrate such deep holes in the
hard sand-banks ? & yet there is no manner of doubt but
that these latebrae are of their own boring. Some, I see,
are now left not more than an Inch deep ; some three
or four; & must remain uncompleated 'til some future
summer. I remember but one instance of their deviating
from this manner of building in banks; & that is at Bishop's
Waltham in Hants, where these birds have nested time out
of mind in great numbers in the scaffold-holes, & crannies
of the walls of the Bishop's old stables, which are now
malt-houses. One colony of these martins on the verge of
our forest has been dispossessed of their caverns by the
house-sparrows, who breed in them, as they often do in
the nests of house-martins. Mr< Peter Collinson, I re-
member, procured several of these holes to be dug-out to
the bottom in winter, & found that they were about two
feet deep, & serpentine ; but contained nothing but old
nests. It appears by my Nat : Journal, that sand-martins
were seen in plenty on Septemr i6th- They always haunt
near great lakes, & waters.

I met with a paragraph in the news-papers some weeks
ago that gave me some odd sensations, a kind of mixture of
pleasure & pain at the same time : it was as follows : " On
the sixth day of August Joseph Banks Esq., accompanyed
by Dr- Solander, Mr- Green the Astronomer, &c: set-out
for Deal in order to embark aboard the Endeavour, Captain
Cook, bound for the South-seas." When I reflect on the
youth & affluence of this enterprizing Gent : I am filled with
wonder to see how conspicuously the contempt of dangers,
& the love of excelling in his favourite studies stand forth
in his character. And yet tho' I admire his resolution,
which scorns to stoop to any difficulties ; I cannot divest
myself of some degree of solicitude for his person. The
circumnavigation of the globe is an undertaking that must
shock the constitution of a person inured to a sea-faring life
from his childhood : & how much more that of a landman ?
May we not hope that this strong Impulse, which urges for-

(j9st

P/5 Life size

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 85

ward this distinguished Naturalist to brave the intemperance
of every climate ; may also lead him to the discovery of
something highly beneficial to mankind ? If he survives,
with what delight shall we peruse his Journals, his Fauna,
his Flora ? .... if he fails by the way, I shall revere his
fortitude, & contempt of pleasures, & indulgences : but
shall always regret him, tho' my knowledge of his worth
was of late date, & my acquaintance with him but slender.]
It is, I find, in zoology as it is in botany: all nature is so
full, that that district produces the greatest variety which
is the most examined. Several birds, which are said to
belong to the north only, are, it seems, often in the south.
I have discovered this summer three species of birds with
us, which writers mention as only to be seen in the northern
counties. The first that was brought me (on the i4th of
May] was the sandpiper, tringa hypoleucus : it was a cock
bird, and haunted the banks of some ponds near the village ;
and, as it had a companion, doubtless intended to have
bred near that water.1 Besides, the owner has told me

1 This it would not have done, the neighbourhood of Selborne being quite
different from the more northern moorland haunts which the Common Sandpiper
affects during the breeding-season. In the spring migrations, however, the Sand-
piper visits the ponds and lakes of Hampshire on its passage northward, and at
Avington Park I have seen several individuals of this species on the great lake in
May, but I never saw one in the autumn, when the Sandpiper appears to travel
south in family parties along the rivers, or else by the coast-lines. On the banks
of the Thames they are seen singly or in pairs in the spring, and are rare ; whereas
in autumn they are rather common, being met with in little parties on the sandy
banks such as those between Cookham and Marlow, according to my own
experience. In the mud-flats of the south coast they are generally seen singly,
frequenting the ditches between the mud-banks as the tide recedes. There are
always plenty of them about, so that they may belong to the same family party.

Professor Bell (ed. " Selborne," vol. i. p. 59 note) says that in July 1860 (a some-
what early date for the return journey of the species ; the day of the month is
unfortunately not given) a Common Sandpiper was shot on the mill-stream and
brought to him. He also mentions a Green Sandpiper (Melodramas ochropus) as
having been shot in August 1858. This specimen is now in the Alton Museum.
A Spotted Redshank, changing from summer to winter plumage, was shot at
Oakhanger on August 30, 1851. This specimen was also presented to the Alton
Museum. Gilbert White also mentions the shooting of a Green Sandpiper in
August 1769, as appears in the hitherto unpublished portion of Letter XXV
(postea, p. lio).— [R. B. S.]

86 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

since, that, on recollection, he has seen some of the sam
birds round his ponds in former summers.

The next bird that I procured (on the 2ist of May) w<
a male red-backed butcher-bird, lanius collurio. My neigl
bour, who shot it, says that it might easily have escaped h
notice, had not the outcries and chattering of the whiti
throats and other small birds drawn his attention to tt
bush where it was ; it's craw was filled with the legs an
wings of beetles.

The next rare birds (which were procured for me la
week) were some ring-ousels, turdi torquati.

This week twelve months a gentleman from London
being with us, was amusing himself with a gun, and foun
he told us, on an old yew hedge where there were berrii
some birds like blackbirds, with rings of white round the
necks : a neighbouring farmer also at the same time observe
the same ; but, as no specimens were procured, little noti<
was taken. I mentioned this circumstance to you in n
letter of November the 4th, 1767 : (you however paid b
small regard to what I said, as I had not seen these bir
myself) ; but last week the aforesaid farmer, seeing a larj
flock, twenty or thirty of these birds, shot two cocks at
two hens : and says, on recollection, that he remembers
have observed these birds again last spring, about Lady-dt
as it were, on their return to the north. Now perhaps the
ousels are not the ousels of the north of England, b
belong to the more northern parts of Europe;* and m
retire before the excessive rigor of the frosts in those part
and return to breed in the spring, when the cold abat<
i

1 In the original letter : " My brother from Fleet Street [Pennant's publish
Benjamin White] being with us, was amusing himself with a gun, &c." — [K. B.

2 The Ring-ousel (Merula torquata} is a bird of the fells in summer,
nests on the moors in the west and north of England, and in Scotland :
Ireland. The birds observed by Gilbert White were not likely to be those wh
had nested on the moors of Dorsetshire or Wales, as there is no evidence o
west-to-east migration in the Ring-ousel, and the numbers I saw in Heligoh
in 1876 came from the north and flew due south when they were disturbed. 1
Ring-ousels doubtless come to visit Selborne in the autumn on their south
migration just as they visit Brighton, and at the same season they occur
Central Europe and winter in the Mediterranean countries. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 87

If this be the case, here is discovered a new bird of winter
passage, concerning whose migrations the writers are silent :
but if these birds should prove the ousels of the north of
England, then here is a migration disclosed within our own
kingdom never before remarked. It does not yet appear
whether they retire beyond the bounds of our island to the
south ; but it is most probable that they usually do, or else
one cannot suppose that they would have continued so
long unnoticed in the southern countries. The ousel is
larger than a blackbird, and feeds on haws ; but last autumn
(when there were no haws) it fed on yew-berries : in the
spring it feeds on ivy-berries, which ripen only at that
season, in March and April.1

[I am persuaded from the accounts of two or three
people that the Sturnus cinclus is sometimes seen in these
parts,2 but more frequently round Lewes in Sussex.]

I must not omit to tell you (as you have been so lately
on the study of reptiles) that my people, every now and
then of late, draw up with a bucket of water from my well,
which is sixty-three feet deep, a large black warty lizard
with a fin-tail and yellow belly.3 How they first came down
at that depth, and how they were ever to have got out
thence without help, is more than I am able to say.

My thanks are due to you for your trouble and care in
the examination of a buck's head. As far as your dis-
coveries reach at present, they seem much to corroborate

1 Jardine gives the following note in his edition : " White's observations upon
the ring-ousel, at the time he wrote, were very important, and made with great
accuracy. As in other matters, it will be very interesting for Professor Bell to
give his attention to their present habits in the vicinity of Selborne, to ascertain
if their numbers continue as many, and their appearance as regular. In Scotland
the ring-ousel is a regular summer visitant, extending from the English border to
Sutherlandshire ; in the rocky districts of the latter county it is tolerably frequent.
In autumn and before their departure they visit the lower country, and remain a
day or a week according to circumstances, feeding at this time upon various
berries, and occasionally visiting gardens. The broods are now joined and mixed
together, and the young appear in their imperfect mottled dress " (p. 60). Pro-
fessor Bell does not seem to have published any notes on the Ring-ousels near
Selbome in modern days. — [R. B. S.J

2 The Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus). — [R. B. S.]
* Triton palustris.— [G. A. B.]

88 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

my suspicions ; and I hope Mr. l may find reason

give his decision in my favour ; and then, I think, we rm
advance this extraordinary provision of nature as a ne
instance of the wisdom of God in the creation.

As yet I have not quite done with my history of tl
cedicnemus, or stone-curlew ; for I shall desire a gentlerra
in Sussex (near whose house these birds congregate in va
flocks in the autumn) to observe nicely when they lea1!
him, (if they do leave him), and when they return again i
the spring : I was with this gentleman lately, and sa
several single birds.

[I am with the greatest esteem,
Your obliged, & most obedient servant
GIL : WHITE.

P.S. — Young martins in their nest Septembr 251
Swallows and Martins still appear Octobr yth.]

1 "Hunter," in the original letter.— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXI

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE: Nffif 28, 1786.

DEAR SIR, — [Your obliging & communicative letter of
Octobr 23rd lies before me ; & ought not any longer to
remain unanswered. It is a great pleasure to me to find
that amidst your various & extensive correspondence, &
the daily labours of your work in hand, you still afford
time to pay regard to my trifling remarks, & discoveries ;
which a man cannot avoid stumbling upon now & then,
if he lives altogether in the country, & gives any attention
at all to the works of Nature. Happy the man ! who
knows, like you, how to keep himself innocently & use-
fully employed ; especially where his studies tend to the
advancement of knowledge, & the benefit of Society. And
happy would it be for many more men of fortune if they
knew what to do with their time ; if they knew how to
shun " The pains & penalties of Idleness," how much dissi-
pation, riot, & excess would they escape ; not without the
complacency of finding themselves growing still better
neighbours & better commonwealths-men ?

Poor Mr- Banks ! his undertakings are virtu in excess :
& I could almost wish he had followed your advice, & sent
a proxy. But then he would have foregone the honour &
praise due to such a disinterested hazarding of his life ;
which a very sensible man the other day told me much
more merited a peerage than the enterprize undertaken
by Ld Anson.

I am sorry Dr- Hunter has given you no better satis-
faction with regard to the buck's head ; as I was in hopes

89 M

9o NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

the suspicions concerning the extraordinary provision for
smelling bestowed on that animal would have been cleared
up at once by that Gent : in a matter so much in his
own way.]

With regard to the cedicnemus, or stone-curlew, I intend
to write very soon to my friend near Chichester,1 in whose
neighbourhood these birds seem most to abound ; and shall
urge him to take particular notice when they begin to con-
gregate, and afterwards to watch them most narrowly
whether they do not withdraw themselves during the dead
of the winter. When I have obtained information with
respect to this circumstance, I shall have finished my
history of the stone-curlew ; which I hope will prove to
your satisfaction, as it will be, I trust, very near the truth.
This gentleman, as he occupies a large farm of his own, and
is abroad early and late, will be a very proper spy upon the
motions of these birds : and besides, as I have prevailed on
him to buy the Naturalist's Journal (with which he is much
delighted), I shall expect that he will be very exact in his
dates. It is very extraordinary, as you observe, that a bird
so common with us should never straggle to you.

And here will be the properest place to mention, while
I think of it, an anecdote which the above-mentioned
gentleman told me when I was last at his house ; which was
that, in a warren joining to his outlet, many daws (corvi
monedula) build every year in the rabbit-burrows under
ground. The way he and his brothers used to take their
nests, while they were boys, was by listening at the mouths
of the holes ; and, if they heard the young ones cry, they
twisted the nest out with a forked stick. Some water-fowls
(viz. the puffins) breed, I know, in that manner ; but I
should never have suspected the daws of building in holes
on the flat ground.

1 Professor Bell says that Gilbert White's friend " near Chichester,:' was Mr
John Woods of Chilgrove (about six miles from Chichester, lying under the chalk
down called Bow Hill). He adds : " The stone-curlew, I am informed, is still
occasionally met with; but its numbers are now but few" (ed. "Selborne,"
vol. i. p. 61 note).— [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 91

Another very unlikely spot is made use of by daws as
a place to breed in, and that is Stonehenge. These birds
deposit their nests in the interstices between the upright
and the impost stones of that amazing work of antiquity :
which circumstance alone speaks the prodigious height of
the upright stones, that they should be tall enough to secure
those nests from the annoyance of shepherd-boys, who are
always idling round that place.

1 One of my neighbours last Saturday, November the 26th,
saw a martin in a sheltered bottom : the sun shone warm,
and the bird was hawking briskly after flies. I am now
perfectly satisfied that they do not all leave this island in
the winter.

You judge very right, I think, in speaking with reserve
and caution concerning the cures done by toads : for, let
people advance what they will on such subjects, yet there
is such a propensity in mankind towards deceiving and
being deceived, that one cannot safely relate anything from
common report, especially in print, without expressing
some degree of doubt and suspicion.

Your approbation, with regard to my new discovery
of the migration of the ring-ousel, gives me satisfaction ;
and I find you concur with me in suspecting that they are
foreign birds which visit us. You will be sure, I hope, not
to omit to make inquiry whether your ring-ousels leave
your rocks in the autumn. What puzzles me most, is the
very short stay they make with us ; for in about three
weeks they are all gone. I shall be very curious to remark
whether they will call on us at their return in the spring,
as they did last year.

[Let me congratulate you on the correspondence that
You have newly settled with your Languedoc Doctors ;
since you have always expressed an earnest desire of getting
correspondents somewhere in the South of Europe. If
these men are any thing of good Naturalists, they may be
sure to assist you with their informations & observations
with regard to migration ; & especially that of the soft-

1 This sentence forms the postscript to the original letter. — [R. B. S.]

92 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

billed birds. It is remarkable that You and Gouan shouh
be both publishing Ichthyology together.

I have also written to my South country corresponden
at Gibraltar,1 & urged him to take up the study of Natun
a little ; & to habituate his mind to attend to the migration
of birds & fishes ; & to the plants, fossils, and insects of tha
part of the world. I have also sent him yr British zoology
that he may see what is going on at home : & my Brother
has sent him Ray's Synopsis avium & piscium, the System^
Natures, Ray's Synop : animalium quadrup"1 &c. As t<
birds, I fear that the concourse & din of a garrison will no
prove very inviting to such timid animals : & long o
frequent excursions into Andalusia may not be allowed o
by the bigotted & narrow-minded Spaniards ; nor be con
sistent with the strict & rigid discipline of a place at arm
surrounded with a constant blockade of jealous enemies
However I could earnestly wish to see a well executei
Fauna from that part of the world.

It is a matter of no small satisfaction to me to hear tha
You are so forward in your work, & that it is to appear ii
spring.]

I want to be better informed with regard to ichthyology
If fortune had settled me near the sea-side, or near som
great river, my natural propensity would soon have urgei
me to have made myself acquainted with their produc
tions : but as I have lived mostly in inland parts, and in ai
upland district, my knowledge of fishes extends little farthe
than to those common sorts which our brooks and lake
produce.

[With the greatest esteem
I remain, your obedient, and obliged servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

1 -His brother John.— [R. B. S.] 2 His brother Benjamin.— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE,y«W. 2, 1769.

DEAR SIR, — [Your kind & agreable letter in answer to
mine of Novemr 28th came safe to hand, but without
any date. Among the many correspondents that I stand
indebted to for their pleasing communications, there are
none whose epistles I sit down to answer with more satis-
faction than your own.]

As to the peculiarity of jackdaws building with us under
the ground in rabbit-burrows, you have, in part, hit upon
the reason ; for, in reality, there are hardly any towers or
steeples in all this country.1 And perhaps, Norfolk excepted,
Hampshire and Sussex are as meanly furnished with churches
as almost any counties in the kingdom. We have many
livings of two or three hundred pounds a year, whose
houses of . worship make little better appearance than
dovecots. When I first saw Northamptonshire, Cambridge-
shire, and Huntingdonshire, and the fens of Lincolnshire, I
was amazed at the number of spires which presented them-
selves in every point of view. As an admirer of prospects,
I have reason to lament this want in my own country ; for
such objects are very necessary ingredients in an elegant
landscape.

What you mention with respect to reclaimed toads raises
my curiosity. An ancient author, though no naturalist, has
well remarked that " Every kind of beasts, and of birds, and

1 The nesting of the Jackdaw in rabbit-burrows has been frequently re-
corded.—[R. B. S.]

93

94 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

of serpents, and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been
tamed, of mankind." 1

It is a satisfaction to me to find that a green lizard has
actually been procured for you in Devonshire; because it
corroborates my discovery, which I made many years ago,
of the same sort, on a sunny sandbank near Farnham, in
Surrey? I am well acquainted with the south hams of
Devonshire ; and can suppose that district, from it's southerly
situation, to be a proper habitation for such animals in
their best colours.

Since the ring-ousels of your vast mountains do certainly
not forsake them against winter,3 our suspicions that those
which visit this neighbourhood about Michaelmas are not
English birds, but driven from the more northern parts of
Europe by the frosts, are still more reasonable ; and it will
be worth your pains to endeavour to trace from whence
they come, and to inquire why they make so very short
a stay.

[In your letter of June 28th 1768 I could but admire
with how much frankness you acknowledged several mis-
takes in your zoology with respect to some birds of the
Grallcs order. Candor is a very essential part of a Naturalist,
and this accomplishment our great countryman Mr- Ray
possessed in an eminent degree ; & that rendered him so
excellent. ... If a man was never to write on natural
knowledge 'til he knew every thing, he would never write
at all : & therefore a readiness to acknowledge mistakes on
due conviction is the only certain path to perfection.]

In your account of your error with regard to the two
species of herons, you incidentally gave me great entertain-

1 James, chap. iii. 7. — [G. W.]

2 " The green lizard here spoken of," writes Professor Bell, " which was found
by Gilbert White and by the Rev. Revett Shepherd near Farnham, was doubtless
the Lacerta stirpium of Daudin and Jenyns, now known to be a British species.
It has been repeatedly found by myself in the Isle of Purbeck and Poole Heath,
in Dorsetshire. It is doubtless the true L. agilis of Linnaeus ('Brit. Reptiles,'
p. 17)," (ed. " Selborne," vol. i. p. 64).

3 This statement of Pennant's is quite erroneous. The Ring-ousel does not
pass the winter in Britain. — [R. B. S.]

</

'/a L ife size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 95

ment in your description of the heronry at Cressi-hall ;
which is a curiosity 1 never could manage to see. Fourscore
nests of such a bird on one tree is a rarity which I would
ride half as many miles to have a sight of. Pray be sure
to tell me in your next whose seat Cressi-hall is, and near
what town it lies.1 I have often thought that those vast
extents of fens have never been sufficiently explored. If
half a dozen gentlemen, furnished with a good strength of
water-spaniels, were to beat them over a week, they would
certainly find more species.

[I often take up yr zoology for an hour, & entertain
myself with comparing your descriptions with those of the
authors that have written on the same subject; & am pleased
to find that my friend has thro' the whole acquitted himself
so much to advantage. Your treatise in particular on
migration I admire much, & think that if it is enlarged as
more information comes in, it will contribute much to
the advancement of natural knowledge. But there is a
passage in the article Goatsucker, page 247, which you
will pardon me for objecting to, as I always thought it
exceptionable : & that is, " This noise being made only in
its flight, we suppose it to be caused by the resistance to
the air against the hollow of its vastly extended mouth &
throat for it flies with both open to take its prey." Now
as the first line appears to me to be a false fact ; the
supposition of course falls to the ground, if it should
prove so.]

There is no bird, I believe, whose manners I have studied
more than that of the caprimulgus (the goat-sucker), as it is
a wonderful and curious creature : but I have always found
that though sometimes it may chatter as it flies, as I know
it does, yet in general it utters it's jarring note sitting on a
bough ; and I have for many an half hour watched it as it
sat with it's under mandible quivering, and particularly this
summer. It perches usually on a bare twig, with it's head
lower than it's tail, in an attitude well expressed by your

1 Cressi or Cressy Hall is near Spalding, in Lincolnshire. Mr. Harting says
that the Heronry has long since been destroyed. — [R. B. S.]

96 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

draughtsman in the folio British Zoology. This bird is most
punctual in beginning it's song exactly at the close of day ;
so exactly that I have known it strike up more than once
or twice just at the report of the Portsmouth evening gun,
which we can hear when the weather is still. It appears
to me past all doubt that it's notes are formed by organic
impulse, by the powers of the parts of it's windpipe, formed
for sound, just as cats pur.1 You will credit me, I hope,
when I assure you that, as my neighbours were assembled
in an hermitage on the side of a steep hill where we drink
tea, one of these churn-owls came and settled on the cross
of that little straw edifice and began to chatter, and con-
tinued his note for many minutes ; and we were all struck
with wonder to find that the organs of that little animal,
when put in motion, gave a sensible vibration to the whole
building ! This bird also sometimes makes a small squeak,
repeated four or five times ; and I have observed that to
happen when the cock has been pursuing the hen in a
toying way through the boughs of a tree.

It would not be at all strange if your bat, which you
have procured, should prove a new one, since five species
have been found in a neighbouring kingdom. The great
sort that I mentioned is certainly a non-descript ; I saw but
one this summer, and that I had no opportunity of taking.2

Your account of the Indian-grass was entertaining. I
am no angler myself ; but inquiring of those that are, what
they supposed that part of their tackle to be made of ?
they replied, " Of the intestines of a silkworm."

[And here I beg once for all that you would please to
remember, that tho' I should not just immediately take

1 Professor Bell reproduces in a footnote (vol. i. p. 65) the original part of
White's letter, and adds : "This statement of Pennant's is one of many proofs
how imperfect was his own observation of the habits of birds, and how fallacious
and inconsistent was his reasoning. Who could imagine that the possibility
of the mere 'resistance of the air,' as the bird was flying with its mouth open,
could produce a noise similar to that of a spinning-wheel, and loud enough to be
heard for more than a mile ? This bird is certainly less common in Selborne and
its neighbourhood than it was some years ago, and I have neither seen nor heard
one for some years past," &c. — [R. B. S.]

2 See Letters XXVI, XXXVI, and note(postea, pp. 114 and 152).

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 97

notice of any curious matter which you may inform me of,
you are not to suppose that I neglect it ; for either I may
wait for information, or may have somewhat to advance
which I may think more necessary at that time.]

Though I must not pretend to great skill in entomology,
yet I cannot say that I am ignorant of that kind of know-
ledge ; I may now and then perhaps be able to furnish you
with a little information.

The vast rains ceased with us much about the same time
as with you, and since we have had delicate weather. Mr.
Barker? who has measured the rain for more than thirty
years, says, in a late letter, that more has fallen this year
than in any he ever attended to ; though from July 1763 to
January 1764 more fell than in any seven months of this
year.

[Desiring that you will be pleased to accept of my
sincerest wishes suitable to the season, I remain

Your obliged, & obedient servant
GIL : WHITE.

The nut-hatch just begins to chatter : it chatters flying.]

1 In original letter, " My brother Barker."— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXIII

TO THE SAME

SRLBORNK : Feb. 28, 1769.

DEAR SIR, — [Some avocation or business of one kin
or another has still prevented my paying that attention t
your kind letter of Jan. 22 : which it deserved. As at th
close of that letter you invite me in a most obliging manne
to come & spend some time in Flintshire ; that paragrap
seems to challenge my first attention. You will not,
hope, suspect me of flattery when I assure You that ther
is no man in the kingdom whom I should visit with mor
satisfaction. For as our studies turn the same way, & w
have been so well acquainted by a long & communicativ
correspondence ; I trust we should relish each other'
conversation, & be soon as well acquainted in person a
by letter. Besides your part of the world would not b
without its charms from novelty ; as I am not acquaints
with the N : W : part of this island any farther up thai
Shrewsbury. Your improvements, yr mines, yr fossils, \
botany, your shores, yr birds, would all be matter of th
highest entertainment to me.

But then how am I to get at all these pleasures I
amusements ? I have neither time nor bodily abilitie
adequate to so long a journey. And if I had time I an
subject to such horrible coach-sickness, that I should b
near dead long before I got to Chester. These difficulties
I know, will be matter of great mirth to you, who hav
travelled all over Europe ; but they are formidable to me
As therefore the man cannot come to the mountain ;

hope the mountain (since friendship will effect strang

98

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 99

things) will come to the man : I hope you will have it in
your power to meet me in London, & that you will
gratify me with an opportunity of waiting on you to
Selborne.]

It is not improbable that the Guernsey lizard and our
green lizards may be specifically the same ; all that I know
is, that, when some years ago many Guernsey lizards were
turned loose in Pembroke college garden, in the University
of Oxford, they lived a great while, and seemed to enjoy
themselves very well, but never bred. Whether this circum-
stance will prove anything either way I shall not pretend
to say.

I return you thanks for your account of Cressi-hall ;
but recollect, not without regret, that in June 1746 I was
visiting for a week together at Spalding, without ever being
told that such a curiosity was just at hand. Pray send me
word in your next what sort of tree it is that contains such
a quantity of herons' nests ; and whether the heronry con-
sists of a whole grove of wood, or only of a few trees.

It gave me satisfaction to find we accorded so well
about the caprimulgus : all I contended for was to prove
that it often chatters sitting as well as flying ; and therefore
the noise was voluntary, and from organic impulse, and
not from the resistance of the air against the hollow of its
mouth and throat.

If ever I saw anything like actual migration, it was last
Michaelmas-fay. I was travelling, and out early in the
morning : at first there was a vast fog ; but, by the time
that I was got seven or eight miles from home towards the
coast, the sun broke out into a delicate warm day. We
were then on a large heath or common, and I could discern,
as the mist began to break away, great numbers of swallows
(hirundines rustica) clustering on the stunted shrubs and
bushes, as if they had roosted there all night. As soon as
the air became clear and pleasant they all were on the
wing at once ; and, by a placid and easy flight, proceeded
on southward towards the sea : after this I did not see any
more flocks, only now and then a straggler.

ioo NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

I cannot agree with those persons that assert1 that the
swallow kind disappear some and some gradually, as they
come, for the bulk of them seem to withdraw at once ; only
some stragglers stay behind a long while, and do never,
there is the greatest reason to believe, leave this island.
Swallows seem to lay themselves up, and to come forth in
a warm day, as bats do continually of a warm evening, after
they have disappeared for weeks [this moment a bat is
flying round my house]. For a very respectable gentleman
assured me that, as he was walking with some friends under
Merton-wall on a remarkably hot noon, either in the last
week in December or the first week in January, he espied
three or four swallows huddled together on the moulding
of one of the windows of that college. I have frequently
remarked that swallows are seen later at Oxford than else-
where : is it owing to the vast massy buildings of that place,
to the many waters round it, or to what else ? 2

[Swallows (hirundines rusticce] as far as I can observe,
are the only birds that feed their Young flying. At first
when they bring out their broods they usually place them
in a row on the dead bough of some tree where they feed
them sitting. As soon as the young can fly tollerably, the
parent-birds, whenever their mouth is well-furnished with
flies, give a signal by a certain note ; & the dam & the
young bird advancing in a rising direction towards each
other on the wing, the food is conveyed by a delicate
sleight from the mouth of the former to that of the latter.
This method of feeding continues for some time : for after
the broods are able to fly pretty strongly, yet there are
such awkward vacillations in their motions as incapacitate
them to provide for themselves.

1 In the original letter : " I cannot agree with Mr. Barker " (his brother-in-
law), whose notes on migration were then in Pennant's hands. — [R. B. S.]

'- This letter is a reply to some of Mr. Pennant's inquiries, and is remarkable
for the very distinct observations made upon the swallows. In a small pamphlet
printed at Rotherham in 1815, the author of which we never ascertained, there are
some observations made that agree with many of those recorded by Mr. White.
These were also made by a clergyman, as it is told in his short preface, " to rescue
a beautiful and instructive phenomenon from oblivion, and to render it subservient to
the moral improvement of his numerous and highly-respected charge." — [W. J.]

Vs Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 101

Swallows with us sometimes build in barns against
rafters : & so they did in Virgil's time : Antea quam tignis
nidos suspendit hirundo. Some times also they build in
porches : & therefore the epithet or trivial name, chimney,
(chimney-swallow) used by Mr. Ray is not a good one :
& would still be more improper in countries where there
are no chimnies.

Long before I had the pleasure of your correspondence
I began to suspect that Swifts copulate flying. I kept my
suspicions to myself, & have observed them narrowly
several years ; & do not yet find any reason to retract
my supposition ; and therefore hope you will not be
startled at it.

Those that will attend to their motions on fine summer
mornings in the height of breeding time, may see that as
they sail gently round very high in the air, one shall settle
on the back of the other. During this contact they tumble
down for many fathoms together head over heels with a
loud shriek : at this juncture I suppose the business of
generation is carrying on.

There is nothing very strange in the supposition ; for we
know that many insects engender flying ; as do ducks in
their own element the water. All that I have to say about
swifts farther at present is, that if what I advance is true,
these birds eat, drink, collect materials for their nests, &
procreate on the wing : in short perform every function
in the air except that of incubation & sleeping !]

When I used to rise in a morning last autumn, and see
the swallows and martins clustering l on the chimneys and

1 The migration of the Swallows from England can be observed by any one
interested in birds. When the instinct of migration becomes enforced, numbers
of Swallows may be seen congregating on telegraph-wires or on the bare boughs
of trees. They rest for a day or so and are gone the next. Sand- Martins also
affect the telegraph-wires in large numbers at the season of migration, and I have
also seen them in flocks resting on the warm sands of our southern harbours (such
as Pagham was in the old days), before migrating across the Channel. All that I
procured were young birds, and I did not see a single adult one. In inland
villages I have known our House-Martins to congregate in what Gilbert White
would have called " vast " numbers on the slate roofs of houses in the early morn-
ing, as the slates were warmed by the sun. They would sit preening their

102 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

thatch of the neighbouring cottages, I could not help being
touched with a secret delight, mixed with some degree of
mortification : with delight, to observe with how much
ardour and punctuality those poor little birds obeyed the
strong impulse towards migration, or hiding,1 imprinted
on their minds by their great Creator ; and with some
degree of mortification, when I reflected that, after all our
pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what
regions they do migrate ; z and are still farther embarrassed
to find that some do not actually migrate at all.

These reflections made so strong an impression on my
imagination, that they became productive of a composition
that may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour
when next I have the honour of writing to you.
[I am, with the greatest esteem,

Yr obliged & humble servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

feathers and twitter incessantly, while numbers would perch on the gutters and
indulge in a bath. I have already spoken of the way in which the Swallows
haunt the reed-beds of the Thames and the marsh-lands of the southern coasts in
thousands before the autumn flight takes place. — [R. B. S.]

1 That Gilbert White entertained a qualified belief in the hibernation of
Swallows is evident throughout his writings. He certainly maintained an open
mind on the subject, not liking entirely to reject some ol the evidence brought to
his knowledge. As recently as 1 896 a very striking instance of the occurrence of
two Swallows in Yorkshire in the winter of 1895-96 was recorded by Dr. Frank
Penrose in the " Bulletin " of the British Ornithologists' Club (vol. vi. pp. xviii.
xix.) The occurrence is vouched for by the Rev. T. Powell, Vicar of Healey —
[R. B. S.]

2 If Gilbert White had lived in the present day, his doubts as to the migration
of the British Swallows and their winter homes would have been set at rest. The
Common Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is found abundantly in tropical Africa during
our cold season, and reaches to the Cape Colony, while the House-Martin
(Chelidon urbica) and the Sand-Martin (Clivicola riparia} have been found in
the Transvaal and Rhodesia.— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXIV

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, May 2gtk, 1769.

DEAR SIR, — [When your agreable but tardy letter of
April 22nd arrived at this place, I was in London : but it
was sent up after me. It gave me concern to hear you
had been a good while indisposed ; & satisfaction to find
that you are recovered.

The great honours that have befallen you at Drontheim
call for my congratulations. You must heartily believe
now in the accounts given by Pontopidon of the kraken,
& sea-snake : if you should express any disrespect towards
these two remarkable animals, I don't know but they may
remove you from ye society as an unworthy brother.]

The scarabceus fullo I know very well, having seen it in
collections ; but have never been able to discover one wild
in its natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it
might be found on the sea-coast1

On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep-down,
where the ring-ousels have been observed to make their
appearance at spring and fall, in their way perhaps to the
north or south ; and was much pleased to see these birds
about the usual spot. We shot a cock and a hen ; they
were plump and in high condition. The hen had but very
small rudiments of eggs within her, which proves they are
late breeders ; whereas those species of the thrush kind
that remain with us the whole year have fledged young
before that time. In their crops was nothing very dis-

1 This handsome Cockchafer (Melontka, or Polyphylla, fullo) is not a British
species, but a few have been captured on the coast of Kent— evidently stragglers

from the Continent. — [R. I. P.]

103

104 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

tinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of
vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed on haws
and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I dressed
one of these birds, and found it juicy and well-flavoured.
It is remarkable that they make but a few days stay in
their spring visit, but rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas.
These birds, from the observations of three springs and two
autumns, are most punctual in their return ; and exhibit
a new migration unnoticed by the writers, who supposed
they never were to be seen in any southern countries.

One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria,
which at first I suspected might have proved your willow-
lark,1 but, on a nicer examination, it answered much better
to the description of that species which you shot at
Revesby? in Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus : " It
is a size less than the grasshopper-lark ; the head, back,
and coverts of the wings, of a dusky brown, without those
dark spots of the grasshopper-lark ; over each eye is a
milk-white stroke ; the chin and throat are white, and the
under parts of a yellowish white ; the rump is tawny, and
the feathers of the tail sharp-pointed ; the bill is dusky and
sharp, and the legs are dusky ; the hinder claw long and
crooked." The person that shot it says that it sung so
like a reed-sparrow that he took it for one ; and that it
sings all night : but this account merits farther inquiry.
For my part, I suspect it is a second sort of locustella,
hinted at by Dr. Derham in Ray's Letters : see p. 108. He
also procured me a grasshopper-lark.

The question that you put with regard to those genera
of animals that are peculiar to America, viz., how they
came there, and whence ? is too puzzling for me to answer ;
and yet so obvious as often to have struck me with wonder.
If one looks into the writers on that subject little satisfac-
tion is to be found. Ingenious men will readily advance
plausible arguments to support whatever theory they shall

1 For this salicaria see letter August 30, 1769. — [G.W.]
a This was Sir Joseph Banks's place, where apparently Pennant had been
staying.— [R. B. S.]

Life s .• z.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 105

chuse to maintain ; but then the misfortune is, every
one's hypothesis is each as good as another's, since they
are all founded on conjecture. The late writers of this
sort, in whom may be seen all the arguments of those
that have gone before, as I remember, stock America from
the western coast of Africa and the south of Europe; and
then break down the Isthmus that bridged over the Atlantic.
But this is making use of a violent piece of machinery :
it is a difficulty worthy of the interposition of a god !
" Incredulus odi."

[I return you thanks for yr late letter of May 9th : which
I shall endeavour to answer hereafter. In the meanwhile
hoping for the pleasure of hearing from you,

I remain,

Please to return Mr. Yr obedient servant,

Barker's paper. GIL : WHITE.]

To THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE
THE NATURALIST'S SUMMER-EVENING WALK

-equidem credo, quia sit divinitus illis

Ingenium. VIRG. Georg.

WHEN day declining sheds a milder gleam,

What time the may-fly 1 haunts the pool or stream ;

When the still owl skims round the grassy mead,

What time the timorous hare limps forth to feed ;

Then be the time to steal adown the vale,

And listen to the vagrant 2 cuckoo's tale ;

To hear the clamorous 3 curlew call his mate,

Or the soft quail his tender pain relate ;

To see the swallow sweep the dark'ning plain

Belated, to support her infant train ;

1 The angler's may-fly, the ephemera vulgata LINN, comes forth from it's
aurelia state, and emerges out of the water about six in the evening, and dies
about eleven at night, determining the date of it's fly state in about five or six
hours. They usually begin to appear about the 4th of June, and continue in suc-
cession for near a fortnight. See Sivammerdam, Derham, Scopoli, &c. — [G. W.]

2 Vagrant cuckoo ; so called because, being tied down by no incubation or
attendance about the nutrition of it's young, it wanders without control. — [G. W.]

3 Charadrius ccdicnemus. — [G. W.] = (Edicnemus adicnemus(Uum.). — [R. B. S.]

O

106 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

To mark the swift in rapid giddy ring
Dash round the steeple, unsubdued of wing :
Amusive birds ! — say where your hid retreat
When the frost rages and the tempests beat ;
Whence your return, by such nice instinct led,
When spring, soft season, lifts her bloomy head ?
Such baffled searches mock man's prying pride,
The GOD of NATURE is your secret guide !

While deep'ning shades obscure the face of day,
To yonder bench leaf-shelter* d let us stray,
'Till blended objects fail the swimming sight,
And all the fading landscape sinks in night ;
To hear the drowsy dor come brushing by
With buzzing wing, or the shrill 1 cricket cry ;
To see the feeding bat glance through the wood ;
To catch the distant falling of the flood ;
While o'er the cliff th' awaken'd churn-owl hung
Through the still gloom protracts his chattering song ;
While high in air, and poised upon his wings,
Unseen, the soft enamour'd 2 woodlark sings :
These, NATURE'S works, the curious mind employ,
Inspire a soothing melancholy joy :
As fancy warms, a pleasing kind of pain
Steals o'er the cheek, and thrills the creeping vein !

Each rural sight, each sound, each smell, combine ;
The twinkling sheep-bell, or the breath of kine ;
The new-mown hay that scents the swelling breeze,
Or cottage-chimney smoking through the trees.

The chilling night-dews fall : — away, retire !
For see, the glow-worm lights her amorous fire ! 3
Thus, ere night's veil had half obscured the sky,
Th' impatient damsel hung her lamp on high :
True to the signal, by love's meteor led,
Leander hasten'd to his Hero's bed.4

1 Gryllus campestris.—[G. W.]

2 In hot summer nights woodlarks soar to a prodigious height, and hang
singing in the air. — [G. W.]

3 The light of the female glow-worm (as she often crawls up the stalk of a grass
to make herself more conspicuous) is a signal to the male, which is a slender dusky
scarabaus. — [G. W.]

4 See the story of Hero and Leander. — [G. W.]

LETTER XXV

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Aug. 3oM, I769.1

DEAR SIR, — [I am to acknowledge my tardiness in
answering your kind letter of June 9th and have to plead,
business, workmen, & company : & yet I ought not to
have been silent for so many weeks. In a former letter
of May the 9th you mention a thought of a periodical
publication, that shall receive the various pieces of natural
history that otherwise might perish. Not being conversant
in such undertakings I am little of a judge whether such
a pamphlet would be likely to take : & am fearful that the
very occasion of your magazine may be the cause of its
not suceeding : for amidst the din & clamour of party
Rage, the still small voice of Philosophy will, I fear, be
little attended to. However, if you think such a publica-
tion expedient, you will no doubt get considerable assist-
ance from your friends ; & I shall be ready to advance my
mite : but then I shall expect you to be very charitable
in your allowance, & to grant that my mite in one respect
is equal to larger contributions, as it is all my stock of
knowledge.]

It gives me satisfaction to find that my account of the
ousel migration pleases you. You put a very shrewd ques-
tion when you ask me how I know that their autumnal
migration is southward ? Was not candour and openness
the very life of natural history, I should pass over this
query just as a sly commentator does over a crabbed
passage in a classic ; but common ingenuousness obliges

1 Actual date of letter — September 1st, 1769. — [R. B. S.]
107

io8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

me to confess, not without some degree of shame, that I
only reasoned in that case from analogy. For as all other
autumnal birds migrate from the northward to us, to partake
of our milder winters, and return to the northward again
when the rigorous cold abates, so I concluded that the ring-
ousels did the same, as well as their congeners the fieldfares;
and especially as ring-ousels are known to haunt cold
mountainous countries : but I have good reason to suspect
since that they may come to us from the westward ; because
I hear, from very good authority, that they breed on
Dartmore ; and that they forsake that wild district about
the time that our visitors appear, and do not return till late
in the spring.1

I have taken a great deal of pains about your salicaria
and mine, with a white stroke over it's eye and a tawny
rump.2 I have surveyed it alive and dead, and have pro-
cured several specimens ; and am perfectly persuaded my-
self (and trust you will soon be convinced of the same)
that it is no more nor less than the passer arundinaceus
minor of Ray. This bird, by some means or other, seems
to be entirely omitted in the British Zoology ; and one
reason probably was because it is so strangely classed in
Ray, who ranges it among his picis affines. It ought no
doubt to have gone among his aviculce caudd unicolore, and
among your slender-billed small birds of the same division.
Linn&us might with great propriety have put it into his
genus of motadlla ; and motacilla salicaria of his fauna
suecica seems to come the nearest to it. It is no uncommon
bird, haunting the sides of ponds and rivers where there
is covert, and the reeds and sedges of moors. The country

1 The Ring-ousel is a north-to-south migrant in autumn, and vice versd in
spring. I have seen no trace of a west-to-east migration in the autumn on our
southern coasts, and the influx of the species has always seemed to me to be from
the northward. So it was in Heligoland in 1876, and there were no arrivals from
the east, as was the case with the Hooded Crow (Corone comix), Great Grey
Shrike (Lanius excubitor), and other species. — [R. B. S.]

2 The Sedge Warbler (Ac rocephalus phragntitis), a widely-distributed species
in Britain during the summer, migrating in autumn to Africa, where it extends
eren to the southernmost parts of that continent. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 109

people in some places call it the sedge-bird. It sings
incessantly night and day during the breeding-time, imitat-
ing the note of a sparrow, a swallow, a sky-lark ; and has
a strange hurrying manner in its song. My specimens
correspond most minutely to the description of your fen
salicaria shot near Revesby. Mr. Ray has given an excellent
characteristic of it when he says, " Rostrum et pedes in hdc
aviculd multb majores sunt qudm pro corporis rationed See
letter, May 29, 1769. (Preceding letter, XXIV.)

I have got you the egg of an cedicnemus, or stone-curlew,
which was picked up in a fallow on the naked ground :
there were two, but the finder inadvertently crushed one
with his foot before he saw them.

[My Brother sent me your book of fishes, which proves
very entertaining & edifying : & I wish that I was better
acquainted with the subject : but having never lived near
great waters, or the sea, my opportunities of prying into
that branch of Nature have been few.]

When I wrote to you last year on reptiles, I wish I had
not forgot to mention the faculty that snakes have of
stinking se defendendo. I knew a gentleman who kept a
tame snake, which was in its person as sweet as any animal
while in good humour and unalarmed ; but as soon as a
stranger, or a dog or cat, came in, it fell to hissing, and
filled the room with such nauseous effluvia as rendered
it hardly supportable. Thus the squnck, or stonck, of
Ray's Synop. Quadr. is an innocuous and sweet animal ;
but, when pressed hard by dogs and men, it can eject such
a most pestilent and fetid smell and excrement, that
nothing can be more horrible.

[When an opportunity offers I shall be glad to look
into yr Indian Zoology. Mr. Skinner of C : C : C : & Mr.
Sheffield of Worcester Coll : have lately been with me
for a fortnight : & are the only Naturalists that I have
ever yet had the pleasure of seeing at my house. They
are both excellent Botanists : & the latter makes a very
rapid Progress in Entomology. There was great satis-
faction in walking out with these men : because no bird,

no NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

plant or insect came before them unascertain'd. One day
we shot a Tringa ochrophus, which is a very rare bird in
these parts.1 Mr. Sheffield tells me you have an elegant
place at Downing ; large and noble oaks before your house,
& beautiful rills and falls of water among them tumbling
from slope to slope into the sea.

At the time that you were to be on your journey, I
took notice that we had most beautiful weather here in
the south : I hope the same season attended you in the
most northerly parts of this kingdom ; & that you are
returned safe from Scotland, full fraught with curiosities
& a fresh fund of natural knowledge.]

A gentleman sent me lately a fine specimen of the lanius
minor cinerascens cum maculd in scapulis albd Raii;z which
is a bird that, at the time of your publishing your two first
volumes of British Zoology, I find you had not seen. You
have described it well from Edwards' s drawing.

[There appears a Comet nightly (having a tail of about
six degrees in length) in the constellation of Aries, between
the 24 : 29 : & 51 stars of that constellation in the English
catalogue.

Having been lately very much hurryed by a good deal
of correspondence, & a good deal of other writing I was
glad to make use of an Amanuensis.

I am with the greatest esteem
Your most obedient & obliged servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

1 See note, antea, p. 85.— [R. B. S.]

* The Wood-Chat Shrike (Lanius pomeranus) is an occasional visitor to
Great Britain, and has even been said to nest in the Isle of Wight. It is distri-
buted over the greater part of Europe in summer, and winters in North-east
Africa and Senegambia.— -[R. B. S.]

LETTER XXVI

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, December %th, 1769.

DEAR SIR, — I was much gratified by your communi-
cative letter on your return from Scotland, where you spent,
I find, some considerable time, and gave yourself good
room to examine the natural curiosities of that extensive
kingdom, both those of the islands, as well as those of
the highlands. The usual bane of such expeditions is
hurry ; because men seldom allot themselves half the time
they should do : but, fixing on a day for their return,
post from place to place, rather as if they were on a
journey that required dispatch, than as philosophers in-
vestigating the works of nature. You must have made,
no doubt, many discoveries, and laid up a good fund of
materials for a future edition of the British Zoology ; and
will have no reason to repent that you have bestowed so
much pains on a part of Great-Britain that perhaps was
never so well examined before.

[Pray when does Dr. Walker propose to publish his
Natural History of the Hebrides ?]

It has always been matter of wonder to me that field-
fares, which are so congenerous to thrushes and blackbirds,
should never chuse to breed in England ; but that they
should not think even the highlands cold and northerly,
and sequestered enough, is a circumstance still more strange
and wonderful.1 The ring-ousel, you find, stays in Scotland

1 The Fieldfare ( Turdus pilaris) has never been known to breed in Great
Britain, though it could be readily believed that it might do so. At present
there is no proof that it has nested, and my own experience has been that

ii2 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

the whole year round; so that we have reasons to conclude
that those migrators that visit us for a short space every
autumn do not come from thence.1

And here, I think, will be the proper place to mention
that those birds were most punctual again in their migra-
tion this autumn, appearing, as before, about the 3oth of
September : but their flocks were larger than common, and
their stay protracted somewhat beyond the usual time.
If they came to spend the whole winter with us, as some
of their congeners do, and then left us, as they do, in
spring, I should not be so much struck with the occurrence,
since it would be similar to that of the other winter birds of
passage ; but when I see them for a fortnight at Michaelmas,
and again for about a week in the middle of April, I am
seized with wonder, and long to be informed whence these
travellers come, and whither they go, since they seem to
use our hills merely as an inn or baiting place.

Your account of the greater brambling, or snow-fleck,
is very amusing ; and strange it is that such a short- winged
bird should delight in such perilous voyages over the
northern ocean ! Some country people in the winter-
time have every now and then told me that they have
seen two or three white larks on our downs ; but, on
considering the matter, I begin to suspect that these are
some stragglers of the birds we are talking of, which some-
times perhaps may rove so far to the southward.

It pleases me to find that white hares are so frequent on
the Scottish mountains, and especially as you inform me
that it is a distinct species ; for the quadrupeds of Britain
are so few, that every new species is a great acquisition.2

specimens of "Fieldfares," from Scotland, when sent to the British Museum
with their nests and eggs, have invariably proved to be Mistle Thrushes
(Turdus viscivorus).— [R. B. S.]

1 The Ring-ousel does not " remain in Scotland the whole year round," and
Pennant was mistaken. — [R. B. S.]

2 Professor Bell gives the following note on the above sentence: "The
identity of the Scottish or mountain hare with the J^ftts variabilis of Pallas
has long been known. It is found in the greater part of Scotland, especially in
the mountainous districts, and in the whole of Ireland. In the former, the fur
changes colour on the approach of winter, becoming gradually white, excepting.

"hm&njy,.

X? Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 113

The eagle-owl, could it be proved to belong to us, is so
majestic a bird, that it would grace our fauna much. I never
was informed before where wild-geese are known to breed.

You admit, I find, that I have proved your fen-salicaria
to be the lesser reed-sparrow of Ray : and I think you may
be secure that I am right ; for I took very particular pains
to clear up that matter, and had some fair specimens ; but,
as they were not well preserved, they are decayed already.
You will, no doubt, insert it in its proper place in your next
edition. Your additional plates will much improve your
work.

De Buff on, I know, has described the water shrew-mouse :*
but still I am pleased to find you have discovered it in
Lincolnshire, for the reason I have given in the article of the
white hare.

As a neighbour was lately ploughing in a dry chalky
field, far removed from any water, he turned out a water-rat,
that was curiously lain up in an hybernaculum artificially
formed of grass and leaves. At one end of the burrow lay
above a gallon of potatoes regularly stowed, on which it
was to have supported itself for the winter. But the
difficulty with me is how this amphibius mus came to fix it's
winter station at such a distance from the water. Was it
determined in it's choice of that place by the mere accident
of finding the potatoes which were planted there ; or is it

the tips of the ears, which are permanently black. On the return of spring the
white fur comes off, and is replaced by its grey summer coat. As it seldom, if
ever, changes its colour in Ireland, it was supposed that the Irish Hare was a
distinct species ; and it was described as such by Mr. Yarrell, with the name of
Lefus hibernicus. There is, however, no structural difference to warrant such a
distinction, and the persistence of its ordinary colour throughout the winter must
doubtless be attributed to the milder climate of Ireland. — (Bell, ed. " Selbome,"
vol. i. p. 76 note.)— [R. B. S.]

1 The following interesting footnote occurs in Professor Bell's edition of
" Selborne" (vol. i. p. 76 note} : " Some years since I observed the water-shrew
( Crossopus fodiens) in the stream which passes in front of the Grange Farm in
Selborne. It was hunting at the bottom of the water among the aquatic plants for
insects, and was so flattened that the white of the belly was conspicuous as a narrow
margin on each side of the black back, forming a striking and pretty object.
I found also in my garden a specimen, recently killed, of the black-bellied variety,
formerly known as Sorex rcmifer. It was far from any water. . . ." — [R. B. S.]

P

H4 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

the constant practice of the aquatic-rat to forsake the
neighbourhood of the water in the colder months ?

Though I delight very little in analogous reasoning,
knowing how fallacious it is with respect to natural history ;
yet, in the following instance, I cannot help being inclined
to think it may conduce towards the explanation of a
difficulty that I have mentioned before, with respect to the
invariable early retreat of the hirundo opus, or swift, so
many weeks before it's congeners ; and that not only with
us, but also in Andalusia, where they also begin to retire
about the beginning of August.

The great large bat1 (which by the by is at present a
non-descript in England? and what I have never been able
yet to procure) retires or migrates very early in the summer :
it also ranges very high for its food, feeding in a different
region of the air ; and that is the reason I never could
procure one. Now this is exactly the case with the swifts ;
for they take their food in a more exalted region than the
other species, and are very seldom seen hawking for flies
near the ground, or over the surface of the water. From
hence I would conclude that these hirundines, and the
larger bats are supported by some sorts of high-flying gnats,
scarabs, m phalcena, that are of short continuance ; and that
the short stay of these strangers is regulated by the defect
of their food.

[It is grievous to see from Dr. Solander's letter in the
Gent : Mag : dated from Rio de Janeiro with what insolence
the viceroy of Brazil treated those Gent: that have hazarded
their lives in pursuit of natural knowledge : & this is not
the worst of it : for when they arrive in the South Seas their
reception will be just the same from every Spanish Governor
from Chile to Mexico.]

By my journal it appears that curlews3 clamoured on

1 The little bat appears almost every month in the year ; but I have never
seen the large ones till the end of April, nor after July. They are most common
in June, but never in any plenty: are a rare species with us. — [G. W.] This
forms the postscript to the original letter. — [R. B. S.]

3 See also Letters XXII and XXXVI (pp. 96 and 152).— [R. B. S.]

* The Stone-Curlew or Thick-Knee, (Edicnemus ctdicncmus. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 115

to October the thirty-first ; since which I have not seen or
heard any. Swallows were observed on to November the
third.

[In your last letter you propose to treat zoology geo-
graphically ; & desire some arguments to support such
a new plan : but as I do not quite take the purport of yr
Idea on that occasion, I must desire in yr next favour some
explanation of yr intention.

I am with the greatest regard and esteem,
Your Humble Servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

LETTER XXVII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Feb. 22, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — [In the first place I am to acknowledge your
favour of Decemr 23 : which I had no proper leisure nor
opportunity of answering before the time at which you
proposed to leave Flintshire. I am also to express my
thanks for your friendly letter of last week from London,
in which you press me to give you a meeting in town. If
nothing was wanting but inclination I should with pleasure
have set out before now : but this is not a convenient
season for me to be from home ; & I am now become a
very bad traveller : however I will endeavour to give you a
meeting if possible.

As to the manner how swifts procure materials for their
nests I am much at a loss : indeed I rather suspect, & with
good reason, that they do not (themselves) procure any at
all. For after much & careful observation at the time of
breeding I never could see one swift carrying in any thing
necessary for building. But as the house-sparrow & swift
use exactly the same materials, that is to say, grasses from
an hay-rick, & hen's feathers ; I am ready to suspect that
the latter take up with the old nests of the former, &
perhaps sometimes take away their new nests : for I often
see swifts at their first coming squabbling with sparrows at
the eaves of the church ; & the cock-sparrows up in arms,
& much disturbed at the intrusion of these migrants. Now
the swallow & martin, which are known to procure their
own materials, are seen building every day : but how the
swift should convey long grasses, & large feathers from

116

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 117

year to year without being ever discovered so to do by the
curious observer, is to me very strange.]

Hedge-hogs abound in my gardens and fields. The
manner in which they eat their roots of the plantain in my
grass-walks is very curious ; with their upper mandible,
which is much longer than their lower, they bore under
the plant, and so eat the root off upwards, leaving the tuft
of leaves untouched. In this respect they are serviceable,
as they destroy a very troublesome weed ; but they deface
the walks in some measure by digging little round holes.
It appears, by the dung that they drop upon the turf, that
beetles are no inconsiderable part of their food. In June
last I procured a litter of four or five young hedge-hogs,
which appeared to be about five or six days old : they, I
find, like puppies, are born blind, and could not see when
they came to my hands. No doubt their spines are soft
and flexible at the time of their birth, or else the poor dam
would have but a bad time of it in the critical moment of
parturition : but it is plain they soon harden ; for these little
pigs had such stiff prickles on their backs and sides as
would easily have fetched blood, had they not been handled
with caution. Their spines are quite white at this age ;
and they have little hanging ears, which I do not remember
to be discernible in the old ones. They can, in part, at
this age draw their skin down over their faces ; but are not
able to contract themselves into a ball, as they do, for the
sake of defence, when full grown. The reason, I suppose,
is, because the curious muscle that enables the creature to
roll itself up in a ball was not then arrived at it's full tone
and firmness. Hedge-hogs make a deep and warm hyber-
naculum with leaves and moss, in which they conceal them-
selves for the winter: but I never could find that they
stored in any winter provision, as some quadrupeds
certainly do.1

1 " There is one use of the hedgehog's armour," writes Professor Bell, " which I
have never seen mentioned, but which I had repeated opportunities of verifying
in one which I kept myself. Running about a small yard at the back of the
house, which overhung an area, it would go to the very edge ; and after looking
over as if to ascertain if the descent were safe, it would roll up into a ball in the

n8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

I have discovered an anecdote with respect to the field-
fare (turdus pilaris), which I think is particular enough ;
this bird, though it sits on trees in the daytime, and pro-
cures the greatest part of its food from white-thorn hedges ;
yea, moreover, builds on very high trees, as may be seen by
the fauna suecica ; yet always appears with us to roost on
the ground. They are seen to come in flocks just before
it is dark, and to settle and nestle among the heath on our
forest. And besides, the larkers, in dragging their nets by
night frequently catch them in the wheat stubbles ; while
the bat-fowlers, who take many red-wings in the hedges,
never entangle any of this species. Why these birds, in
the matter of roosting, should differ from all their con-
geners, and from themselves also with respect to their pro-
ceedings by day, is a fact for which I am by no means able
to account.

[You are, I understand, embarked in the great & extensive
work of an universal zoology. It will be very seldom, I
fear, that I shall be able to send you any assistance.]

I have somewhat to inform you of concerning the
moose-deer ; but in general foreign animals fall seldom in
my way ; my little intelligence is confined to the narrow
sphere of my own observations at home.

[As a naturalist I may say —

.... ego apis matinae

More modoque

Grata carpentis thyma per laborem
Plurimum, circa nemus uvidique
Triburis ripas, operosa parvus

.... fingo.

With my respects to Mr. Harrington, & thanks for his
two letters, I conclude —

Your obliged, &

Humble servant

GIL: WHITE.]

very act of throwing itself down ; and, falling upon its elastic spines, it would in a
few seconds after alighting upon the stones, open and run off, wholly unhurt by this
voluntary fall of at least ten feet " (ed. " Selborne," vol. i. p. 79 note). — [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXVIII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, March,

DEAR SIR, — [A journey of business, which detained me
longer from home than I expected, must be my excuse for
neglecting to answer your letter 'til this time.

My thanks are due for your obliging present of your
last publication, which will conduce much to illustrate,
& improve the British zoology: the designs are just &
the attitudes easy & natural : & the plates so well en-
graved, that they will convey a much more adequate Idea
of an unknown animal to a young naturalist than words
possibly can.

Tho' you are embarked in a more extensive plan of
natural history, yet I am glad to find that you do by no
means give up the Brit : zoology : that I think should be
your principal object : & I hope you will continue to
revise it at your leisure, & to re-touch it over 'til you have
render'd it as perfect as the nature of the work will admit
of. If people that live in the country would take a little
pains, daily observations might be made with respect to
animals, & particularly regarding their life & conversation,
their actions & ceconomy, which are the life & soul of
natural history.

Every species of the swallow-kind take their drink by
sipping the water as they skim lightly over the surface of

it—

flumina libant

Summa leves

— VIRG.

They never settle to drink like other birds.

1 The original letter is dated May 12th, 1770.— [R. B. S.]
119

120 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

As it looks somewhat like dissimulation, I shall not
conceal from you any longer that I sometimes receive from
Gibraltar communications in the natural way. And the
reason I have not imparted them to you from time to time
was, because my Brother, from the time he was put on
looking about him, conceived a design of drawing-up
somewhat of a natural history of those Southern parts of
Europe. The apes on the rock of Gibraltar have no tails.]

On Michaelmas-day 1768 I managed to get a sight of
the female moose belonging to the duke of Richmond, at
Goodwood ; but was greatly disappointed, when I arrived
at the spot, to find that it died, after having appeared in
a languishing way for some time, on the morning before.
However, understanding that it was not stripped, I pro-
ceeded to examine this rare quadruped : I found it in an
old greenhouse, slung under the belly and chin by ropes,
and in a standing posture ; but, though it had been dead
for so short a time, it was in so putrid a state that the
stench was hardly supportable. The grand distinction
between this deer, and any other species that I have ever
met with, consisted in the strange length of it's legs ; on
which it was tilted up much in the manner of the birds
of the gralla order. I measured it, as they do an horse,
and found that from the ground to the wither, it was just
five feet four inches ; which height answers exactly to
sixteen hands, a growth that few horses arrive at : but
then, with this length of legs, it's neck was remarkably
short, no more than twelve inches ; so that, by straddling
with one foot forward and the other backward, it grazed
on the plain ground, with the greatest difficulty, between
its legs ; the ears were vast and lopping, and as long as
the neck ; the head was about twenty inches long, and
ass-like ; and had such a redundancy of upper lip as I
never saw before, with huge nostrils. This lip, travellers
say, is esteemed a dainty dish in North America. It is
very reasonable to suppose that this creature supports
itself chiefly by browsing of trees, and by wading after
water plants ; towards which way of livelihood the length

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 121

of legs and great lip must contribute much. I have read
somewhere that it delights in eating the nymphcea, or water-
lily. From the fore-feet to the belly behind the shoulder
it measured three feet and eight inches : the length of the
legs before and behind consisted a greal deal in the tibia,
which was strangely long ; but, in my haste to get out of
the stench, I forgot to measure that joint exactly. Its scut
seemed to be about an inch long ; the colour was a grizzly
black ; the mane about four inches long ; the fore-hoofs
were upright and shapely, the hind flat and splayed. The
spring before it was only two years old, so that most prob-
ably it was not then come to its growth. What a vast
tall beast must a full-grown stag be ! I have been told
some arrive at ten feet and a half ! This poor creature
had at first a female companion of the same species, which
died the spring before. In the same garden was a young
stag, or red deer, between whom and this moose it was
hoped that there might have been a breed ; but their
inequality of height must have always been a bar to any
commerce of the amorous kind. I should have been glad
to have examined the teeth, tongue, lips, hoofs, &c.
minutely ; but the putrefaction precluded all farther curio-
sity. This animal, the keeper told me, seemed to enjoy
itself best in the extreme frost of the former winter. In
the house they showed me the horn of a male moose,
which had no front-antlers, but only a broad palm with
some snags on the edge. The noble owner of the dead
moose proposed to make a skeleton of her bones.

Please to let me hear if my female moose corresponds
with that you saw ; and whether you think still that the
American moose and European elk are the same creature.
I am, with the greatest esteem,

[Your most humble servant,
GIL : WHITE.

The Caprimulgus has not been heard yet.]

LETTER XXIX

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, May \zth, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — Last month we had such a series of cold
turbulent weather, such a constant succession of frost, and
snow, and hail, and tempest, that the regular migration or
appearance of the summer birds was much interrupted.
Some did not show themselves (at least were not heard) till
weeks after their usual time ; as the black-cap and white-
throat ; and some have not been heard yet, as the grass-
hopper-lark and largest willow-wren. As to the fly-catcher,
I have not seen it ; it is indeed one of the latest, but should
appear about this time : and yet, amidst all this meteorous
strife and war of the elements, two swallows discovered
themselves as long ago as the eleventh of April, in frost
and snow ; but they withdrew quickly, and were not
visible again for many days. House-martins, which are
always more backward than swallows, were not observed
till May came in.1

Among the monogamous birds several are to be found,
after pairing-time, single, and of each sex ; but whether
this state of celibacy is matter of choice or necessity, is not
so easily discoverable. When the house-sparrows deprive
my martins of their nests, as soon as I cause one to be
shot, the other, be it cock or hen, presently procures a
mate, and so for several times following.

1 This sentence formed part of the previous letter in the original MS., which
was dated "May 1 2th, 1770." The rest of the letter does not appear in the
MS. Letters to Pennant, and appears to have been an interpolation in Gilbert
White's published work.— [K B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 123

I have known a dove-house infested by a pair of white
owls, which made great havock among the young pigeons :
one of the owls was shot as soon as possible ; but the
survivor readily found a mate, and the mischief went on.
After some time the new pair were both destroyed, and
the annoyance ceased.1

Another instance I remember of a sportsman, whose zeal
for the increase of his game being greater than his humanity,
after pairing-time he always shot the cock-bird of every
couple of partridges upon his grounds ; supposing that the
rivalry of many males interrupted the breed : he used to
say, that, though he had widowed the same hen several
times, yet he found she was still provided with a fresh
paramour, that did not take her away from her usual
haunt.

Again ; I knew a lover of setting, an old sportsman,
who has often told me that soon after harvest he has
frequently taken small coveys of partridges, consisting of
cock-birds alone ; these he pleasantly used to call old
bachelors.

There is a propensity belonging to common house-cats
that is very remarkable ; I mean their violent fondness for
fish, which appears to be their most favourite food : and yet
nature in this instance seems to have planted in them an
appetite that, unassisted, they know not how to gratify : for
of all quadrupeds cats are the least disposed towards water ;
and will not, when they can avoid it, deign to wet a foot,
much less to plunge into that element.

Quadrupeds that prey on fish are amphibious : such is
the otter, which by nature is so well formed for diving that

1 Sir William Jardine adds the following note (ed. " Selborne," 1853, p. 84
note): "This takes place generally, and in the case of carrion crows we have
known it occur more than once in the same spring. Birds of prey immediately
find another mate when any accident happens to one of the pair. The grey-
backed or hooded crow, Corvus cornix, Linn., is a migratory species in many parts,
and when any accidental circumstances cause one or two birds to remain, they
mate in spring with the carrion crow. This instinctive desire for procreation is not
however confined to birds ; when the male salmon has been killed from his mate
on the spawning-bed, his place is immediately supplied by another." — [R. B. S.]

124 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

it makes great havock among the inhabitants of the waters.
Not supposing that we had any of those beasts in our
shallow brooks, I was much pleased to see a male otter
brought to me, weighing twenty-one pounds, that had
been shot on the bank of our stream below the Priory,
where the rivulet divides the parish of Selborne from
Harteley-wood,

T £*s\ ^yelbcY

ffflSK

[LETTER XXIXa1

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE,y«/y 12tA, I77O.

DEAR SIR, — A journey to London, & an other since,
from whence I am but just returned, have prevented my
paying that attention to your last letter, that I could have
wished.

If you knew how little I had to communicate to you
with respect to specimens from Gibraltar 'til I went last to
town, you would not think I had neglected you : for 'til
that time I had only received two muscicaptz, & three
insects.2 One of the birds proves, I find, to be Edwards's
grey redstart 3 the other, which has a white forehead, a
tawny occiput & scapulars, black wings, a white rump, &
black & white tail, black throat & cheeks, a tawny breast
& whitish belly ... I cannot at present ascertain.4

When I came to town 1 found a box containing several
birds ; the most curious of which are —

Merops apiaster, Stays all the summer.

Loxia coccothraust, Stays autumn and winter.

Motacilla stapazina, Comes in autumn.

1 I have reproduced in the present edition the letters addressed to Pennant
by Gilbert White on the subject of the Gibraltar birds sent by his brother John.
— [R. B. S.]

2 The three insects were a panorpa eoa; rare and peculiar in it's hind wings !
a large fine vespa, the crabroni congener in Italia capta Raij : vid. Hist. Insect, p.
250 ; and a large ichneumon. — [G. W.]

3 The Black Redstart (Rutidlla titys) of modern authors.— [R. B. S.]

4 This certainly must be Saxicola stapazina> but what can be the Motacilla

stapazina of the succeeding list ? — [R. B. S.]

125

126 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

?uffin' ., I Stay all the winter.

Razor-bill, )

Lanius excubitor^ Common in Spain.

Charadrius calidris, Winter and summer.

Hirundo hyberna, Seen only in winter.

Scolopax glottis, Common in winter.

Tetrao coturnici similis, pedi- (Smaller than the quail, &

bus tridactylis, \ called trail, or terraile.2

Edwards's grey redstart, 1 Fre<luents J6 same solitary

( parts as the redstart.

The hirundo hyberna (for so I have named it) will prove,
I trust, a curiosity : for I cannot find it among Brisson's 17
species, nor among the 12 species of the Syst : Nat: It
has the aspect of an hirundo riparia ; but seems (for I have
had no opportunity of comparing it yet with our bank-
martin) to be much larger, & to have a redder cast on the
throat, breast & belly. Every feather of the tail, except the
two midmost & the two outmost, has a remarkable white
spot about midway.

If the quail should prove to be a tridactyl species, &
not a variety, it will be curious. My Bror speaks of them
as common ; & mentions the name by which sportsmen
distinguish them. For my part I think my specimen is in
colour much like a common hen-quail. Brisson mentions
quails in Madagascar that have no back toe ; 3 but the
cocks at least of his sort have a black throat, which mine
has not.

The most curious Insects in my bottles were —

Scorpio Europceus, Onisci,

A large cicade, Several Labri,

Blatta Americana, Amoglossus, solea Icevis Raij,

Some Caterpillars, Coryphtznapsittacus,

Some Scarabaei, Cancer arctus,

Scolopendra coleoptrata, Several curious cancri not

Mantis religiosa, ascertained,

Spiders, Cancer Diogenes, &c.

Asilus barbarus,

1 The Spanish Grey-Shrike (Lanius meridionalis). — [R. B. S.]
8 The Andalusian Bush -Quail ( Turnix sylvatica\ Spanish " Torillo " (Irby). —
[R. B. S.]

3 Turnix nigricollis (Gm.).— [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 127

Some of the fishes were : —

Syngnathus acus, Several spari,

Syngnathus hippocampus ; Perca marina,

Salmo eperlanus, Septa sepiola, &c.
Mullus barbatuS)

But I refer you to Mr Barrington with respect to the fishes,
who, with a person he is to procure, & my Bror in Thames-
street, is to look them over more narrowly at his chambers.
The specimens of fishes are in general too small ; in
order that they might be crowded into little room. In the
autumn I expect another box with many more specimens.

My acknowledgements are due for yr list of South
European animals, which I have sent, not doubting but
that it will be of service ; & also for ye wing of the
chatterer. On yr recommendation I have desired my
Brother to get Brunnick & Gouan on fishes. Returning
You many thanks for yr offers of assistance in our re-
searches into the natural knowledge of Andalusia, which I
am conscious will be very useful & necessary,

I conclude

Your obliged, &

Humble Servant,

GIL. WHITE.

P.S. — Please to ascertain my second musdcapa.

When I have the pleasure of meeting you I shall be glad
to communicate my papers. Since I wrote the above I
have been this evening in the forest, & have procured two
bank-martins, which are every way different from my
Hirundo hyberna^\

LETTER XXX

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Aug. ist, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — [Your obliging letter of July 24th arrived
last night : & I sit down this morning to answer it. I
shall send you my little cargo of curiosities with a great
deal of satisfaction. The birds are here at my house ;
but I will send them up to town to my Brother in Thames-
street who has got the fishes ; & will desire him to send
them all together down to Chester. If you should think
proper to order your artist to take any of my animals,
I should be glad to see the drawings.

When you have ascertained the fishes, you will be
pleased to give me an exact account of them. The birds
will be labeled numerically i : 2 : 3 : &c : so that you will
be able to speak of them with precision. In particular
I desire you would take good notice.]

The French, I think, in general are strangely prolix in
their natural history. What Linnaeus says with respect
to insects holds good in every other branch : " Verbositas
prasentis sceculi, calamitas artis"

Pray how do you approve of Scopoli's new work ? As I
admire his " Entomologia," I long to see it [& yet Mr.
Barrington gave me but an indifferent account of it.

Neither puffins nor razor-bills breed, that I can find, in
Andalucia : they only winter there.]

I forgot to mention in my last letter (and had not room
to insert in the former) that the male moose, in rutting
time, swims from island to island, in the lakes and rivers of

North- America, in pursuit of the females. My friend, the

128

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 129

chaplain, saw one killed in the water as it was on that
errand in the river St. Lawrence : it was a monstrous beast,
he told me ; but he did not take the dimensions.

When I was last in town our friend Mr. Barrington
most obligingly carried me to see many curious sights. As
you were then writing to him about horns, he carried me
to see many strange and wonderful specimens. There is,
I remember, at Lord Pembroke's, at Wilton, an horn room
furnished with more than thirty different pairs ; but I have
not seen that house lately.

Mr. Barrington showed me many astonishing collections
of stuffed and living birds from all quarters of the world.
After I had studied over the latter for a time, I remarked
that every species almost that came from distant regions,
such as South America, the coast of Guinea, &c., were
thick-billed birds of the loxia and fringilla genera ; and no
motacillce, or muscicapcz, were to be met with. When I came
to consider, the reason was obvious enough ; for the hard-
billed birds subsist on seeds which are easily carried on
board ; while the soft-billed birds, which are supported by
worms and insects, or, what is a succedaneum for them, fresh
raw meat, can meet with neither in long and tedious
voyages. It is from this defect of food that our collections
(curious as they are) are defective, and we are deprived of
some of the most delicate and lively genera.

[From repeated observation I find that the bank-martin
is the first of the swallow-genus in bringing out its young.
Young bank-martins were flyers this year (and very late are
all productions this year, both vegetable & animal) on
July 13 : but no young swallows appeared at all this year
'til July 17. Bank-martins build their nests with the crested-
dog-tail, & other fine grasses ; & line them with goose-
feathers. Their nests are strangely annoyed with fleas, the
pulex irritans. It is wonderful that these birds with their
very soft & feeble bills & claws should be able to terebrate
such deep holes in the stubborn sand-banks : & yet there is
no doubt but that these latebrce are bored in the manner
above mentioned. For on May 26 last I saw a pair of these

R

130 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

sirds at work in a shallow hole : & I saw the crumbling
band run down the side of the bank ; & could distinguish
what was fresh-worked by its colour from what had been
bleached by lying in the sun.

Hoping for a continuance of yr favours, & that you will
indulge me with a long letter next time,

I remain, with great esteem
Your obliged, &

humble servant

GIL : WHITE.

P.S. — I have no quilla lata.

Sweet weather : but there

towards the end of the month.

will be no harvesting 'til
Hops promise well.]

LETTER XXXI

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Sept. itfA, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — [A set of company which stayed with me
five weeks, & from whom I parted but yesterday, unavoid-
ably took up my time ; & prevented my paying such atten-
tion to You & some other correspondents, as yr engaging
letters might reasonably demand.

In the first place I am to return you thanks for your
epistle of Septr 2. From what I may gather from yr
frequent visits to the mountains, & from yr nice topo-
graphical examination of those wild scenes, I begin to
suspect & hope that you intend to favour ye world with
a nat : history of some of ye counties of N : Wales.]

You saw, I find, the ring-ousels again among their
native crags ; and are farther assured that they con-
tinue resident in those cold regions the whole year.
From whence then do our ring-ousels migrate so regu-
larly every September, and make their appearance again,
as if in their return, every April? They are more early
this year than common, for some were seen at the usual
hill on the fourth of this month.

An observing Devonshire gentleman tells me that they
frequent some parts of Dartmoor, and breed there ; but
leave those haunts about the end of September or begin-
ning of October, and return again about the end of March.

Another intelligent person assures me that they breed
in great abundance all over the Peak of Derby, and are
called there Tor-ousels; withdraw in October and November,

131

132 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

and return in spring. This information seems to throw some
light on my new migration.

[If you do not receive a letter from my Brother in
Thames-street in due time, you must not be surprized,
because I know he is from home. He wrote me word
some time ago that he had sent the birds by the Chester
waggon.]

Scopoli's1 new work (which I have just procured) has
it's merit in ascertaining many of the birds of the Tirol
and Carniola. Monographers, come from whence they
may, have, I think, fair pretence to challenge some regard
and approbation from the lovers of natural history ; for, as
no man can alone investigate the works of nature, these
partial writers may, each in their department, be more
accurate in their discoveries, and freer from errors, than
more general writers ; and so by degrees may pave the way
to an universal correct natural history. Not that Scopoli is
so circumstantial and attentive to the life and conversation
of his birds as I could wish : he advances some false facts ;
as when he says of the hirundo urbica that " pullos extra
nidum non nutrit." This assertion I know to be wrong from
repeated observation this summer ; for house-martins do
feed their young flying, though it must be acknowledged
not so commonly as the house-swallow ; and the feat is
done in so quick a manner as not to be perceptible to in-
different observers. He also advances some (I was going
to say) improbable facts ; as when he says of the woodcock
that "pullos rostro portat fugiens ab hostel' But candour
forbids me to say absolutely that any fact is false, because
I have never been witness to such a fact. I have only to
remark that the long unwieldy bill of the woodcock is per-

1 " Annus I. Historico Naturalis, — descriptiones avium musei proprii earumque
rariorum, quos vidit in vivaria augustiss. imperatoris, et in museo excell. comitis
Francisci Annib. Turriani." Lipsiae, MDCCLXVIII. In the preface to the above
work Scopoli states, " Observationes meas ad scientiam naturalem et agriculturam
pertinentes singulis annis erudito orbi in posterum communicabo," and the Anni
were continued for five years, and contain some very valuable papers and observa-
tions ; the first is devoted entirely to ornithology. The last (Annus V.) bears the
date of MDCCLXXII." — fjardine's ed., p. 87, notes.]

Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 133

haps the worst adapted of any among the winged creation
for such a feat of natural affection.1

[I return you thanks for yr proof-sheet respecting the
elks : & am pleased to see that my description of the
moose corresponds so well with your's. Last night as I
rode home thro' Alton I found at the post-house, con-
tained in three franks, Mar: Th : Brunnichii Icthyologia
Massilien sis : my best acknowledgements are due for so
curious & rare a present.

With the greatest esteem,
I conclude yr most obliged

& humble Servant,

GIL : WHITE.]

1 Scopoli's assertion has been verified by the subsequent observation of
naturalists. Professor Newton writes to Bell (ed. " Selborne," vol. i. p. 86,
note), " That the bill assists materially in carrying off and particularly in steadying
the young bird while being carried, seems to be established ; but the most
efficient instruments are the parent's thighs, between which the chick is grasped,
while the head and bill are recurved beneath." — [R. B. S.]

LETTER XXXII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, October 29^/4, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — [Your engaging letter of Septemr 29th came
safe to this place : but not finding me at home, it pursued
me down to a village near Lewes in Sussex, where I stayed
three weeks, & from whence I wrote a long letter to Mr-
Barrington.

Tho' I had little or no doubt concerning my Hirundo
hyberna, but that it must be the Hir: rupestris of Scopoli :
yet I was pleased to have the sanction of yr Judgement, &
to find that we so readily concurred.

Notwithstanding the Quail appears to be a nondescript
& a new species ; yet I think it merits farther enquiry :
& I shall accordingly desire my Brother to procure
more specimens, & to satisfy himself thoro'ly that the
back toe is always wanting ; & also to get an old bird of
each sex.

No : 5 : as you say seems also to be a nondescript. It
is by no means a cold-finch as I once also thought : for I
have several cold-finches by me, which differ widely from
this little bird both by having a white spot in their fore-
heads, & a white speculum in their wings. The male bird,
had it not some white in its tail, resembled most (as far as
I can remember) the black-cap.

In the firstplace Mr- Ray classes hisjunco as improperly

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 135

as he does his sedge-bird ; for with all deference neither
of them have any relation to the chapter where they are
put : & in the next place he does not describe it well, for it
has not a stiff, wood-pecker-like tail ; neither are the thighs
remarkably strong, & muscular.

You tender me Kramer in so obliging a manner, & give
so tempting a description of his Fauna, that I don't know
how to waive so pleasing an offer : & yet I should be sorry
to give you any trouble on that account.

I will desire my Bror to take the height of the rock
of Gibraltar : was it not stupendous, there could not
be such a resort & rendezvous of so many sorts of
wild & shy birds amidst such a concourse of people. In
an E : wind or levant the top is usually capped with
a fog.

On Saturday night last I was gratifyed with yr pleasing
letter of Octob : 21. I mention this circumstance to
shew you that I lose no time in returning yr fine draw-
ings, as you desired they might not be detained. Your
Artist has done my birds a great deal of credit, as well
as himself; & I hope they will get safe back without
any injury. The Junco is finely expressed ; & the Quail
is, I think, as lovely a drawing as ever I saw. If I might
object at all to any part of the performance it should
be to the right wing of the Hirnndo, which perhaps is
rather stiff, & to the middle of the tail which seems too
round. For the tail, tho' not forked, is some what emargi-
nated, as Scopoli observes. The oval spots of the tail,
which are characteristic of this species, are well hit off.
The secondary wing-feathers are, you must observe, deeply
knotched.

I rejoice in yr acquisition of N : American animals : &
am pleased to find that you persist in additions to yr Brit :
zoology illustrated. Such hints as occur on any of those
subjects shall be much at yr service.

It gives me real pleasure to hear that the report concern-
ing Mr- Banks is groundless. If there should be a rupture
with Spain my Bror will be much circumscribed in his

136 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

excursions ; as he has been already this summer by the
death of his horse.]

1 After an ineffectual search in Linnceus, Brisson, &c.,
I begin to suspect that I discern my brother's2 hirundo
hyberna in Scopoli's new discovered hirundo rupestris, p.
167. His description of " Supra murina, subtus albida ;
rectrices maculd ovali albd in latere interno ; pedes nudi} nigri ;
rostrum nigrum ; remiges obscuriores quant pluma dorsales ;
rectrices remigibus concolores ; caudd emarginatd, nee forci-
patd ..." agrees very well with the bird in question. But
when he comes to advance that it is " statura hirundinis
urbictz:" & that " definitio hirundinis riparice Linncet huic
quoque convenit" he in some measure invalidates all he
has said : at least he shews at once that he compares them
[if they are really the same with my Brother's] to these
species merely from memory : for I have compared them
with the birds themselves, and find they differ widely in

1 In the original MS. this and the next two paragraphs formed part of the
preceding letter of September 14, 1770. — [R. B. S.]

2 The Swallow which John White noticed at Gibraltar has always been con-
sidered to be identical with Scopoli's Hirundo rupestris, as is here first suggested
by Gilbert White. The identification has received the imprimatur of Professor
Newton (cf. Bell's ed., ii. pp. 5, 6). Writing to his brother Gilbert in November
1769, John says that "the winter martins begin to appear in a different dress;
they are blacker on the back, and whiter under the belly than last winter." He
suspects also that they "are the real summer martins now undergoing a change
of colour, and possibly intending to winter here in a browner habit." Gilbert
quotes these sentences from John's letter of November, and then aptly observes :
" And yet in your letter of April 14 you only say in general, that you saw (March
23) swallows, martins, and your brown winter martins all flying together. This
most curious article of all your intelligence will not, I hope, remain dubious, and
unsettled " \cf. Letter I to John White (Bell's ed., vol. ii. p. i) dated May 26, 1770].
In a second letter to his brother, written on the 25th of January 1771. Gilbert
says : " Your winter swallow is undoubtedly the Hirundo rupestris of Scopoli ;
you, however, will have the credit of discovering its winter quarters" (Bell's ed.,
vol. ii. p. 6). On June 30, 1771, John White writes direct to Linnaeus from
Gibraltar, and says : " The Hirundo rupestris caudd cmarginata non fordpatd
of Scopoli breeds in the inland mountains of Andalucia and Grenada, and in the
winter, when those mountains are covered with snow, resides regularly on those
coasts, and migrates for a short time only into Barbary." In August 1772
Linnaeus acknowledges the receipt of some specimens of birds from John White,
promising to work at them more fully. He remarks concerning the Hirundo

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 137

every circumstance of shape, size, and colour. However
as you will have a specimen, I shall be glad to hear your
judgment in this matter.

Whether my brother is forestalled in his non-descript or
not, he will still have the credit of first discovering that
they spend their winters under the warm and sheltry
shores of Spain and Barbary.

Scopolts characters of his ordines and genera are clean,
just, and expressive, & much in the spirit of Ltnnceus.
These few remarks are the result of my first hasty perusal
of Scopoli's Annus Primus.

The bane of our science is the comparing one animal
to the other by memory : for want of caution in this
particular Scopoli falls into errors : he is not so full with
regard to the manners of his indigenous birds as might
be wished, as you justly observe : his Latin is easy, elegant,
and expressive, and very superior to Kramer's.1

rupestris : " mihi antea ignota, vere distincta," but in January 1774 he says of it
(Letter VI, Bell's ed., vol. ii. p. 80): "Nescio an varietas apus" Again in
Letter IX (l.c. p. 89) he writes : " Hirundo rupestris nigricans, rectricibus subse-
qualibus : 2, 3. macula alba." The letters of Linnaeus were forwarded by John
to Gilbert, who comments on them: "Linnaeus's letter is polite and entertain-
ing and instructive. But pray what does he mean by saying that your Hirundo
hyemalis (for so I shall still call it) is ... varietas apus? for the apus and melba
only perhaps have omnibus quatuor digitis anticis, while your swallow has a back
toe like other birds ; besides the bill of your apus and melba are much bent ; but
that of the hirundo hyemalis is straight." (Letter XIV, Bell's ed., vol. ii. p. 30.)
In forwarding the other Linnaean letter to Gilbert, John adds the remarks : " He
is wrong in saying only 2. 3. maculis albis in the tail of Hirundo rupest. It ought
to be 2. 3. 4. 5." In a final letter to Linnaeus, dated Oct. 8, 1774, he writes:
" Hirundo rupestris, Scop., mihi potius (pace tua) hyemalis dicenda; nam ipsa,
sola forsan inter Hirundines, hyemes nobiscum degit, Hujus rectrices 2. 3. macula
alba dicis ; at revera 2. 3. 4. 5. albo maculantur." This letter, Professor Bell
with reason imagines, would not have been read by Linnaeus, who at that time
had been obliged to relinquish work owing to an attack of apoplexy (cf. Bell's ed.,
vol. ii. p. 94).

I have very little doubt that John White's early remarks on his "winter
martin," which puzzled Gilbert, referred to the adults of the Common House
Martin ( Chelidon urbica\ the young birds of this species being duller in colour
than the old ones, especially on the under surface. The adult birds would appear
"blacker on the back, and whiter under the belly." — [R. B. S.]

1 See his F.lenchus vegetabilium et animalium per Austriam inferiorem, &c.
-[G. W.]

S

138 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

[I have more to say but my servant will be too late for
the post which I would not lose.

Regarding yr correspondence as a very pleasing circum-
stance of my life & hoping for a continuance of it.
I remain with great esteem
Your obliged, &

humble Servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

LETTER XXXIII1

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Nov. z6th, 1770.

DEAR SIR, — I was much pleased to see, among the
collection of birds from Gibraltar, some of those short-
winged English summer - birds of passage, concerning
whose departure we have made so much inquiry. Now
if these birds are found in Andalusia to migrate to and
from Barbary, it may easily be supposed that those that
come to us may migrate back to the continent, and spend
their winters in some of the warmer parts of Europe. This
is certain, that many soft-billed birds that come to Gibraltar
appear there only in spring and autumn, seeming to
advance in pairs towards the northward, for the sake of
breeding during the summer months ; and retiring in
parties and broods towards the south at the decline of
the year : so that the rock of Gibraltar is the great
rendezvous, and place of observation, from whence they
take their departure each way towards Europe or Africa?

1 This seems to have been a letter introduced by Gilbert White into his
book, as there is no letter of this date in the MS. correspondence in the
British Museum.— [R. B. S.]

2 The course of migration of many species from Western Europe to Africa
and the return journey in spring takes place by the Gibraltar route (cf. Irby
Ornithology of Gibraltar), though Gilbert White had no idea that the migrations of
some of our small Warblers were continued far beyond the Mediterranean basin,
even to Senegambia, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria. Some of them doubtless cross
the Sahara, which they reach by some of the migration routes of Western
Europe : — through the Pyrenees and across Spain and Portugal to Gibraltar, and
thence by way of Morocco to West Africa, either directly south or by following
the coast-line ; or along the Rhine Valley through Switzerland, reaching Algeria
by way of Corsica and Sardinia ; or by way of Italy, Sicily, and Malta to the

139

140 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

It is therefore no mean discovery, I think, to find that
our small short-winged summer birds of passage are to
be seen spring and autumn on the very skirts of Europe;
it is a presumptive proof of their emigrations.

Scopoli seems to me to have found the hirundo melba,
the great Gibraltar swift, in Tirol, without knowing it.
For what is his hirundo alpina but the afore-mentioned
bird in other words ? Says he " Omnia prioris " (meaning
the swift); " sed pectus album ; paulo major priore." I do
not suppose this to be a new species. It is true also of
the melba, that " nidificat in excelsis Alpium rupibus" Vid.
Annum Primum.1

My Sussex friend, a man of observation and good sense,
but no naturalist, to whom I applied on account of the
stone-curlew, oedicnemus, sends me the following account :
" In looking over my Naturalist's Journal for the month
of April, I find the stone-curlews are first mentioned on the
seventeenth and eighteenth, which date seems to me rather
late. They live with us all the spring and summer, and
at the beginning of autumn prepare to take leave by
getting together in flocks. They seem to me a bird of
passage that may travel into some dry hilly country south
of us, probably Spain, because of the abundance of sheep-
walks in that country ; for they spend their summers with
us in such districts. This conjecture I hazard, as I have

North African coast. The principal route of migration to South Africa, how-
ever, is undoubtedly by way of the Nile Valley and the Great Lakes. Our
knowledge of the phenomenon of Bird-migration, though increasing year by year,
is still but small. The following pertinent remarks by Sir William Jardine occur
in his note to the above letter (ed. " Selborne," p. 91, note) : " The letters from
his brother while at Gibraltar would be exceedingly interesting to White while his
attention was turned to migration, and there is little doubt that the great bulk of
our migratory species follow the line as suggested in the text ; at the same time,
however, some of the species, the common swallow, for instance, has a very
extensive range, and I believe is permanently resident nowhere. The more
distant cannot be expected to reach Northern Europe or Great Britain, which
in all probability are supplied from North or North-Eastern Africa." — [R. B. S.]
1 The bird here referred to is the Alpine Swift (Apus melba), and Gilbert
White is quite right in his identification. The species has occurred some twenty
times in Great Britain (ef. Howard Saunders, Man. Brit. B., 2nd ed., p. 263,
1899).— [R. B. S.]

^/TI^C^ -/few^e .

Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 141

never met with any one that has seen them in England in
the winter. I believe they are not fond of going near the
water, but feed on earth-worms, that are common on
sheep-walks and downs. They breed on fallows and lay-
fields abounding with grey mossy flints, which much re-
semble their young in colour ; among which they skulk
and conceal themselves. They make no nest, but lay
their eggs on the bare ground, producing in common but
two at a time. There is reason to think their young run
soon after they are hatched ; and that the old ones do
not feed them, but only lead them about at the time of
feeding, which, for the most part, is in the night." Thus
far my friend.

In the manners of this bird you see there is something
very analogous to the bustard, whom it also somewhat re-
sembles in aspect and make, and in the structure of its feet.

For a long time I have desired my relation to look out
for these birds in Andalusia ; and now he writes me word
that, for the first time, he saw one dead in the market on
the third of September.

When the oedicnemus flies it stretches out it's legs straight
behind, like an heron. I am, &c.

[LETTER XXXIIIa

SELBORNE : Jan : 12, 1771.

DEAR SIR, — This day my box with the whole of my
curiosities sets out by the waggon on its way to London ;
from whence it will be forwarded by my Bror to Chester.

You will be so kind as to examine the contents, &
to order yr artist to draw such as are worthy of yr notice ;
& to favour me with your opinion concerning the most
rare, & particularly the fishes, which need not be re-
turned.

The reason that my Bror sent only the head & the
feet of the vulture was, because he never had any other
part. The bird was found dead & floating in the sea ;
an accident it seems not very uncommon : some fisher-
men picked it up, & flayed it ; eat the carcase, & threw
away the skin, & gave him the head & feet. But as the
Governor has got a live bird of this sort, my Bror will
take care to describe that minutely.

Please to be particular about the partridges. My
last cargo of birds returned very safe from yr house.

I thank you for the Portugal apiaster, which differs
somewhat from the Andalusian.

It is no small discovery, I think, to find that our small
short-winged summer birds of passage are to be seen
spring & autumn on the very skirts of Europe : it is a
very strong presumptive proof of their migration.

Your proof-sheet meets with my approbation. I
always was of opinion that the stile should be in some
measure adapted to the length of the composition, or
the subject in all cases : & therefore long flowing sentences

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 143

can't be suitable to short descriptions in a work that
professes to be a synopsis.

If you should think it proper to have the Hirundo
melba taken, would it not be right to have it drawn on
its back ; because the colour of the belly is, size excepted,
the chief thing that distinguishes it from the Hir : apus.
It is a swift to all intents & purposes.

You pay us a great compliment when you say that
our account of Gibraltar will in a manner comprehend
the animals of South Europe. It is a work, I must
acknowledge, that I could wish to see reduced to some
degree of correctness : & therefore am much gratifyed
whenever you tender us yr best assistance, which I am
perswaded would be it's best support. I have been in a
pother lately about writing to that place, fearing lest
this misunderstanding between the two nations may inter-
rupt the correspondence by the post ; & suspecting my
last letter never reached my Bror- Mn Harrington seems
to think that the intercourse is still subsisting.

I have looked over Mr- Forster's catalogue of British
insects, & have somewhat to advance on that subject :
but time will not permit me at present, as I am pretty
much hurryed. We have had vast rains for these ten
weeks past, & some great storms ; especially one on
ye 20th of Decr- in the morning: now severe frost.

Hoping yr troublesome cold has left you, & desiring
you to accept of the good wishes of the season,

I conclude with great esteem,
Yr obliged, &

humble servant,

GIL: WHITE.]

LETTER XXXIV

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, March ^otA, 1771.

DEAR SIR, — [Your agreeable letter of Feb : 15th arrived
while I was from home : & since my return some what
still has prevented my sitting down to pay it that regard
which it deserved.

You may probably have heard by means of Mr- Bar-
rington, who saw the contents while they lay in town,
that I have received another small cargo of birds from
Gibraltar, with a curious collection of insects. The birds
were as follow :

Merops apiaster, 3 specim* Rallus aquat :

Loxia curvirostra : Motacilla flava :

Scolopax (zgocephala, M : & F : (Enanthe f

- - - - ph&opus : Charadrius hiaticula :

Oriolus galbula, 2 spec : Hematopus ostralegus :

Alauda cristata : Leg & wing of strix bubo :

Alauda f 2 spec : Leg of ardea nycticorax :

Coturnix tridact : mas : Turdus arundinaceus
Mot. cenanthe, M : & F :

Where a wing or a leg or an head only are sent you
are to suppose that the whole specimen was too stale
& too far gone to be preserved before it reached my
Bror's hands. The alauda unknown answers well in many
respects to the Spipoletta Florentines of Ray. But as that
most accurate writer says that the rostrum of the spipoletta
is nigerrimum, & pedes etiam nigri, I must by no means
pretend to say that my birds are the above-mentioned

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 145

when their bills & legs are brown : & especially since
all ornithologists agree that ye naked parts of birds are
the least apt to vary in colour. As to the oenanthe I
don't know at all what to make of it : it appears to me
more like a variegated accidental specimen than a new
species : but I shall hear what you have to say. The
outer edge of the first quill-feather of the wing of the
strix bubo is serrated : a circumstance which Linn : seems
not to be aware of ; for if he had he would never have
made it specific to his strix aluco : since what is common
to more than one species cannot be specific. But such
slips are pardonable nay unavoidable opere in longo.

As the orioh galb : are birds of last year their colour is
by no means come to its full splendor. My Bror> has
much to say in defence of his supposition that his Spanish
& Barbary partridges are different species. In one of his
last letters his words are, " I am perfectly clear about
the difference of the Span : & Bar : partridge. I have
examined multitudes of each, & never found the least
exception to my remark. . . that the Bar : sort has
always the chestnut collar, cheeks, &c., spotted with
white ; * the Span : sort always has those parts black,
& the collar of a different form. The distinction is
invariable ; & I wonder no one remarked it. The Span :
is rather the larger bird. Indeed on a careful comparison
the whole disposition even of those colours which corre-
spond in each bird differs."

Shaw's travels are to be met with in Gibraltar ; &
my Bror had discovered himself that the tridactyl quail
was known to the Dr- in Barbary : however we are
equally obliged to you for yr hint. Gannets are never
seen about Gibraltar 'til Nov : they retire again about
March. My Bror shall try to procure the bird for you
from the Barbary coast.

1 This is the Barbary Partridge (Caccabis petrosd) and the other is the
Spanish Red-legged Partridge (Caccabis hispanica). John White was quite right
as regards the distinctive characters of the two species. — [R. B. S.]

T

146 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

I shall make a point of meeting you in town. It is
time now to have a little conversation face to face after
we have corresponded so freely for several years.]1

There is an insect2 with us, especially on chalky
districts, which is very troublesome and teasing all the
latter end of the summer, getting into people's skins,
especially those of women and children, and raising
tumours which itch intolerably. This animal (which we
call an harvest bug) is very minute, scarce discernible to
the naked eye ; of a bright scarlet colour, and of the genus
of Acarus. They are to be met with in gardens on kidney-
beans, or any legumens ; but prevail only in the hot months
of summer. Warreners, as some have assured me, are
much infested by them on chalky downs ; where these
insects swarm sometimes to so infinite a degree as to dis-
colour their nets, and to give them a reddish cast, while the
men are so bitten as to be thrown into fevers.

There is a small long shining fly in these parts very
troublesome to the housewife, by getting into the chimneys,
and laying its eggs in the bacon while it is drying : these
eggs produce maggots called jumpers, which, harbouring
in the gammons and best parts of the hogs, eat down to
the bone, and make great waste. This fly I suspect to be
a variety of the musca putris of Linnceus : it is to be seen in
the summer in farm-kitchens on the bacon-racks and about
the mantle-pieces, and on the ceilings.

The insect that infests turnips and many crops in the
garden (destroying often whole fields while in their seedling
leaves) is an animal that wants to be better known. The
country people here call it the turnip-fly and black-dolphin ;
but I know it to be one of the coleoptera ; the " chrysomela
oleracea, saltatoria, femoribus posticis crasstssimis." In very
hot summers they abound to an amazing degree, and,
as you walk in a field or in a garden, make a pattering

1 From this it would seem that Gilbert White and Pennant had not yet met.

2 Some interesting notes by my friend Mr. R. J. Pocock on the insects here
mentioned arrived too late for insertion here, and will be found in an appendix to
the present volume. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 147

like rain, by jumping on the leaves of the turnips or
cabbages.

There is an Oestrus, known in these parts to every
ploughboy ; which, because it is omitted by Linnaus, is
also passed over by late writers ; and that is the curvicauda
of old Mousetj mentioned by Derham in his " Physico-
Theology," p. 250 : an insect worthy of remark for deposit-
ing its eggs as it flies in so dextrous a manner on the single
hairs of the legs and flanks of grass-horses. But then
Derham is mistaken when he advances that this Oestrus is
the parent of that wonderful star-tailed maggot which he
mentions afterwards ; for more modern entomologists have
discovered that singular production to be derived from the
egg, of the musca chamaleon : see Geoff roy, t. 17 f. 4.

A full history of noxious insects hurtful in the field,
garden, and house, suggesting all the known and likely
means of destroying them, would be allowed by the public
to be a most useful and important work. What knowledge
there is of this sort lies scattered, and wants to be collected;
great improvements would soon follow of course. A know-
ledge of the properties, oeconomy, propagation, and in short
of the life and conversation of these animals, is a neces-
sary step to lead us to some method of preventing their
depredations.

As far as I am a judge, nothing would recommend
entomology more than some neat plates that should well
express the generic distinctions of insects according to
LinncEus ; for I am well assured that many people would
study insects, could they set out with a more adequate
notion of those distinctions than can be conveyed at first
by words alone.

[If you have a desire to see my last birds, please to
intimate as much ; but as you intend soon to be in town,
might they not as well meet you there, & save a long
carriage ? but this shall be as you please.

I had written thus far when yr letter of the 19 of Mar :
arrived. Many thanks are due for yr trouble in ascertaining
so many of my Brors fishes, and for the honour you have

148 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

done his birds in ordering so many of them to be taken.
I shall transcribe yr list and send it off for Gibraltar next
week. My bror will be pleased to see how you have named
his specimens.

When you write to Gibr : crowd yr letter with hints :
mine run of late in a very didactic style. You have, I
find, made some alteration in yr time of coming : may I
presume to ask how long you stay in town ? Hoping to
have the honour of seeing you soon,

I remain with great esteem
Your obliged, &

humble Servant,

My thanks are due for GlL I WHITE.]

yr second part of the
4th vol : which is just
arrived.

LETTER XXXV

TO THE SAME1

SELBORNE, 1771

DEAR SIR, — [My unusual silence has not been owing
to any disrespect, but to the roving, unsettled life which
I have lived for this month past.

I wish you had happened to have paid a little more
attention to the pair of larks which came over in my
last collection ; because they seemed to me to be quite
a different species from any sent before : & I should
not have hesitated to have called them the Spipoletta
Florentinis Rati, had they had black feet & black bills.
The variegated cenanthe also deserved your regard. But
I will endeavour to send both sorts again when I have
an opportunity, that you may survey them both at your
leisure. My thanks are due for yr setting us right where
some birds were misnamed.

It is a great satisfaction to me to find that you & my
Brother at Gibraltar are embarked in a correspondence.
You are capable of giving each other mutual entertain-
ment : & my Bror (as by much the youngest Naturalist)
will derive from you much information, & many useful
hints & queries. What from his natural propensity, &
application, from the assistance of ingenious friends, &
from the copious field of the South of Spain, which he
has all to himself, I doubt not now but that in time he

1 The letter as published was very short, but forms part of a long one written
to Pennant, and dated July 19, 1771. — [R. B. S.]

150 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

will be able to produce somewhat worthy the attention
of men who love these studies. As to any publication
in this way of my own, I look upon it with great diffidence,
finding that I ought to have begun it twenty years ago.
But if I was to attempt anything, it should be somewhat
of a Nat : history of my native parish ; an annus-historico-
naturalis, comprizing a journal for one whole year, &
illustrated with large notes, & observations. Such a
beginning might induce more able naturalists to write
the history of various districts ; & might in time occasion
the production of a work so much to be wished for, a
full & compleat nat : history of these kingdoms.

Your engraver at Chester acquits himself like an able
artist : & I should be glad to know what his price is for
a plate containing two or three animals. You have, I
see, furnished the Gent : Mag : for last month with a
plate & some descriptions. The conduct1" of that publica-
tion will no doubt rejoice in such a correspondent.]

Happening to make a visit to my neighbour's peacocks,
I could not help observing that the trains of those mag-
nificent birds appear by no means to be their tails ; those
long feathers growing not from their uropygium, but all up
their backs. A range of short brown stiff feathers, about
six inches long, fixed in the uropygium, is the real tail, and
serves as the fulcrum to prop the train, which is long and
top-heavy, when set an end. When the train is up, nothing
appears of the bird before but it's head and neck ; but this
would not be the case were those long feathers fixed only
in the rump, as may be seen by the turkey-cock when in a
strutting attitude. By a strong muscular vibration these
birds can make the shafts of their long feathers clatter like
the swords of a sword-dancer ; they then trample very
quick with their feet, and run backwards towards the
females.

I should tell you that I have got an uncommon calculus
cegogropila, taken out of the stomach of a fat ox ; it is
perfectly round, and about the size of a large Seville
orange ; such are, I think, usually flat.

A VISIT TO MY NEIGHBOUR'S PEACOCKS

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 151

[I have just read with satisfaction & improvement Kalm's
journey thro' N : America : but as he is continually refer-
ring to an other work he cuts us very short often times both
in botany and zoology.

Yesterday I had a letter from town which mentions
the safe return of Mr Banks ; & adds that he looks as well
as ever he did in his life. So agreeable an event calls for
my warmest congratulations. For if we rejoice at the
arrival of a friend who has been absent but a few months
perhaps in a neighbouring kingdom : how shall we express
ourselves when we see one restored as it were from the
other world, after having undergone the astonishing
hazards & dangers that must attend the circumnavigation
of the world itself ! 1 !

I have great reason to regret my disappointment of not
meeting you in town : but as we live by hope I trust that
I shall be more fortunate an other time.

With great esteem I remain
Your obliged, &

most humble Servant,

GIL : WHITE.]

LETTER XXXVI

TO THE SAME

Sept. [25], 1771.

DEAR SIR, — The summer through I have seen but two
of that large species of bat which I call vespertilio altivolans,
from its manner of feeding high in the air : I procured one
of them, and found it to be a male ; and made no doubt,
as they accompanied together, that the other was a female :
but, happening in an evening or two to procure the other
likewise, I was somewhat disappointed, when it appeared
to be also of the same sex. This circumstance, and the
great scarcity of this sort, at least in these parts, occasions
some suspicions in my mind whether it is really a species,
or whether it may not be the male part of the more known
species, one of which may supply many females ; as is
known to be the case in sheep, and some other quadrupeds.
But this doubt can only be cleared by a farther examina-
tion, and some attention to the sex, of more specimens : all
that I know at present is, that my two were amply furnished
with the parts of generation, much resembling those of
a boar.1

In the extent of their wings they measured fourteen
inches and an half ; and four inches and an half from the

1 Jardine's note is as follows: "See Letters XXII, XXVI. The British
auna is indebted to White for the first notice of this species ; it is locally dis-
tributed, and although not common generally is found in numbers together, so
many as 185 having been taken in one night from the eaves of Queens' College,
Cambridge. It was first described by Daubenton, under the name of La noctule,
which name Latinised was afterwards continued, and is prior to White's name of
altivolans, which we regret has not been retained, as it is so characteristic of the
habits of the species." — (Ed. "Selbome," p. 97.)

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 153

nose to the tip of the tail : their heads were large, their
nostrils bilobated, their shoulders broad and muscular ;
and their whole bodies fleshy and plump. Nothing could
be more sleek and soft than their fur, which was of a bright
chesnut colour ; their maws were full of food, but so mace-
rated that the quality could not be distinguished ; their
livers, kidnies, and hearts, were large, and their bowels
covered with fat. They weighed each, when entire, full
one ounce and one drachm. Within the ear there was
somewhat of a peculiar structure that I did not understand
perfectly ; but refer it to the observation of the curious
anatomist. These creatures sent forth a very rancid and
offensive smell.

u

LETTER XXXVII1

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, 1771.*

DEAR SIR, — On the twelfth of July I had a fair oppor-
tunity of contemplating the motions of the caprimulgus, or
fern-owl, as it was playing round a large oak that swarmed
with scarabcei solstittales, or fern-chafers. The powers of
it's wing were wonderful, exceeding, if possible, the various
evolutions and quick turns of the swallow genus. But the
circumstance that pleased me most was, that I saw it
distinctly, more than once, put out it's short leg while on
the wing, and, by a bend of the head, deliver somewhat
into its mouth. If it takes any part of it's prey with it's
foot, as I have now the greatest reason to suppose it does
these chafers, I no longer wonder at the use of it's middle
toe, which is curiously furnished with a serrated claw.2

Swallows and martins, the bulk of them I mean, have
forsaken us sooner this year than usual ; for on September
the twenty-second, they rendezvoused in a neighbour's
walnut-tree, where it seemed probable they had taken up
their lodging for the night. At the dawn of the day, which
was foggy, they arose all together in infinite numbers,
occasioning such a rushing from the strokes of their wings
against the hazy air, as might be heard to a considerable
distance : since that no flock has appeared, only a few
stragglers.

1 This letter forms part of the original letter of Sept. 25, 1771. — [R. B. S.]

2 The use of the serrated claw in the night-jar has been discussed by many
ornithologists. It is not likely that the foot has any seizing power, but as the
bristles which beset the bird's gape may become clogged with the wings of the
insects on which it feeds, it is possible that White saw the bird in the act of
clearing its rictal bristles by means of the comb on its claw. — [R. B. S.]

154

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 155

Some swifts stayed late, till the twenty-second of August
— a rare instance ! for they usually withdraw within the
first week.1

On September the twenty-forth three or four ring-ousels
appeared in my fields for the first time this season : how
punctual are these visitors in their autumnal and spring
migrations ! 2

[By the next return of the^waggon I shall send up a
small but rare collection of birds, which I beg that You &
Mr- Banks would please to examine, that I may hear what
two such curious Naturalists have to say about some of
them. They are as follow : —

Merula passer solitarius : M : & F : 3

Merula nigerrima uropygio, j Ig not ^ a nondescri t ? 3

rectnabus que mvets : )

Fringilla petronia :

Sturnus collaris Scopoli : An elegant bird !

Emberiza cirlus :

Pratincola Krameri : Well engraved in Kramer.

Anas clypeata pectore rubro : Differs from our shoveler.

Species of lark : What ?

Motacilla boarula Scopoli :
Species of perch : What ?

You are welcome to take these birds into the country,
as you say London affords you no leisure for examination
in such matters : & if you shall think them worthy of being
drawn, you will lay us under great obligations by communi-
cating those drawings at a proper season. My Brother
makes no contemptible progress in Nat : history : & will
be able, I trust, by the assistance of good friends (to whom
he will be ready to make all due acknowledgements) to
produce in due time somewhat not unworthy the attention
of the candid Naturalist. Please to return the birds to my

1 See Letter LIII to Mr. Barrington.— [G. W.] On the 27th of August in the
present year (1899) I saw two swifts flying beneath the cliffs between Bexhill
and St. Leonard's.— [R. B. S.]

2 This and the two preceding paragraphs formed the P.S. to the original
letter.— [R. B. S.]

8 The Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitaria) and the White-tailed Chat
(Saxicola leucusra, Cm.). — [R. B. S.]

156 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Bro : in Thames-street as usual. It will not be in my
power to meet you in London at present, because I have a
call that obliges me to go an other way.

Pray present my humble respects to Mr- Banks, & tell
him I heartily congratulate him on his safe return from his
astonishing voyage ! The world expects great Information
from his discoveries during his circumnavigation. My
respects also wait on Mr- Barrington, & thanks for his letter
from Beaumaris.

After returning you my acknowledgements for your
present of the curious old Rondeletius de fiscibus, I remain,

with great esteem

Your much obliged, &
Humble Servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

[LETTER XXXVII*

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE,ya«: 13, 1772.

DEAR SIR, — I sent you by the return of the Alton
waggon last week such birds of my last cargoes as you had
not seen before : some of which, I think, will not displease
you ; & of others I shall beg your friendly information, not
being able to ascertain them, especially the larks, & the
motacillcs. You will, I hope, also give me your opinion of
the last cargo ; & especially of the white rumped bird, &
the duck; the former of which, I trust, is a turdus, & a
rare bird, & perhaps a nondescript ; & as to the latter I
should be pleased to know whether it be the red-breasted
shoveler of the Brit : zool : or not. My present cargo is
as follows : —

Ptuznicopterus ruber Mas :
Larus fidipes alter Willughbcei : N : VI ?
Lanius collurio, pullus ?
Lanius collurio, wood-chat from Tetuan : J
Sturnus niger from Tetuan : an nova species?*
Oriolus galbula :
Oriolus .... young or variety :
Alauda cristata :

Alauda N° i. 2 specimens : bills long & slender ; breasts tinged
with yellow : 3

1 Lanius pomer anus, Scop. — [R. B. S.]

2 Sturnus unicolor, Temm.— [R. B. S.]

3 Probably the Spanish Crested Lark (Galerita theckla, Brehm). One of
the Larks was identified by John White (see his Letter, p. 164) as a Skylark, and
therefore must be the Mediterranean form of our Skylark (Alauda cantarella).
The other species would doubtless be the Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachy-

157

158 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Alauda N° 2. 2 spec : bills short, & taper ; back claw small . . .

& short ; tails short, & dusky ; outside feathers tinged with

yellow :
Alauda? bill slender; back claw short, & rather incurved ; breast

a little spotted ; tail long & dusky ; out feathers white : is it the

same with N° i ?
Motacilla N° I : what ? large : back & wings ash-colour'd ; head

dusky ; throat, breast, belly white : tail lost : an Motacilla

dumetorum Linn : Kram : aust : 377: n: 19 ?l
Motacilla N° 2. what ? small : head, back dusky-reddish ; wings

dusky ; outer webs chestnut-coloured ; throat white, breast

tinged with red ; feet and legs palish : 2
Motacilla N° 3 : 2 spec : minute ; head, back, wings, black, feathers

edged with chestnut, resembling the passer torquatus; throat

white, breast, belly, sides tawny ; caudd unicolore; elegant little

birds ?

In all these difficulties your obliging disposition will
prompt you to assist me ; & you will besides, I hope, refer
so to numerical marks as to prevent mistakes, or mis-
apprehension. It is very remarkable that of all the larks
my Bro : has procured, he has never yet met with a British
species. Has Brisson any larks unknown to Ray ? You
will find, I think, in the box two or three distinct, & unusual
species. My Bro : in Thames-street has sent you the last
bottles of fishes. Enclosed with the birds are some rough
draughts of some fishes taken by my Bro : at Gibraltar ;
who tho' he knows nothing of the rules of drawing, yet,
he trusts, such rude sketches will inform an Icthyologist
better than mere words.

As I have a few shells & fossils, I should take it as a
favour if you would (when you return the box) add a few
ores, & fossils to my collection, such as yr mines & neigh-
bourhood afford : a few will be sufficient.

dactyla). If Gilbert White had but given the measurements of the specimens we
should have got nearer to their identification. These letters, which I have here
inserted in chronological order from the original MSS. show that not only was
John White an indefatigable collector, but that Gilbert White, in his Selborne
home, was capable of taking a deep interest in Ornithology beyond that of the
British Islands alone. — [R. B. S.]

1 Probably the Orphean Warbler (Sylvia orphea),

8 Apparently the Sylvia conspicillata, Temm.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 159

Pray when in the spring do you intend to be in town ?
Still I hope to meet you there some time or other.

I am much hurried at present, & must stop here ; but
propose to write again not long hence. With the Compli-
ments of the season,

I remain with great esteem,
Your obliged, &
Humble Servant,

GIL: WHITE.

Pray when does Mr- Banks sail ?]

[LETTER XXXVI 16

TO THE SAME

SELBORNB : March 19 : 1772.

DEAR SIR, — Your obliging letter of Feb : 2ist came
safe to this place, & followed me up to town ; where I
also received yr favour of March ist-

While I was in London came from Gibraltar a box
containing (besides several birds which you have seen
before) Ardea alba minor : perhaps the 6 of Ray's synopsis
avium : Charadrius alexandrinus.1 These are all the new
birds.

In a bottle Sparus mcena ? Salmo eperlanus calpensis :
blennius supercilios. : cancer arctos.

In a phial Squali foetus : cancer arctos : labrus.

These are all left with my Bro : Tho : who will add
them to the cargo I am sending up.

I also looked-out the pratincola, which will be sent
with the rest. There can be no doubt of its being a genus
per se. When I came home I found by the Liverpool
frigate a box containing : —

PHIALS

Mustella lutra : N° I. Gasterost : ovatu s? Zeus aper :

Squallus glaucus : Labrus : Perca ?

„ mustelus „ 2. Esox Saurus.

Uranoscopus scaber : „ 3. Cancer squilla carinata : Percce:

1 rigid volitans : & Gobii.

some birds seen before: „ 4. Cancer squil : carin: Trigla

all dryed. verticillata : Perca.

„ 5. Trigla lucerna: Track: Draco.

1 The Kentish Plover.— [R. B. S.]
160

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 161

You will also receive the outlines of the following
fishes : —

Squalus centrina : Sticena ? Borrico minor : Scomber pelamis :
Sciana: Corbo : Esox Saurus : Gasterosteiis saltatrix :
Lepidopus : Perca, vel Zeus f novus, capite diaphano.

Among the rest I send you the short-eared owl of Brit :
zool : omitted before.

My thanks are due for yr thoughts on the former
cargo.

Your tour thro' Scotland appears to me to be a very
engaging work : & the town, it is plain, is of the same
opinion : for the book has a great run.

I regret that I was obliged to leave town before I had
seen yr genera avium. Your synopsis quadr : gives me
satisfaction.

When I came to London I found a long letter from
Linnaeus to my Bro : John lying in Fleet-street, occasioned
by an epistle & some phials of insects sent by the latter
to the former. The old arch-naturalist writes with spirit
still ; & is very open & communicative, acknowledging
that several of the Insects were new to him. He languishes
to see a pratincola, being conscious that it belongs not to
the genus of hirundo.

Please to order the fishes that are ascertained to be
thrown away ; I mean those in spirits.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient, &
Humble servant,
GIL : WHITE.]

x

LETTER XXXVIII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, March \$tht 1773.

DEAR SIR, — By my journal for last autumn it appears
that the house-martins bred very late, and stayed very late
in these parts ; for, on the first of October, I saw young
martins in their nest nearly fledged ; and again on the
twenty-first of October, we had at the next house a nest
full of young martins just ready to fly ; and the old ones
were hawking for insects with great alertness. The next
morning the brood forsook their nest, and were flying
round the village. From this day I never saw one of the
swallow kind till November the third; when twenty, or
perhaps thirty, house-martins were playing all day long by
the side of the hanging wood, and over my field. Did
these small weak birds, some of which were nestlings twelve
days ago, shift their quarters at this late season of the year
to the other side of the northern tropic ? Or rather, is
it not more probable that the next church, ruin, chalk-cliff,
steep covert, or perhaps sandbank, lake or pool (as a more
northern naturalist would say), may become their hyber-
naculum, and afford them a ready and obvious retreat ? 1

1 In this letter we have the strongest evidence that Gilbert White could
not rid himself of the idea that it was possible for Swallows to hibernate in
this country. The discovery, if possible, could not have escaped the Selborne
naturalist, for either he, or some of his neighbours, would have unearthed a
sleeping swallow in the course of his long life. No practical evidence of hiber-
nation ever came to his hand, and he would probably have cast aside the theory
once and for all, had he known that after their absence from England, the
swallows moult, a function not likely to be performed with a chance of survival
in a "hybernaculum," either above or beneath water. — [R. B. S.]

162

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 163

We now begin to expect our vernal migration of ring-
ousels every week. Persons worthy of credit assure me
that ring-ousels were seen at Christmas 1770 in the forest
of Bere, on the southern verge of this county. Hence we
may conclude that their migrations are only internal, and
not extended to the continent southward, if they do at first
come at all from the northern parts of this island only, and
not from the north of Europe. Come from whence they
will, it is plain, from the fearless disregard that they show
for men or guns, that they have been little accustomed to
places of much resort. Navigators mention that in the
Isle of Ascension, and other such desolate districts, birds x
are so little acquainted with the human form that they
settle on men's shoulders ; and have no more dread of a
sailor than they would have of a goat that was grazing. A
young man at Lewes, in Sussex, assured me that about
seven years ago ring-ousels abounded so about that town
in the autumn that he killed sixteen himself in one after-
noon ; he added further, that some had appeared since in
every autumn ; but he could not find that any had been
observed before the season in which he shot so many. I
myself have found these birds in little parties in the autumn
cantoned all along the Sussex downs, wherever there were
shrubs and bushes, from Chichester to Lewes ; particularly
in the autumn of 1770.

[Please to present my humble respects to Mr- Barring-
ton ; & Mr- Lightfoot to whom I return thanks for his last
letter. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain with

great esteem,
Your most humble servant,

GIL : WHITE.]

1 The Sooty Tern (Sterna fultginosa).— [R. B. S.]

ADDENDUM

SELBORNE, March i6tA, I773-1

[DEAR SIR, — I am sorry our affairs do not coincide a
little better, so as to give us an opportunity of meeting
in London. According to our present plan, my Brother
& I propose to be there about the middle of April, at
wch time it is to be feared you will be return'd into the
Country. I am obliged to you for your kind offer con-
cerning the Drawings, but cannot yet positively say which
in particular I would wish to have copied. I must first
consult some of my friends on that head, & shd be glad
of your opinion in the choice of them. Linnaeus says
the fish wch I am doubtful whether to call Perca, or Zeus,
is actually a New Genus! I have a good specimen wch
you shall see ; & it will be better to draw from that than
my rude Outline. I shall now be glad to collect all my
scatter'd remarks on the Nat : Hist : of Gibraltar, & shall
beg the favour of seeing, once more, those Anecdotes wch
I have sent you from time to time, especially those that
relate to the fishes, & birds. I beg your thoughts on the
Lepidopus. It certainly is what Gouan speaks of, tho' very
different in some respects. I shall have a great variety of
new Insects ; but I fear many more are lost by being too
hastily handled & examined. On examining the biggest of
my short-bilfd Andalusian Larks, & comparing it with the
British Larks here, I find it to be the real & genuine Sky
lark, Al. arvensis. However I hope it's past all doubt that
I have still two new Larks.

1 This interesting letter of John White's occurs among the Pennant
Letters in the British Museum, and does not appear to have been previously

published.— [R. B. S.]

164

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 165

What think you of Gasterost. Saltatrix, as I have ventur'd
to call it ? Yet I fear it cannot be positively pronounc'd
that species. I would like to have Cuts of all my new
Subjects, provided they were well executed. But I observe
that all the Artists, who succeed pretty well in Quadrup.
& Fishes, & Insects, are still very defective in Birds. Have
you & M. de Buffon adjusted matters concerning the
Scops ? I have a pretty specimen, but fear the Engravers
will murder the delicate pencilling of that Bird.

I should be happy to have some days' conference with
you on the more rare of our Subjects, before I finish my
Fauna. I am not so forward as I cd wish for want of
having all my Specimens & Materials about me. If you
have any Papers or Memorials that you can spare, wch may
contribute to my farther information, please to leave them
at my Brother's in Fleet-street. I hope to be at Blackburn
the beginning of May.

I am, Dr Sir, with much esteem
Your most obed1 serv1

J. WHITE.

In your list of Animals of Southern Europe wch you
have got drawn, I cannot precisely distinguish wch of them
are mine, but shall be glad if you wd put a mark on those
wch yOU nacj from me.]

LETTER XXXIX1

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Nov. gth, 1773.

DEAR SIR, — As you desire me to send you such ob-
servations as may occur, I take the liberty of making the
following remarks, that you may, according as you think
me right or wrong, admit or reject what I here advance,
in your intended new edition of the British Zoology?

The osprey was shot about a year ago at Frinskam*
Pond, a great lake, at about six miles from hence, while
it was sitting on the handle of a plough and devouring a
fish : it used to precipitate itself into the water, and so take
its prey by surprise.

A great ash-coloured butcher-bird 4 was shot last winter
in Tisted-park, and a red-backed butcher-bird at Selborne :
they are rara aves in this county.

Crows 6 go in pairs all the year round.

Cornish choughs6 abound, and breed on Beachy-head,
and on all the cliffs of the Sussex coast.

The common wild-pigeon, or stock-dove,7 is a bird of
passage in the south of England, seldom appearing till
towards the end of November; is usually the latest
winter-bird of passage. Before our beechen woods were
so much destroyed we had myriads of them, reaching

1 Although Pennant occasionally mentions Gilbert White's name as that of
one of his correspondents, he does not give the latter the credit for many of his
field-notes, though be often adopts them, and uses White's own words without a
word of acknowledgment. — [R. B. S.]

2 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 128.— [G. W.] * Frensham.— [R. B. S.]
4 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 161.— [G. W.] 8 Ibid., p. 167.— [G. W.]
« Ibid., p. 198.— [G. W.] 7 Ibid., p. 216.— [G. W.]

1 66

'/•+ L i fe size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 167

in strings for a mile together as they went out in a
morning to feed. They leave us early in spring : where
do they breed ?

The people of Hampshire and Sussex call the missel-
bird l the storm-cock, because it sings early in the spring
in blowing showery weather ; its song often commences
with the year : with us it builds much in orchards.

A gentleman assures me he has taken the nests of
ring-ousels 2 on Dartmoor l they build in banks on the
sides of streams.

Titlarks 3 not only sing sweetly as they sit on trees,
but also as they play and toy about on the wing ; and
particularly while they are descending, and sometimes
when they stand on the ground.4

Adansoris testimony5 seems to me to be a very poor
evidence that European swallows migrate during our
winter to Senegal', he does not talk at all like an orni-
thologist ; and probably saw only the swallows of that
country, which I know build within Governor O 'Haras
hall against the roof.6 Had he known European swallows
would he not have mentioned the species ?

The house-swallow washes by dropping into the water
as it flies : this species appears commonly about a week
before the house - martin, and about ten or twelve days
before the swift.

In 1772 there were young house-martins7 in their
nest till October the twenty-third.

The swift 8 appears about ten or twelve days later than
the house - swallow : viz., about the twenty - fourth or
twenty-sixth of April.

1 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 224.— [G. W.] 2 Ibid., p. 229.— [G. W.]
8 Ibid., p. 207.— [G. W.]

4 Gilbert White must here be partly alluding to the Tree-Pipit (Anthus
trivialis).— [R. B. S.]

5 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 242.— [G. W.]

6 This would be the swallow of Senegambia {Hirundo hicida), which is resi-
dent there. Our Swallow (ff. rustica) only occurs in West Africa during our
winter months. — [R. B. S.]

7 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 244.— [G. W.] 8 Ibid., p. 245.— [G. W.]

168 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Whin-chats and stone-chatters^ stay with us the whole
year.

Some wheat-ears continue with us the winter through.2
Wagtails, all sorts, remain with us all the winter.3
Bullfinches,4 when fed on hempseed, often become
wholly black.

We have vast flocks of female chaffinches5 all the
winter, with hardly any males among them.

When you say that in breeding-time the cock-snipes &
make a bleating noise, and I a drumming (perhaps I
should have rather said an humming), I suspect we mean
the same thing. However, while they are playing about
on the wing they certainly make a loud piping with
their mouths : but whether that bleating or humming is
ventriloquous, or proceeds from the motion of their wings,
I cannot say ; but this I know, that when this noise
happens the bird is always descending, and his wings are
violently agitated.

Soon after the lapwings7 have done breeding they

1 British Zoology, vol. i. pp. 270, 271. — [G. W.] The Whin-chat (Pratincola
rubetra) is never found in England in winter, being a thorough migrant. The
Stone-chat (P. mbicola) is a partial migrant. Many remain during the winter
in the southern counties, and I saw several on the hedges in the Alton Road in
November 1899, during my visits to Selborne in that year. — [R. B. S.]

2 British Zoology, p. 269.— [G. W.] See Letter XIII and note.— [R. B. S.]

3 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 299.— [G. W.] See (antea) note, p. 52.— [R. B. S.]

4 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 300.— [G. W.]

5 British Zoology, p. 306. — [G. W.] See (antea) note, p. 51. Mr. Harting is
quite right. In order to settle this question, which I fancied I had solved in the
" Catalogue of Birds," I have had numbers of Chaffinches sent to me by Mr.
Brazenor of Brighton during the present winter of 1899-1900. The instructions
given by me to the bird-catchers on the Downs were to send the results of
various catches in the nets. I have received in every case numbers of male
and female chaffinches caught at the same "pull" of the net, the females
perhaps slightly predominating. On every occasion the sexual organs have been
examined at the Natural History Museum by Mr. Pycraft, Mr. Ogilvie Grant,
and myself, and among the females there has never been one instance of a young
male in the plumage of the hen. My previous statement (p. 51, note), that the
male assumes the full plumage at its first autumn moult, has been fully confirmed
by these recent observations. — [R. B. S.]

• British Zoology, voL i. p. 358.— [G. W.] » Ibid., p. 360.— [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 169

congregate, and, leaving the moors and marshes, betake
themselves to downs and sheep-walks.

Two years ago l last spring the little auk was found
alive and unhurt, but fluttering and unable to rise, in
a lane a few miles from Alresford, where there is a great
lake : it was kept a while, but died.2

I saw young teals 3 taken alive in the ponds of Wolmer-
forest in the beginning of July last, along with flappers,
or young wild-ducks.

Speaking of the swiftf that page says "it's drink the
dew ; " whereas it should be " it drinks on the wing ; "
for all the swallow kind sip their water as they sweep
over the face of pools or rivers : like Virgil's bees, they
drink flying ; " flumina summa libant" In this method of
drinking perhaps this genus may be peculiar.

Of the sedge-bird5 be pleased to say it sings most
part of the night ; its notes are hurrying, but not un-
pleasing, and imitative of several birds ; as the sparrow,
swallow, skylark. When it happens to be silent in the
night, by throwing a stone or clod into the bushes where
it sits you immediately set it a-singing ; or in other words,
though it slumbers sometimes, yet as soon as it is
awakened it reassumes its song.

1 British. Zoology, vol. i. p. 409. — [G. W.]

2 The Little Auk (Alle alle of modern writers).— [R. B. S.]

3 British Zoology, vol. i. p. 475.— [G. W.] See Letter XV to Barrington.
— [R. B. S.]

4 British Zoology, vol. ii. p. 15.— [G. W.] 5 Ibid., p. 16.— [G. W.]

LETTER XL

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, Sept. z>id, 1774.

DEAR SIR, — Before your letter arrived, and of my own
accord, I had been remarking and comparing the tails of
the male and female swallow, and this ere any young broods
appeared ; so that there was no danger of confounding the
dams with their pulli : and besides, as they were then
always in pairs, and busied in the employ of nidification,
there could be no room for mistaking the sexes, nor the
individuals of different chimneys the one for the other.
From all my observations, it constantly appeared that each
sex has the long feathers in its tail that give it that forked
shape ; with this difference, that they are longer in the tail
of the male than in that of the female.

Nightingales, when their young first come abroad, and
are helpless, make a plaintive and a jarring noise ; and also
a snapping or cracking, pursuing people along the hedges
as they walk : these last sounds seem intended for menace
and defiance.1

The grasshopper-lark chirps all night in the height of
summer.2

Swans turn white the second year, and breed the third.

Weasels prey on moles, as appears by their being some-
times caught in mole-traps.

Sparrow-hawks sometimes breed in old crows' nests,3
and the kestril in churches and ruins.

1 This is the alarm-note of most of the Warblers. — [R- B. S.]
* Salicaria locustclla, see Letter XVI (antea, p. 63).— [R. B. S.]
3 So do Kestrels, which, more often than not, appropriate the old nest of some
other bird, whereas Sparrow-hawks as a rule build their own nest. — [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 171

There are supposed to be two sorts of eels in the island
of Ely. The threads sometimes discovered in eels are
perhaps their young : the generation of eels is very dark
and mysterious.1

Hen-harriers breed on the ground, and seem never to
settle on trees.

When redstarts shake their tails they move them hori-
zontally, as dogs do when they fawn : the tail of a wagtail,
when in motion, bobs up and down like that of a jaded
horse.

Hedge-sparrows have a remarkable flirt with their
wings in breeding-time ; as soon as frosty mornings come
they make a very piping plaintive noise.

Many birds which become silent about Midsummer
reassume their notes again in September ; as the thrush,
blackbird, woodlark, willow-wren, &c. ; hence August is
by much the most mute month, the spring, summer, and
autumn through. Are birds induced to sing again because
the temperament of autumn resembles that of spring ?

LinncBus ranges plants geographically ; palms inhabit
the tropics, grasses the temperate zones, and mosses and
lichens the polar circles ; no doubt animals may be classed
in the same manner with propriety.2

House-sparrows build under eaves in the spring ; as the
weather becomes hotter they get out for coolness, and
nest in plum-trees and apple-trees. These birds have been
known sometimes to build in rooks' nests, and sometimes
in the forks of boughs under rooks' nests.

As my neighbour was housing a rick he observed that

1 Three species of British eels have now been clearly made out : two very
distinct by the form of the head, in the one narrow, in the other broad, and conse-
quently have been named sharp and broad-nosed eels. The third is of intermediate
form, and called the snig. Ely was famous for its eels, and is said to have derived
its name from the circumstance of its rents being formerly paid in eels. The
" threads " would be intestinal worms, perhaps Filaria. — Eels are oviparous and
generate like most other fishes, having bony skeletons. — [W. J.]

2 Nothing in the record of Gilbert White's observations is more striking
than his insight into Biological problems, worked out by his successors when
the material for study became more plentiful. The above sentence was prophetic.
— [R. B. S.]

172 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

his dogs devoured all the little red mice that they could
catch, but rejected the common mice ; and that his cats
ate the common mice, refusing the red.

Red-breasts sing all through the spring, summer, and
autumn. The reason that they are called autumn songsters
is, because in the two first seasons their voices are drowned
and lost in the general chorus ; in the latter their song
becomes distinguishable. Many songsters of the autumn
seem to be the young cock red-breasts of that year : not-
withstanding the prejudices in their favour, they do much
mischief in gardens to the summer-fruits.

The titmouse, which early in February begins to make
two quaint notes, like the whetting of a saw, is the marsh
titmouse : the great titmouse sings with three cheerful
joyous notes, and begins about the same time.

Wrens sing all the winter through, frost excepted.

House-martins came remarkably late this year both in
Hampshire and Devonshire: is this circumstance for or
against either hiding or migration ?

Most birds drink sipping at intervals ; but pigeons take
a long continued draught, like quadrupeds.

Notwithstanding what I have said in a former letter,
no grey crows were ever known to breed on Dartmoor ;
it was my mistake.

The appearance and flying of the Scarabceus solstitialis,
or fern-chafer, commence with the month of July, and
cease about the end of it. These scarabs are the constant
food of caprimulgi, or fern-owls, through that period. They
abound on the chalky downs and in some sandy districts,
but not in the clays.

In the garden of the Black-bear inn in the town of
Reading is a stream or canal running under the stables
and out into the fields on the other side of the road :
in this water are many carps, which lie rolling about in
sight, being fed by travellers, who amuse themselves by
tossing them bread ; but as soon as the weather grows
at all severe these fishes are no longer seen, because they
retire under the stables, where they remain till the return

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 173

of spring. Do they lie in a torpid state ? if they do not,
how are they supported ?

The note of the white-throat, which is continually
repeated, and often attended with odd gesticulations on
the wing, is harsh and displeasing. These birds seem of
a pugnacious disposition ; for they sing with an erected
crest and attitudes of rivalry and defiance ; are shy and
wild in breeding-time, avoiding neighbourhoods, and haunt-
ing lonely lanes and commons ; nay even the very tops of
the Sussex-downs, where there are bushes and covert ;
but in July and August they bring their broods into gardens
and orchards, and make great havoc among the summer-
fruits.1

The black-cap has in common a full, sweet, deep, loud,
and wild pipe ; yet that strain is of short continuance, and
his motions are desultory ; but when that bird sits calmly
and engages in song in earnest, he pours forth very sweet,
but inward melody, and expresses great variety of soft and
gentle modulations, superior perhaps to those of any of
our warblers, the nightingale excepted.

Black-caps mostly haunt orchards and gardens ; while
they warble their throats are wonderfully distended.

The song of the redstart is superior, though somewhat
like that of the white-throat ; some birds have a few more
notes than others. Sitting very placidly on the top of a
tall tree in a village, the cock sings from morning to night :
he affects neighbourhoods, and avoids solitude, and loves
to build in orchards and about houses ; with us he perches
on the vane of a tall maypole.

The fly-catcher is of all our summer birds the most
mute and the most familiar ; it also appears the last of any.
It builds in a vine, or a sweetbriar, against the wall of a

1 The whole of this letter appears to have been composed for the published
work, as the only portion of it which was ever addressed to Pennant is the above
account of the White-throat. This is to be found in White's original letter to
Pennant, dated July 8, 1773, the remainder of which deals with the Barn and
Brown Owls, and appears as the sixteenth Letter to Barrington in the completed
work.

174 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

house, or in the hole of a wall, or on the end of a beam or
plate, and often close to the post of a door where people are
going in and out all day long. This bird does not make
the least pretension to song, but uses a little inward wail-
ing note when it thinks its young in danger from cats or
other annoyances ; it breeds but once, and retires early.1

Selborne parish alone can and has exhibited at times
more than half the birds that are ever seen in all Sweden ;
the former has produced more than one hundred and
twenty species, the latter only two hundred and twenty-one.
Let me add also that it has shown near half the species
that were ever known in Great-Britain?

On a retrospect, I observe that my long letter carries
with it a quaint and magisterial air, and is very sententious ;
but when I recollect that you requested stricture and
anecdote, I hope you will pardon the didactic manner for
the sake of the information it may happen to contain.

1 Professor Bell gives an instance (ed. "Selborne," vol. i. p. 103 note} of the
extreme lameness of a pair of Flycatchers at the " Wakes," when some young
birds were blown out of the nest, placed in a cage " outside the kitchen-window,"
and brought up by the parents till they were able to fly. He also comments on
the constant return of the Flycatchers to their breeding-place, and quotes a letter
written to him, by my great-aunt, the Baroness de Sternberg, from her house at
Windermere, recording the nesting of Flycatchers in a corner of her greenhouse
for five years in succession. — [R. B. S.]

2 Sweden 221, Great Britain 252 species. — [G. W.]

The latest edition of Mr. Howard Saunders's "Manual" gives the number
of species in the British List as 384. — [R. B. S.]

L'C'GLL. <

*'s Lift

LETTER XLI1

TO THE SAME

It is matter of curious inquiry to trace out how those
species of soft-billed birds that continue with us the winter
through, subsist during the dead months. The imbecility
of birds seems not to be the only reason why they shun
the rigour of our winters ; for the robust wry-neck (so
much resembling the hardy race of wood-peckers) migrates,
while the feeble little golden-crowned wren, that shadow of
a bird, braves our severest frosts without availing him-
self of houses or villages, to which most of our winter
birds crowd in distressful seasons, while this keeps aloof
in fields and woods ; but perhaps this may be the reason
why they may often perish, and why they are almost as
rare as any bird we know.

I have no reason to doubt but that the soft-billed
birds, which winter with us, subsist chiefly on insects in
their aurelia state. All the species of wagtails in severe
weather haunt shallow streams near their spring-heads,
where they never freeze ; and, by wading, pick out the
aurelias of the genus of Phryganece,2 &c.

Hedge-sparrows frequent sinks and gutters in hard
weather, where they pick up crumbs and other sweepings :
and in mild weather they procure worms, which are
stirring every month in the year, as any one may see

1 This and the following letters are mostly undated, and never really formed
part of the Pennant correspondence ; they were added to complete the work
when Gilbert White had decided on publication. — [R. B. S.]

2 See Derham's " Physico-theology," p. 235 [G. W.], and note, Letter XIII,
antea, p. 39.— [R. B. S.]

175

176 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

that will only be at the trouble of taking a candle to a
grass-plot on any mild winter's night. Red-breasts and
wrens in the winter haunt out-houses, stables, and barns,
where they find spiders and flies that have laid themselves
up during the cold season. But the grand support of
the soft-billed birds in winter is that infinite profusion of
aurelice of the Lepidoptera ordo, which is fastened to the
twigs of trees and their trunks ; to the pales and walls
of gardens and buildings ; and is found in every cranny
and cleft of rock or rubbish, and even in the ground
itself.

Every species of titmouse winters with us ; they have
what I call a kind of intermediate bill between the hard
and the soft, between the Linncean genera of Fringilla and
Motadlla. One species alone spends its whole time in
the woods and fields, never retreating for succour in the
severest seasons to houses and neighbourhoods ; and that
is the delicate long-tailed titmouse,1 which is almost as
minute as the golden-crowned wren ; but the blue tit-
mouse or nun (parus cceruleus), the cole-mouse (parus
ater), the great black-headed titmouse (fringillago), and the
marsh titmouse (parus palustris), all resort at times to
buildings, and in hard weather particularly. The great
titmouse, driven by stress of weather, much frequents
houses ; and, in deep snows, I have seen this bird, while
it hung with its back downwards (to my no small delight
and admiration), draw straws lengthwise from out the
eaves of thatched houses, in order to pull out the flies
that were concealed between them, and that in such
numbers that they quite defaced the thatch, and gave it
a ragged appearance.

The blue titmouse, or nun, is a great frequenter of
houses, and a general devourer. Besides insects, it is very
fond of flesh ; for it frequently picks bones on dunghills :
it is a vast admirer of suet, and haunts butchers' shops.
When a boy, I have known twenty in a morning caught

1 jEgithalus vagans (Leach).— [R. B. S.]

' IT WILL BE ... WELL ENTERTAINED WITH THE SEEDS ON THE
HEAD OF A SUNFLOWER "

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 177

with snap mouse-traps, baited with tallow or suet. It will
also pick holes in apples left on the ground, and be well
entertained with the seeds on the head of a sunflower. The
blue, marsh, and great titmice will, in very severe weather,
carry away barley and oat-straws from the sides of ricks.

How the wheat-ear and whin-chat support themselves
in winter cannot be so easily ascertained, since they spend
their time on wild heaths and warrens ; the former espe-
cially, where there are stone quarries : most probably it is
that their maintenance arises from the aurelice of the Lepi-
doptera ordo, which furnish them with a plentiful table in
the wilderness.1

I am, &c.

1 See Letter XIII, and note (antea, p. 52).— [R. B. S.]

LETTER XLII

TO THE SAME

SELBORNE, March gfA, 1774.

DEAR SIR, — Some future faunist, a man of fortune, will,
I hope, extend his visits to the kingdom of Ireland ; a new
field and a country little known to the naturalist.1 He
will not, it is to be wished, undertake that tour unaccom-
panied by a botanist, because the mountains have scarcely
been sufficiently examined ; and the southerly counties of
so mild an island may possibly afford some plants little to
be expected within the British dominions. A person of a
thinking turn of mind will draw many just remarks from
the modern improvements of that country, both in arts
and agriculture, where premiums obtained long before they
were heard of with us. The manners of the wild natives,
their superstitions, their prejudices, their sordid way of life,
will extort from him many useful reflections. He should
also take with him an able draughtsman ; for he must by
no means pass over the noble castles and seats, the exten-
sive and picturesque lakes and waterfalls, and the lofty
stupendous mountains, so little known, and so engaging to
the imagination when described and exhibited in a lively
manner ; such a work would be well received.2

As I have seen no modern map of Scotland, I cannot

1 Besides the four volumes on the " Birds of Ireland," published by the late
Wm. Thompson, many excellent memoirs have been lately published by Mr.
R. J. Ussher, Mr. Barrett- Hamilton, and other good observers in that country.
— [R. B. S.1

2 The above sentence is modified from a portion of a letter written to
Pennant on the igth of March 1772. See also note to Bell's edition (vol. i.
p. 106).— fR. B. S.]

178

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 179

pretend to say how accurate or particular any such may
be ; but this I know, that the best old maps of that
kingdom are very defective.

The great obvious defect that I have remarked in all
maps of Scotland that have fallen in my way is, a want of
a coloured line, or stroke, that shall exactly define the just
limits of that district called The Highlands. Moreover, all
the great avenues to that mountainous and romantic
country want to be well distinguished. The military roads
formed by General Wade are so great and Roman-like an
undertaking that they well merit attention. My old map,
Molts Map, takes notice of Fort William, but could not
mention the other forts that have been erected long since ;
therefore a good representation of the chain of forts should
not be omitted.

The celebrated zigzag up the Coryarich must not be
passed over. Moll takes notice of Hamilton and Drum-
lanrig, and such capital houses ; but a new survey, no
doubt, should represent every seat and castle remarkable
for any great event, or celebrated for its paintings, &c.
Lord Breadalbane 's seat and beautiful policy are too curious
and extraordinary to be omitted.

The seat of the Earl of Eglintoun, near Glasgow, is
worthy of notice. The pine plantations of that nobleman
are very grand and extensive indeed.

I am, &c.

LETTER XLIII

TO THE SAME

A pair of honey-buzzards, buteo apivorus, sive vespivorus
Rail, built them a large shallow nest, composed of twigs
and lined with dead beechen leaves, upon a tall slender
beech near the middle of Selborne-hanger, in the summer
of I780.1 In the middle of the month of June a bold boy
climbed this tree, though standing on so steep and dizzy a
situation, and brought down an egg, the only one in the
nest, which had been sat on for some time, and contained
the embryo of a young bird. The egg was smaller, and
not so round as those of the common buzzard ; was dotted
at each end with small red spots, and surrounded in the
middle with a broad bloody zone.

The hen-bird was shot, and answered exactly to Mr.
Ray's description of that species ; had a black cere, short
thick legs, and a long tail. When on the wing this species
may be easily distinguished from the common buzzard
by its hawk-like appearance, small head, wings not so
blunt, and longer tail. This specimen contained in its
craw some limbs of frogs and many grey snails without
shells. The irides of the eyes of this bird were of a
beautiful bright yellow colour.

About the tenth of July in the same summer a pair
of sparrow-hawks bred in an old crow's negt on a low
beech in the same hanger ; and as their brood, which
was numerous, began to grow up, became so daring and

1 The " Honey-Buzzard " (Pemis apivorus) no longer breeds regularly in
England, but it is not so many years ago that nests used to be taken in the New
Forest.— {R. B. S.]

180

'/e Life size.

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 181

ravenous, that they were a terror to all the dames in the
village that had chickens or ducklings under their care.
A boy climbed the tree, and found the young so fledged
that they all escaped from him ; but discovered that a
good house had been kept : the larder was well stored
with provisions ; for he brought down a young blackbird,
jay, and house-martin, all clean picked, and some half
devoured. The old birds had been observed to make sad
havoc for some days among the new-flown swallows and
martins, which, being but lately out of their nests, had not
acquired those powers and command of wing that enable
them, when more mature, to set such enemies at defiance.

LETTER XLIV

TO THE SAME

SKLBORNE, Nov. y*th, 1780.

DEAR SIR, — Every incident that occasions a renewal
of our correspondence will ever be pleasing and agreeable
to me.

As to the wild wood-pigeon, the cenas, or vinago, of
Ray, I am much of your mind ; and see no reason for
making it the origin of the common house-dove: but
suppose those that have advanced that opinion may have
been misled by another appellation, often given to the
cenas, which is that of stock-dove.

Unless the stock-dove in the winter varies greatly in
manners from itself in summer, no species seems more
unlikely to be domesticated, and to make an house-dove.
We very rarely see the latter settle on trees at all, nor does
it ever haunt the woods : but the former as long as it stays
with us, from November perhaps to February, lives the
same wild life with the ring-dove, palumbus torquatus ;
frequents coppices and groves, supports itself chiefly by
mast, and delights to roost in the tallest beeches. Could it
be known in what manner stock-doves build, the doubt
would be settled with me at once, provided they construct
their nests on trees, like the ring-dove, as I much suspect
they do.1

You received, you say, last spring a stock-dove from
Sussex ; and are informed that they sometimes breed in
that country. But why did not your correspondent deter-
mine the place of its nidification, whether on rocks, cliffs,

1 See Letter XXXIX (antea, p. 166).— [R. B. S.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 183

or trees ? If he was not an adroit ornithologist I should
doubt the fact, because people with us perpetually confound
the stock-dove with the ring-dove?-

For my own part, I readily concur with you in sup-
posing that house-doves are derived from the small blue
rock-pigeon, for many reasons. In the first place the
wild stock-dove is manifestly larger than the common
house-dove, against the usual rule of domestication, which
generally enlarges the breed. Again, those two remarkable
black spots on the remiges of each wing of the stock-dove,
which are so characteristic of the species, would not, one
should think, be totally lost by its being reclaimed ; but
would often break out among its descendants. But what
is worth an hundred arguments is, the instance you give
in Sir Roger Mostyrfs house-doves in Carnarvonshire ;
which, though tempted by plenty of food and gentle treat-
ment, can never be prevailed on to inhabit their cote for
any time ; but, as soon as they begin to breed, betake
themselves to the fastnesses of Ormshead, and deposit their
young in safety amidst the inaccessible caverns and precipices
of that stupendous promontory.2

" Naturam expellas furca . . . tamen usque recurret."

I have consulted a sportsman, now in his seventy-eighth
year, who tells me that fifty or sixty years back, when the
beechen woods were much more extensive than at present,
the number of wood-pigeons was astonishing ; that he has
often killed near twenty in a day : and that with a long
wild-fowl piece he has shot seven or eight at a time on the
wing as they came wheeling over his head : he moreover

1 I saw plenty of Stock-doves (Columba anas) in the beeches of the Long
Lythe at Selborne in October and November of this year (1899). They seemed
to be more numerous than the Wood-pigeon. — [R. B. S.]

1 It is the white-rumped pigeon, or rock-dove, Columba livia, which is the
original stock of our dove-cots, and the natural abode of this species is in caves and
rocky precipices on the sea-coast. Although White remarks that the domestic
pigeon never settles on trees, such is sometimes the case ; Mr. Eyton has observed
this, and we have frequently seen it ; at the same time it is by no means the
general habit. — [W. J.]

184 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

adds, which I was not aware of, that often there were
among them little parties of small blue doves, which he
calls rockiers. The food of these numberless emigrants
was beech-mast and some acorns ; and particularly barley,
which they collected in the stubbles. But of late years,
since the vast increase of turnips, that vegetable has fur-
nished a great part of their support in hard weather ; and
the holes they pick in these roots greatly damage the crop.
From this food their flesh has contracted a rancidness
which occasions them to be rejected by nicer judges of
eating, who thought them before a delicate dish. They
were shot not only as they were feeding in the fields, and
especially in snowy weather, but also at the close of the
evening, by men who lay in ambush among the woods and
groves to kill them as they came in to roost.1 These are
the principal circumstances relating to this wonderful
internal migration, which with us takes place towards the
end of November, and ceases early in the spring. Last
winter we had in Selborne high wood about an hundred
of these doves ; but in former times the flocks were so vast,
not only with us but all the district round, that on mornings
and evenings they traversed the air, like rooks, in strings,
reaching for a mile together. When they thus rendezvoused
here by thousands, if they happened to be suddenly roused
from their roost-trees on an evening,

" Their rising all at once was like the sound
Of thunder heard remote."

It will by no means be foreign to the present purpose
to add, that I had a relation in this neighbourhood who
made it a practice, for a time, whenever he could procure
the eggs of a ring-dove, to place them under a pair of
doves that were sitting in his own pigeon-house ; hoping
thereby, if he could bring about a coalition, to enlarge
his breed, and teach his own doves to beat out into the

1 Some old sportsmen say that the main part of these flocks used to with-
draw as soon as the heavy Christmas frosts were over. — [G. W.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 185

woods and to support themselves by mast ; the plan was
plausible, but something always interrupted the success ;
for though the birds were usually hatched, and sometimes
grew to half their size, yet none ever arrived at maturity.
I myself have seen these foundlings in their nest displaying
a strange ferocity of nature, so as scarcely to bear to be
looked at, and snapping with their bills by way of menace.
In short, they always died, perhaps for want of proper
sustenance : but the owner thought that by their fierce
and wild demeanour they frighted their foster-mothers,
and so were starved.

Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, by way of simile,
describes a dove haunting the cavern of a rock in such
engaging numbers, that I cannot refrain from quoting the
passage : and John Dryden has rendered it so happily in
our language, that without further excuse I shall add his
translation also : —

" Qualis spelunca subitb commota Columba,
Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi,
Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis
Dat tecto ingentem — mox acre lapsa quieto,
Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas."

" As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes,
Rous'd, in a fright her sounding wings she shakes ;
The cavern rings with clattering : — out she flies,
And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies ;
At first she flutters : — but at length she springs
To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings."

I am, &c.

2 A

A GARDEN KALENDAR

EDITED BY

R. BOWDLER SHARPE, LL.D., F.L.S.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

THE VERY REV. S. REYNOLDS HOLE, D.D.

DEAN OF ROCHESTER

INTRODUCTION

WE visit the homes and wander amid the haunts of famous
men with whom it has. been our privilege to associate as
friends, "whom we have loved long since, and lost awhile,"
with pathetic alternations of joy and grief, of sweet re-
membrance and of sad regret. As the old surroundings
suggest to the imagination the living presence, the tone
of the voice, and the happy hours which we have spent
together, they constrain us at the same time to mourn
for the tender grace of a day that is dead, and we pass
and return, as in the streets of an Italian city, from the
chill shadow to the hot glare of sunshine, from gloom
to mirth. I go to the house of Charles Dickens at Gads-
hill (the present owner being always my kind host) and
in the rooms in which he lived, and on the spot where
he suddenly sank to die, in the rose garden designed by
his friend Sir Joseph Paxton, or in the chalet which
was given to him by Fechter, in which he wrote many
of his wonderful books, and which was bought by the
late Lord Darnley, and is now in the grounds at Cobham,
I have a vision of bright smiles on his handsome face,
and words which he spoke to me, wise and witty, seem to
echo in mine ears.

I stand by the graves of Thackeray, Leech, and Millais,

" And a flood of thoughts comes gushing,
And fills mine eyes with tears."

I go to the tomb of Archbishop Benson in the cathedral
at Canterbury, and no pilgrim approaches a shrine with a

190 A GARDEN KALENDAR

more reverent love ; or I gaze on the marble effigy of
Bishop Christopher Wordsworth at Lincoln, and remember
the earnest words which were said to me by Bishop
(afterwards Archbishop) Magee, " I never left his presence
without feeling that he had done me good."

Less vividly, but always with a strong emotion, our
sympathies and admirations are quickened when we enter
the abodes which were occupied long ago by men of
renown and honour. We remember with a new interest
the records of their achievements, the benefits which they
have bestowed as churchmen, statesmen, soldiers, sailors,
lawyers, philosophers, physicians, authors, and artists,
upon their country and their fellow-men. To illustrate
from my own experience, I recall my visits to the little
church and parsonage at Bemerton, Pope's villa at
Twickenham, the home of Horace Walpole at Strawberry
Hill, of Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford, of Lord Byron
at Newstead, and, on the other side of the Atlantic, of
Washington Irving, Fenimore Cooper, Longfellow, Lowell,
Bryant, and Whittier. On all these happy occasions I have
experienced a return of first love, redintegratio amoris, a
"time of refreshing," a kindling of the fire that smouldered,
an awaking of the zeal which slept. The intense feelings
of pleasure and of pain, of terror and of mirth, of tender
pity and of righteous wrath, which first absorbed our
thoughts in day-time and our dreams at night ; the rever-
ence which was so solemn and sincere ; the aspirations
which were so high and so pure ; all the impressions
made upon us, real or romantic, false or true, brief or
steadfast, by the books of our boyhood and youth, are
in the mind and in the heart once more ; the fears we
felt, alone in the darkness, of ghosts and robbers after
perusal of Irving's "Tales of a Traveller," the tears we
shed for the faithful hound in the " Talisman," our breath-
less delight in " Ivanhoe," and in the musical rhythm of
" Marmion " and " The Lady of the Lake," our secret
intention when we read the " Corsair " to follow the

INTRODUCTION 191

vocation of a pirate, until it was shamed and suppressed
by Longfellow's " Excelsior," or we learned from Herbert
or from Keble the supreme ambition.

In some places we are reminded not only of the
standard works of great writers, but of other associations
which seem to bring us into closer communion with them.
We gardeners, for example, rejoice at Twickenham and
at Strawberry Hill in the thought that Pope and Walpole
were enthusiastic brethren of our craft ; and while we
admire the " Essay on Gardening " more than the " Essay
on Man," we extol the author of the latter as the more
practical artist of the two. They were united as champions
and pioneers of the natural or English style. They were
alike earnest in denouncing the monotonous formalities and
repetitions, the ponderous walls, balustrades, and stairs,
the feeble waterspouts, the mutilated shrubs, which still
disfigure too many of our modern gardens.

I am approaching my main object by a circuitous
route, resembling "the Drive" at some pretentious villa,
which meanders, like a river flowing to the sea, through
small clumps of shrubberies to the door of the house,
and is designed to impress the visitor, "to astonish the
Browns," with erroneous ideas of space, because that same
sense of a fresh interest and a new proximity, to which I
have referred in their connection with personal friendships
and local associations, has come to me in my perusal
of " A Garden Kalendar " of Gilbert White of Selborne. I
seem to follow him among his flowers and fruits, to listen
to his words, to rejoice in his success, and to lament his
disappointments ; and I know that this sympathy will be
enjoyed by an innumerable company of gardeners, who
have hitherto shared in the great disappointment that this
enthusiastic expert, concerning all that is most beautiful
and wonderful in the world around us, should have pub-
lished so little about his garden. I suppose that no book on
Natural History has gone through so many editions, but
this is the first to include the horticultural diary com-

192 A GARDEN KALENDAR

menced in 1751 — a year to be shamefully remembered in
England for the drowning of two old women as witches in
a horse-pond at Tring, in Hertfordshire.

We have known him long, and loved him much, as a
devoted student and impressive teacher of geology, botany,
ornithology, entomology, and other branches of natural
science ; we have admired him as a genial gentleman,
philosopher, philanthropist, and something more than
these. As a Fellow of his College (Oriel, Oxford) he
was compelled by the statutes to take Holy Orders, but
this did not imply immediate ministerial work, and he
betook himself to his dear old home at Selborne, and to
his old happy life of observation, for he seems to have
always retained that delight in the beautiful which is innate
in all of us amid the marvellous works of God. Valuable
College livings were offered to him, but he could not leave
the fair ground in which his lot was cast ; yet he did not
forget the commission nor the power which had been
entrusted to him. He held the office of Curate, first in
the adjoining parish of Faringdon, and then at Selborne ;
there is frequent testimony in his writings to his compas-
sion for suffering, and to his interest in the welfare of the
poor. He has been always familiar to our imagination in
his academical and ecclesiastical costume, "in customary
suit of solemn black," for the clergy of that date did not
array themselves in straw hats and jackets ; we have met
him in the woods and in the fields, in the village, in his
study with a book or a pen in his hand. At last we
find him in his garden ! We make obeisance, and, as
brethren in the most ancient and honourable of all the
crafts, receive the welcome, which we never fail to give
to one another.

Gilbert White was a true gardener. The " Kalendar "
would by itself be ample evidence, because no one makes
regularly a record of events in which they are not deeply
interested — even the schoolboy constructs a clumsy almanac

INTRODUCTION 193

of the time to intervene before the holidays begin, that
he may have the daily delight of erasure — but in its
perusal we shall find proofs, many and definite, of this
reality. He was his own gardener. He believed that the
golden rule, which prevailed in his day as a condition of
success in agriculture, that

"He who by his plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive,"

was to be observed in horticulture, and that no man will
work quite so well for another as he can work for himself.
He knew when, where, and how to perform all garden-
work, and when the process was important, he did it, or
saw it done. His nephew " John " and " Tull " were his
subordinates. He employs labourers two and three at a
time to do rough work ; " Dame Turner and her girls " come
in to weed the walks ; but he sows his own choice seed,
strikes his own cuttings, prunes his vines, transplants a
mulberry tree which he had raised from a layer, makes a
bed of aromatic herbs, superintends the grubbing, burning,
and planting in new ground added to his garden, the cutting
of the alleys, the levelling of his terrace. So he wins for
himself the chief joy of a gardener's life as he watches the
development from small beginnings and the sure success of
his labour. He who grows a conifer from a cone has a
delight in his tree which no imported specimen, cost what
it may, can bring. Not long ago I was admiring in one
of the Midland counties the most beautiful private collec-
tion of trees and shrubs which I have ever seen, and when
I had repeated to the owner again and again all the lauda-
tory epithets which I could remember, and had continually
insisted on his notice of special attractions, as though he
had never been there before, or had failed hitherto to
discern their merits, he said quietly, "No one can appre-
ciate this quite so dearly as I do, because, beginning fifty
years ago, I planted them all."

He exercised the same supervision over all things great

2 B

194 A GARDEN KALENDAR

and small, in the vintage of his grapes, in the brewing of
his beer, strong, medium, and small (not being one of
those who think that, because they are virtuous, there shall
be no more cakes and ale), and in the curing and smoking
of his hams.

He shared with the wise farmer another grand quality,
which has Divine approbation — like the husbandman he
had long patience. The adversaries of the gardener are
legion, but he fought them bravely. Sometimes we hear
complaints that never before has there been such untoward
weather, such a congregation of all manner of flies, such
a great army of caterpillars, but we find in the " Kalendar "
a record of the same plagues and visitations, so that even

he who was

" ever pleased

With sight of animals enjoying life,
And felt their happiness augment his own,"

was constrained to apply " more quicklime wherewith
to kill the small snails and grubs which continue to annoy
the beds " ; to save his grapes by bottles and bird-lime from
innumerable swarms of wasps ; to propitiate the bugs by
sowing radishes with his " holy-oaks " ; to denounce the
fleas which ate his savoys ; and to trap the mice which de-
voured the seed of his Succado Melons. We find him
weeping, like Marius over the ruins of Carthage, when his
honeysuckles, which but a week ago were the most sweet
and lovely object which eye could behold, were defiled
and disfigured by the Smother-fly.

No man ever loved birds more dearly or knew -more
about them than Gilbert White. Selborne parish produced
one hundred and twenty species, nearly half of those
known in Great Britain at that day, and he was familiar
with their habitats and their habits ; he knew them by their
flight as well as by their colour and shape, and could tell
when and where they would come and go (the thatched
roofs of the houses at Selborne sheltered many martins'
nests) ; when they would begin and when they would

INTRODUCTION 195

cease to sing ; whether they were strict vegetarians or
preferred animal food ; when the mistle-thrushes came
to the yew-trees ; but his admirations were exhausted,
and indignation took their place, when the turkeys were
mauling his young laurels, when the bullfinches were
destroying his fruit-buds, so that he shot a score in one
day, and when he "paid Will Dewey for eight dozen of
young sparrows."

He suffered from animal implume as well as from
the feathered tribe. John, a young nephew, scorches and
suffocates his cucumbers. The nursery man, Murdoch
Middleton, is negligent in executing his orders, supplies
him with plants which are wrongly named, pear-trees
which are cankered and distempered. The Cantaleupe
melon sent to him by the famous Philip Miller, author of
the " Gardeners' Dictionary," " though it promised well,
was very abominable. The rind was an inch thick and
finely embossed, but there was little flesh and less
flavour." This fruit, originally imported from Cantaleupe,
ten leagues from Rome, was a speciality with Gilbert
White, not so much as being of all the melons the
most palatable, but chiefly because its successful culture
was a chief ambition among gardeners, and required all
their care and skill. On his return from Oxford or
from visits to friends, he hastens to inspect his beds
of Cantaleupes, as a young mother rushes to the nursery
after absence, or a schoolboy home for the holidays to
his pony in the stable. His anxious interest in the
culture of this beautiful and refreshing fruit is con-
tinually expressed in his " Kalendar," and here is a quaint
illustration of his manifold methods to ensure success
in an entry on March 15, 1755: "Carried Mr. Garnier's
Cantaleupe seed (being but two years old) in my breeches
pocket for six or eight weeks."

As for the hallucination that in the merrie old times
of our ancestors the sun shone always by day and the
moon by night, and that storms and tempests were

196 A GARDEN KALENDAR

relegated to the ocean, we learn from the " Kalendar " that
1757 was one of the wettest years in the memory of
man, so that nothing in gardens or a clayey soil grew
to any size, and nothing came to bear until five or six
weeks later than usual. In 1753 the winter was so
severe that most things in the gardens were destroyed ;
*755 was a terrible winter for earthquakes, inunda-
tions, and " vast " rains with thunder ; and in the year
following, a violent storm broke down and displaced
peas, beans, and flowers, tore the hedges, trees, and
shrubs, lashed, banged, and whipped all the green things
upon the earth. In after years he writes of furious
storms, which battered the vines, of a universal blight,
of many people frozen to death in 1762, and of the
summer of 1783 as being amazing and portentous, full
of horrible phenomena, alarming meteors and tremendous
thunderstorms, which affrighted and distressed the diffe-
rent countries of this kingdom with a smoky fog,
which prevailed for many weeks, unlike anything known
within the memory of man.

Amor omnia vincit, and despite these obstacles, he
surrounded himself with things pleasant to the eye and
good for food, with those fair flowers which are still to
most of us the sweetest and dearest of all. In the middle
of February 1762 he writes: "The hepaticas, crocus, and
double daisies begin now to make a very agreeable ap-
pearance of the first promise of spring," and these were
followed, as with us now, by hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils,
until it was the "time of roses," and of all the summer
flowers. He grew all the vegetables and fruits which
are our favourites still ; and though in some cases im-
provements have been made, I should doubt whether
we have anything more delicious in peaches than the
Noblesse on his sunny wall, or anything jn pears more
resembling that which the rustic described as " a kind
o' pear that eats itsen," than his Beurr^s, Bergamots,
Swan-eggs, and Chaumontels.

INTRODUCTION 197

He took special pains with his outdoor vines ; glass
in those days was for Dives only ; and we read of con-
stant tacking and trimming, training, thinning, and dis-
budding. On the 22nd of October 1760 we note with
hopeless bewilderment that he transplanted a Muscadine
vine, which John had anointed with Dr. Hill's Mummy,
and had planted as a cutting in the preceding March.

He was large-hearted, as gardeners generally are. He
was not jealous of " Mrs. Snook's Black Cluster," three
weeks earlier than his own ; and he was glad when
Abraham Low had " fifty bunches of grapes on a vine from
a cutting planted only three years ago." He rejoiced to see
that at Selborne every decent labourer had his garden,
which was half his support as well as his delight, and that
the common farmers provided plenty of beans and peas
and greens for their hinds to eat with their bacon. Had
he lived in our days he would have gratefully applauded
the efforts which are being made by some of our County
Councils and of our benevolent landlords to promote
horticulture among the working-classes by the enlargement
and improvement of their cottage gardens in the country,
and by allotments of lands by the towns.

He was generous to his flowers, his fruits, and his
friends — not one of those who exhaust the soil, take all
they can get, and make no return ; disciples of the Gampean
creed, "we gives no trust ourselves, but puts a deal else-
vere ; these is our religious feelings, and we finds 'em
answer." We read of him, on the contrary, in a constant
and happy exchange of those reciprocities which should
always exist between the gardener and his garden, and by
which the liberal soul is made fat. We have long lists
of farmers from whom he obtained farm-yard manure, as
many as twenty cart-loads at a time, and he imparted in
addition " lime, ashes, marl and peat, blacksmith's cinders,
and soot from the malt-house." Barrels of soft water stood
here and there for the refreshment of his plants in time
of drought.

198 A GARDEN KALENDAR

He was glad to distribute, willing to communicate. He re-
joices to send specimens of his best fruit to the Lord-keeper,
to his brother Benjamin in London, and a portmanteau of
perennials to his brother Harry at Fyfield. These recipients,
we may be sure, were all as grateful as Brother Tom, who
sent him in acknowledgment a ten-gallon cask of raisin
wine ; and such souvenirs and reciprocities are specially
appreciated by us gardeners in our interchange of flowers
and fruits.

Let us listen now to this great teacher of natural
theology. We shall not learn much about horticulture,
and it would be a vain conceit to criticise his simple
methods and frequent failures after a progress of one
hundred and fifty years and all our acquisitions of practical
experience, cheap glass, heating apparatus, imports, and
hybridisation ; but we may acquire from these records and
from his example far more precious instructions — how to
prevail by a brave perseverance, overcoming evil with good,
and above all, not to restrict our thoughts and admirations,
when we are in our gardens, to the culture or the beauty
of our plants, but to study with reverent inquiry all the
wonderful surroundings, all that reveals to us through the
eye and ear God's infinite power and love.

S. REYNOLDS HOLE.

THE DEANERY, ROCHESTER,
November 1899.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1 7 5 1 l

Jan1?- 7. — Two rows of early Spanish- Beans in Turner's
plot. The four other rows were set in ye middle of
November.

14. — Earthed-up a row of Celery.

23. — Planted 250 loaf-Cabbage plants in Turner's plot.

24. — Sowed first Crop of Radishes turnip, & common ;
lettuce ; & onions under the pales in the little Garden.

24. — Planted-out five bulbs of the Crown Imperial
(which I had from a Seedsman in London) in the middle
plot of the little Garden.

24. — Planted three slips of the Passion-flower, sent me
by Mr- Newlin, in the little Garden.

Feb. 23. — Planted 14 Cuttings of the large, white,
Dutch-Currants (which I brought from Godalming) in the
little Garden.

27. — New staked the Espaliers.

i I am very much indebted to Mr. Henry Maxwell of Selborne for reading
through this Kalendar, and giving me notes thereon. As a practical gardener
himself, Mr. Maxwell has made some very interesting notes, which I have
distinguished by his initials "[H. M.]."— [R. B. S.]

200 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

March 7. — Planted five young passion-flower plants,
which I had from Oxon. Gave my U : White four.1

March 8. — Sowed a Crop of Asparagus seed : & seven
rows of pease in the new Garden for the first Crop.

9. — Set a Layer of Persian-Jessamin, which came from
Mr- Budd's.

15. — Earthed up the two last rows of Celery.

D° — Layed down three twigs of the mulberry-tree.

21. — Made first Hot-bed : cleared the strawberry, &
raspberry-beds.

22. — Sowed in the Hot-bed 2 Cucumber, Melon,
Squashes, & Mays-seed. Planted-out Holy-oaks, down the
field, & in the Garden-border, & before the House : the
seed from the Grange. Sowed a Crop of Carrots, Par-
sneps, Beets, Radishes, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions ; a small
crop of Salsafy ; red Cabbage-seed, Dutch parsley, &
Chardoons. There had been a glut of wet for five weeks,
& the Ground was rather too moist, but worked pretty
well.

23. — In the Hot-bed, two rows of African, & French
Marigold seed.

27. — Planted four rows of Winsor-beans in the field-
Garden in ground just turned in from Grass.

April i. — Sowed in the field-garden four rows of
marrow-fat pease.

April 2, 3. — Planted four Asparagus-beds with plants
of my own raising in the new Garden : sowed a thin Crop
of Onions upon them. The Ground was well sanded,
& trenched deep with good rotten Dung, but wet when
planted.

2. — Earthed-up the two last rows of Celeri the last time.

4. — Sowed a crop of common, & curled parsley : &
planted 13 Holy-oaks in the orchard, & yard.

1 This would be his Uncle Charles, to whom Gilbert was indebted for "The
Wakes." He was Rector of Bradley and Vicar of Swarraton, where Gilbert
was his Curate. — [R. B. S.]

2 This bed by means of the great rains lost its heat ; so that the Cucumbers,
Melons, & Squashes never came up. — [G. W.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 201

6. — Sowed a full crop of Carrots, Salsafy, Skirret, Scor-
zonera, Lettuce, Radishes, Beet. Sowed the seed of a
remarkable large leek. Sowed a large bed of sea-cale,1
which I brought from the South-hams of Devon. Sliped,
& dressed the artichoke-beds. A small crop of Onions
under Kelsey's Hedge for picklers. The Ground still wet.

13. — Made a second Hot-bed : sowed within the frame,
common Cucumbers, Horn D°-, Squashes, Melons, Bal-
sams, French Marygolds, purslain : without the frame ;
Common Celeri, Celeriac or turnip-rooted Celeri, Nastur-
tium, Sun-flowers, & purslain. Made a cover of oiled
paper for the first bed.

1 8. — Sowed nine rows of marrowfat-pease in the plot
just without the field Garden.

April 23. — Planted 300 of Cabbages in the field-Garden.
Sowed Holy-oak, Oriental-Mallow, Nasturtium, & Lark-
spur-seed in the common Ground. Let an old Barrel with
the Head beat-out into the Ground to hold water for the
Hot-beds, &c.

26. — Cut Asparagus for the first time.

27. — Made a new Hot bed : transplanted the melon-
plants into it : sowed some Cucumber-seed in it : & sowed
common Celeri & Sunflowers without the frame. Trans-
planted the Mays into the border next Lassams : trans-
planted the African Marry golds in the beds, & some of the
Cucumbers : sowed 2 rows of Garden Cress, & two of Wh :
Mustard on an old bed. Dug-up the last parcel of blanched
Celeri.

May 3. — Pulled the first Radishes.

7. — Sowed a Crop of Parsneps, (the first failed) with
Radishes, & Lettuce. The first Crop of curled Endive,
green, & white. The first Crop of French-Beans, two rows
in the new-garden.

9. — Second Crop of Skirret ; 2 the first failing.

14. — Crop of Common Beans in the field-Garden.

1 The Sea cale lay a long while in the ground before it appeared ; six weeks
at least.— [G. W.]

2 The Skiret all run to seed.— [G. W.]

2 C

202 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

May 23.1 — Pricked-out the red Cabbages. Sowed flower-
ing Lupines of several Sorts, & Lady-pease in the basons
in the Field, & the border in the Garden.

24. — Pricked-out the Chardons : sowed five basons with
Cucumber-seed in the natural Ground. Transplanted one
Holy-oak into the border in the field.

25. — Planted-out the Melons for the last time, & covered
them with oiled papers. Sowed a plot of Roman, and a
plot of white Broccoli-seed ; 2 & shaded them well with
boughs. Sowed some Common, & curled parsley ; & some
purslane.

27. — Planted-out three squashes.

28. — Crop of Common Celeri.

June n, 13. — Row & half of Marrowfats; & D°- of
French-beans.

20. — Gathered first pease.

21. — Planted-out Nasturtiums, Sunflowers, Balsams, &
French & African Marrigolds in the field & New Garden.

June 24. — Pricked-out a large Quantity of white, &
Roman Broccoli.

25. — Planted-out curled white, & green Endive in rows :
pricked out three plots of Celeri : planted-out red Cabbages ;
& a plot of Leeks from the Giant Leek. Sowed a crop of
Endive (second crop) both sorts.

26. — Planted out the Holy-oaks sown in ye Spring.

27. — Gathered first beans, little Spanish, set in
November.3

August 27. — Earthed-up the first planted Chardons ;
planted out more : trenched 6 rows of Celeri. Sowed a
small plot of turnip-radishes. Planted out several rows of
Broccoli.

Septemr- 9. — Earthed-up the first row of Chardons for
the last time in pots with the bottoms out.

1 No fine weather, but constant wind, wet, & frost till the 18 of May. Then
very dry, & hot.— [G. W.]

2 A prodigious Crop of Broccoli by shading & watering. — [G. W. ]

3 Latter end of July sowed a large bed of Spinage, and Radishes. Came up
very well.— [G. W.]

.->m
r^/Aea

A GARDEN KALENDAR 203

12. — Basketed-up the second row of Chardons: sowed
a large bed of Spinage.

Octobr- 5. — Planted Stock-gilliflowers from Bradley down
the Field. Dug up the two first Chardons.

Octobr- ii. — Trenched-out a row of Celery in the field
Garden : earthed-up the last Chardons the first time.

Octr- 14. — Sow'd three rows of early Spanish Beans in
the field garden.

23. — Added one row more of small beans from Oxon,
never sowed but once in England.

26. — Planted seven spruce firs from North-warnboro' l in
Baker's-Hill : some flowering shrubs in the lower part next
the walk : a Quince-tree in the old orchard. Earthed-up
the new asparagus-beds in the new Garden.

Novemr- 2. — Finished the Shrubbery. A severe frost for
planting. Earthed-up the old asparagus-beds.

6. — Planted in a border in the old Orchard several
cuttings of Gooseberries, Currants, Honey-suckles, & Scor-
pion Sennas. Earthed-up the Celery in the new Garden.

Decemr- 2, 3. — Trenched some Ground against spring.
Earthed-up Artichoke-beds for the winter. Earthed-up
the last Chardon ; & the Celery.

The Year 1751, was one of the wettest Years in the
memory of Man. There were constant Storms, & Gluts
of rain from the 20th of Feb. : to the 20th of May. Part
of May, & all June were very dry, & burning. But all
July, & great part of August were as wet as ever : so that
nothing in Gardens in a clayey soil grew to any size : &
nothing came to bear 'till five or six weeks later than
usual.2

1 Near Odiham.— [R. B. S.]

• Gilbert White says nothing about his grapes and peaches, which were
probably all a failure this year. — [H. M.]

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1752

Middle of February : two rows of Beans, & nine of
early pease in the field-Garden.

March 4th. — Hot- bed in the field-Garden : the dung had
been cast a fortnight, & mixed with Coal-cynders, 3 hun-
dred of Cabbage-plants in the new, & Turner's Garden.

5. — Mulched, & banked-up the Quincunx of firs on
Baker's Hill. Dressed the Rasberry-beds, & planted a new
one in the new Garden. Sowed a Crop of Celeri on the
outside of the Cucumber-frame. Sowed a Crop of Carrots,
Parsneps, Leeks, Onions, Skirrets, Beets, Radishes, Lettuce,
fine Coss sort. A large Plot of fine Asparagus-seed from
Chalgrave in the new Garden. Sowed in the new Garden.
French honeysuckles, Columbines, & Everlasting-pease.

6. — Weeded Sea-Cale-bed. Sowed Holy-oak seed, &
Oriental-Mallow, a good large bed in the new Garden.
Sowed two rows of forward pease in the Garden in the
field.

March 7. — Sowed in the Hot-bed Cucumbers, French
Marrigolds, African D°- ; Indian wheat ; & Nasturtiums on
the outside.1 Dressed strawberry-beds. Planted a row of
Eschallots. Planted Holy-oaks down the field. New-dug
the border at the bench in the Field. Made a screen for
the Hot-bed with pease-haulm.

10. — Plashed, & banked-up the Quick-set hedge be-
tween Turner's, & the Orchard. Planted Holy-oaks in the
New-garden. Sowed poppy-seed, & Larkspur-seed in the
Borders of the new Garden. Dressed asparagus-beds :

1 Appeared all above ground on the nth. The bed heats well, without being
too fierce.— [G. W.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 205

earthed-up the late row of Celeri in the field-Garden.
Mended the Sea-Cale with seed, where it was wanting.

11. — Dunged, & dug -up some Ground in the new
Garden. Dug the flower-basons in the field. Sowed the
ground on the little mead (lately cleared from nettles) with
Grass-seeds. Prepared two basons, one on each side the
street-door, for passion-flowers. Thinned the young bed
of Spinage.

March n. — Sowed seven rows of broad beans in the
Quincunx on the top of Baker's Hill. Planted in the new
Garden three of the large Dutch-Currant-trees, which I
brought in cuttings from Godalming last Year.

March 12, Mem. — Left the three new Cucumber-frames,
taken to pieces, in the old barn, in the straw-bey, leaning
against the boards of the new stable. Put the glass-
frames belonging to them (but with no Glass in them) in
the lumber-garret, & the oaken-pins in a deal-box in the
lumber-garret.

Mem. — Seven very full cart loads of dung make an
exact suitable hot-bed for my great two-light frame : &
five D°- for my four Hand-glasses.

April 8. — Planted water'd & shaded the Laurustinus1
near the Bench in the Field & the Passion flower on each
side the Street Door. Sowed a row of Laburnum seed
from Ringmer.

10. — Put sixteen Cowcumber plants under the Hand
Glasses.

ii. — Plantd six Cowcumb. plants from W. Wells in the
Old Hot Bed.

13. — Transplanted the Indian Corn in the Cups in the
field by the Brickwalk in Baker's Hill & in the Oats to-
wards Willis's. Planted each Corner of Baker's Hill
within the Rod Hedge with Beans.

1 On the 2Oth of March Gilbert White started for Oxford to fulfil his year
of Proctorship, and on the 8th of April, as is shown by his Account-book, he
paid £$ for " an 100 pd- weight of biscuit to treat the Masters of Art in Oriel
Hall." (See Bell's edition, vol. ii. p. 317.) The entries from this date to May 14
are in another hand. — [R. B. S.]

206 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

15. — Sow'd three Rows of French Beans in the field
Garden, first Row from the Tub in the Barn, second from
the paper Bag in the Kitchen, third from the Chaise.
Mem. made a Bed of Sand for the Seed.

15. — Planted some yellow Indian Corn in the New
hot Bed without the Glasses to supply those that fail in
the Cups.

16. — Sowed a row of purple double Stocks from London
and half a Row of Brampton Stocks from Ringmer. Sowed
in the New Garden on the Border by the Brick-Walk
Love lies a Bleeding, Painted Lady Peas, Larkspurs, Yellow
Lupines, & Double Poppies.

Mem. — Sow'd Radishes with the Stocks as Miller directs.

May 14. — Planted some Indian Corn, & French &
African Marrigolds down the basons in the field. Some
D°- Marrigolds in the new Garden.

16. — Made a new hot-bed in the field-Garden : made a
ridge with 10 Cups in the new Garden for Cucumbers in
the natural Ground, & sowed them with seed.

18. — Sowed a Crop of Broccoli, parsley, & Finochia in
the new-Garden.

19. — Removed four plants, with fruit set on them, into
the new hot-bed.

20. — Planted-out Sunflowers, & Nasturtiums down the
field : sowed a row of dwarf white french-beans in the
field-Garden ; mended the early rows of french-beans
in D°-

July 23.* — Planted 200 white, & Roman Broccoli-plants
(which I brought from Oxon) in the new, & field Garden.
Planted 200 Savoys in the field Garden.

27. — Sowed a crop of winter-spinage, with some turnep-
radishes, in the new Garden.

29. — Sowed a Crop of turneps for spring-Greens, in the
field-Garden.

1 Gilbert White was back in Selborne from Oxford on the 22nd of July and
stayed till the 4th of August, when he again went to Oxford, but he was back
at his house on the i8th of September, the journey occupying him two days
(I7th and i8th), a "portmanteau-horse" costing him ten shillings. (See his
Account-book in Professor Bell's edition, vol. ii. p. 322.) — [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 207

A Crop of D°- among the firs on Baker's Hill.

August 3. — Trenched six row of Celeri in the field-
Garden. Sowed a Crop of Coss Lettuce & Endive.

Septemr- 15, N : S : — Tyed-up several large Endive.

16. — Sowed a plot of Rhubarb ; & two late Crops of
Spinage.

29. — Tyed-up the remaining Endive.

Octobr- 19. — Six rows of early, African Beans, in the
field-Garden.

24. — Trenched two rows of Celery in the field-Garden.1

3 On the 25th of October he started for Oxford again, and did not return
to Selborne till the i8th of December.— [R. B. S.]

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1753

January Ist. — Planted three rows of small African Beans
in the Quincunx-garden.

2. — Sowed a crop of Asparagus-seed, of our own saving,
in the new Garden.

16. — Two rows of broad beans in the fir-quincunx, &
two in Turner's Garden.

19. — Five rows of forward pease in Turner's Garden.

23. — Planted five Bushels of turneps for greens.

24. — Thinned out the raspberry-beds.

26. — Sowed a long drill of parsley in New-Garden & a
Crop of Asparagus seed in D°- l

Octobr- 25, 1753. — Seven rows of early African-Beans in
the field-Garden. Three rows of early pease in Turner's
Garden. Laid-down several Branches of the Laurustinus
in ye little Garden : & some boughs of the Mulberry-tree.
Pease destroyed & most of the beans.

1 On the 2gth Gilbert White started for Oxford, and thopgh he was back
at Selborne in April for a week, he does not seem to have made any entries
concerning his garden in the " Kalendar." After completing his term of Proctor-
ship he went to London and Sunbury, and he was travelling about for nearly
the whole of the year. — [R. B. S.]

•08

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1754

An uncommon severe winter : most things in the Garden
destroyed.

Feb., latter end. — A crop of early pease in Turner's :
& crop of broad beans in the field-Garden.

March 5. — Made a very deep hot-bed : half the dung
cast before hand, & half from dunghill at once. The
season uncommonly dry and fine. Sowed a large Crop
of spinage in the field-Garden to supply the general de-
struction made by the severe winter. A wonderful large,
useful Crop.

6. — Sowed larkspurs, painted ladies, & Columbines in
the borders in the new Garden : & a Crop of Parsley.

12. — Sowed two pots of melons in the Hot-bed, & one
pot of Cockscombs : backed up the bed to the top of the
frame, the frost being very extreme.

March 19. — Sowed two pots of Mr- Missen's melon-
seeds ; one pot of early Cucumber-seeds ; one pot of
Gibson's Capsicums. The bed in fine order, but the frost
very severe. One pot more of Cockscombs. The first-
sown Cockscombs appear'd about the 21, came up very
thick : the first-sown melons about 23, very strong. Raised
the pots as soon as they appeared.

26. — Sowed a row of Bosworth's early melons in the
hot bed without pots : a row of my own Cucum : seed :
& two rows of Bosworth's white-Dutch Cucum : seed,1
I never sowed before in England.

29. — Cast eleven cart-loads of Hot dung in the field-
garden, for melon-beds, & cucumr. ridges.

1 In the MS. the Kalendar is here interlined "never came up." — [R. B. S.]

*°9 2 D

210 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

29. — Sowed a Crop of Carrots, radishes, white Coss, &
green Coss lettuce, Parsneps, Beets, leeks, Holy oaks, &
Onions. Planted-out some Laburnums raised in 1752, from
seeds in Baker's Hill.

April 4. — Made a very large hot-bed for my two-light
melon-frame. The Dung very warm.

5. — Made four rows of the broken rows of early beans.
Laid fine earth 6 inches thick between the Hot-bet [sic] ;
sowed some radishes, & a crop of Celeri.

8. — Laid -on the earth on the great melon-bed. Bed
heats finely : wonderful fine weather.

9. — Sowed a large Crop of marrow-fats in Turner's.

10. — Planted three large, forward Cucumber - plants,
given me by Mr. Johnson, in my first Hot-bed.

Planted six Laurels near the pitching in the old orchard ;
two Larches on the bank near the Ewel-gate ; a Scotch,
& silver fir in the upper end of the Ewel-close.

u. — Made a melon-hot-bed with 14 barrows of dung,
for my smallest frame covered with a paper-light. Made
my ridge for three hand-glasses.

12. — Transplanted three of my forwardest melon plants
(four leaves each) into each of the lights of my great frame :
one to be taken away from each hill, when they are settled.
Mem: the earth would not turn-out, till the pots were
broken.1 The bed in a fine heat. The plants had fill'd the
pots with their fibres. Made a slight hot-bed in the new
garden with 8 barrows of dung for hardy annuals : put on
my old frame, & old oil'd paper. Sowed a Crop of Carrots
& lettuce in the shady quarter of the new garden ; 5 pots
of sun-flowers, & Nasturtiums in the borders of D°- ; six
rows of broad beans in the field gardens.

16. — Planted-out some cucumber-plants (sadly wire-
drawn) under two of the Hand-glasses ; & sowed six of
Mr- Burrough's melon-seeds under an other ; the ridge in
a fine heat. The early melon-plants from Mr- Burrough's
seeds. Those to be put in the paper-frame from Mr- Missen's.

1 He evidently forgot to wet the inside of the pots before using them. —
[H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 211

14. — Sowed in the new-garden hot-bed, rows of African
Marygolds, & Indian Corn : planted 20 shallot-bulbs, &
12 Garlick D°- in new Card.

17. — Planted a pot of Mr- Missen's melons in the small
frame under the paper light.

15. — Brought 4 white cucumber-plants from Waltham ; l
put them under a Hand-glass.

19. — Very thick Ice, & the Ground froze hard. Fre-
quent showers of snow, & hail. The Hot-beds maintain
their Heat well : the melon-beds too apt to steam ; & the
air too cold to be admitted in any great degree.

24. — Pinched my early melons for the first time : &
added a good depth of fine mould, mixed with sand, so as
to fill the frames half-way up.

The paper-light torn by a storm, & the melon plants
damag'd.

25. — Planted-out about 20 of the best Cockscombs on
the upper side of the Cucumber, & two-light melon-frame.

April 25. — Planted a pot of Missen's melons in the
small frame ; the other pot being damaged by a storm
which tore the paper light. Planted some large french
Lupines from Mr- Budd in the new Garden.

May 2. — Sowed some Cucumber-seeds under an Hand-
glass in the natural Ground, for a natural Crop. Prick'd-
out a small bed of early Celeri, just in the first leaf, for
early trenches.

8. — Earth'd-up the melon-beds a good depth more :
took-off a joint with a knife that had been omitted ;
stopped some of the runners : the plants in good vigour,
& offering for fruit, & bloom.

The cucumber-plants show fruit ; but none yet set.
The Cockscombs wonderful forward, & stocky ; & have
showed bloom ever since the end of April.

9, 10. — Dressed the Artichoke-beds ; & sowed three long
rows of large, white french-beans in the field Garden.

21. — Made a good strong hot-bed to finish -off the

1 Bishop's Waltham.— [H. M.]

212 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Cockscombs with : plunged 10 large pots in the bed, and
half fill'd them with fine earth. Lined-out and earth'd very
deep the melon-beds for the last time; & rais'd all the
frames to the top of the earth. Planted some Capsicums,
& pendulous Amaranths from Waltham in smaller pots :
& 24 Cauliflowers from Soberton in new Garden.

May 22. — Made a wattle-hedge, about 18 inches high,
round the melon-beds, to widen-out the beds.

Moved ten of the best Cockscombs into the large pots
in the new beds : the plants were taken-up with a sheet
of tin with a deal of earth, & well water'd. The plants
very fine, & forward, & in good bloom ; & 22 inches high.
Two old frames placed one on the other : & the bed
beginning to heat well.

22. — The forwardest bason of Burrough's melons shew'd
for fruit. The weather uncommonly dry & sultry. Planted
some forward Celeri from Mr- Beaver's. A large parcel
more of my own Celeri in new Garden.

22. — Sowed a Crop of turnep-seed in field-garden, &
New-Garden after a soaking shower.

25. — Planted 300 of backward Cabbage plants.

June 5. — The Cockscombs full 28 Inches high ; the
combs very broad, & the stems very stocky.

5. — Planted 100 of fine Savoys in the place of the two
Asparagus-beds grubb'd-up in the new Garden. Sowed a
crop of Coss-lettuce, & Endive green, & white.

6. — Planted out a Crop of Leeks in field-Garden.

June 15, 1754. — Cut first Cucumber. Cockscombs 3 feet
high the tallest, widest Comb 3^ Inches.

28. — Lin'd the Cockscomb-bed which began to grow
cool, with 9 barrows of very hot dung.

28. — Only five melons set ; those very large, & in the
two-light frame. Missen's plants still cast their fruit ; not
one set.

July 2. — The best Comb five inches & half wide : the
melons swell apace. The Cockscomb-bed very hot with
the new lining. Shady, showery weather for these last
three weeks, & not kind for the melons.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 213

6. — Trench'd-out four rows of Celeri in ye field-Garden :
planted a large bed of late-sown Coss-lettuce in ye New-
Garden.

17. — Planted a large Crop of Broccoli-plants from
Captain Gwyn's ; with Endive between.

23. — Cut away a vast deal of the melon-vines, which
were shot-out beyond all bounds : None of Missen's set
yet ; & no more of Burrough's. Put a brick under some
of the melons. No kind melon-weather since the beginning
of June ; but a constant cloudy, windy season, but not
much rain. Missen's melons shew plenty of fruit, but it
all drops-off. The melon's earth too rich ; which occa-
sion'd such an abundance of vine : besides the seed was
but one year old.

23. — Took the Cockscombs out of their frame : the best
comb full seven Inches wide ; the leaves very large, &
green ; and the largest stems two inches & a quarter round :
the combs well indented : That Amaranth that was suffer'd
to run to many heads, looks very fine, & makes a pleasing
variety. The wind is very apt to snap-off the leaves when
the plants are first set-out, before the air has hardened
them : heavy rains do the same. The tallest plant about
three feet four inches. Mem. — The constant wet weather
rotted several of the Heads of those that stood abroad.

25. — Cut first natural Cucumber.

August 7. — Cut first melon wl- 4! flb., it was firm & thick
fleshed & better tasted than could be expected after such
a continuance of Shade & wonderful wet Weather.

The best Combs grow mouldy.

Aug. 14. — Missen's plants too vigourous to let any fruit
set. Fine weather : cut away the vines from the melons
to let in the full Sun.

15. — Sowed a Crop of Spinage, & Radishes in the field-
Garden.

Setenf- 13, 1754. — Collected Mushroom-spawn, & laid
it up to dry.

20. — Laid down Baker's-Hill with white-clover-seed ; &
roll'd it well. A long dry fit of 6 weeks.

214 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

28. — Made an Horse-radish-bed in the new-Garden :
planted the buds 10 inches deep.

Transplanted a Row of Mint, one of Balm, and one of
Pennyroyal.

30. — Parted the Lilly Roots in the Little Garden &
planted the large ones in Field Basons, & the offsets in
the Orchard, with the Tulips, &c. that if any of them are
worth preserving they may be markt when in bloom &
remov'd into the Garden. Transplanted Sweet Williams
from Waltham into the Little Garden from the New Garden
with a few Stocks.

Octobr- Ist- — Carryed ten loads of virgin-earth from
Dorton into the little mead for the melon-frames.

9. — A thorough soaking rain, after an uninterrupted fit
of above six weeks dry weather.

Oct. 15. — Planted a Bason of Double Perr1- Sunflower,
No. 6.

Planted a Bason of Single D°- No. 7.

„ „ „ Double Ragged Robin, No. 8.

„ two Roots of Campan Pysam in pots.
„ two Peach leav'd D°- „ „ No. 9.

„ two Canterbury Bells, No. u.
„ two Roots Double .Scarlet Lychnis \ ^
„ one in little Gardn- the other in the field /
„ two Yellow Lillies j
„ two fiery D°- J

21. — Planted some Yellow & purple Crocus' for Borders
in the Little Garden.

Planted Slips of Pinks & Cloves in the Little Garden
& in some of the field Basons.

22. — Planted Fox-Gloves Mulleins Wood laurel & Bears
foot from the Wood & soap Wort from Gale's Garden
Hedge.

Planted three Opulus' from Berrimans.
Oct. 24. — Sow'd three New Basons with Larkspur
seed.

Sow'd a Row of Laburnum seed in the Seedling Bed in
New Gard. No. i.

/

•lOV -'• ''
' '"eC *od

;'

A GARDEN KALENDAR 215

Sow'd a Row of Fraxinilla seed in D°- No. 2.
„ „ Persicaria „ No. 3.

Planted Golden Rod and Sl- Peter's Wort from
Dr- Bristow's.

Planted some Xyphiums or Bulbous Iris' in the Little
Garden. Mem. — Some offsets in Seedling Bed No. 10.

Planted some Tuberous rooted Iris' in the field.
Mem. — The Xyphiums were sent by mistake.

Planted a Spiraea Frutex from Mr- Budd.

Nov. 5. — Transplanted a Row of Laurustines into the
Gate from the Little Garden.

6. — Moved the Layers of Laurustinus into the Nursery
Bed in the Orchard.

9. — Planted four Box Trees (which came from behind
the old Pales) in the vista at the upper end of ye field.

Remov'd four Rose Trees into one Bason in the Field.
Very wet Weather, but not very cold.

Novr- 20. — Planted 9 rows of Mazagon beans in Turner's
Garden. Earth'd Asparagus-beds.

21. — Made, earth'd, & thatch'd a musroom-bed seven
feet long according to Miller.

21. — Altered the square-plot behind where the old
pales stood, & threw it into a grass plot, with two very
wide borders, one towards the street, & one towards
Kelsey's Gate.

Planted-out 3 doz. of Coss lettuce under two old
frames to stand the winter in the new Garden near the
melon-beds.

Dec. 17. — Put the Spawn into the Mushroom Bed.

31. — Earth'd-up the second Crop of Celeri.

Garden- Kalendar for the Year 1755

Jan. 6 — Sowed a row of Holly-berries behind the
Filberts against Kelsey's Yard.

Feb. 7. — Made an Hot-bed with the small frame for
White-mustard, &c., & an other with an hand-glass for
Celeri. Sowed it last week in Feb.

19. — Sowed half a pound of spinage in the field-Garden :
6 rows of forward pease in Turner's D°- Planted 200 of
Cabages in Field D°-

20. — Sowed a Gallon & half of broad beans in ye field-
Garden. Very severe frost.

21. — Made an Hot-bed for early radishes, hoop'd it
over, & cover'd it with a large mat.

March 12. — Very deep snow, 7 inches on plain ground.

13 — Made a very deep & large Hot-bed for my melon-
seeds ; &c : with seven cart-loads of dung : thatch'd the
edges of the bed without the frame.

14. — Made slight Hot-bed for the Arbutus-seed.

March 15. — Sowed two pots of Mr- Garnier's Cantaleup-
Melons 1753 : two pots of Mr- Hunter's of Waverly D°-
1752 : two pots of Cockscombs : one pot of pendulous
Amaranths : one pot of sensitive plant-seed : one pot of
Arbutus-seed : two pots of my own large Andalusian-
Melons. Mem. — Carry'd Mr- Garnier's Cantaleupe-seed
(being but two years old) in my Breeches-pocket 6 or 8
weeks.1 Sad snowy, wet, cold weather.

17. — Scattered the overplus of the Arbutus-seed among

1 Gilbert White evidently thought that old seed was better than new, and
that carrying it in his pocket would add to its germinating powers. — [H. M.]

216

A GARDEN KALENDAR 217

the new-planted Filberts in the orchard. Mem. — To ob-
serve if any grow.

17. — Hot-bed heats well.

19. — Sowed five rows of Marrow-fat-pease in field G.

20. — Planted 74 Laurels from Waverley l down Baker's-
Hill with two Ilex-acrons between each two : one portugal-
laurel, one weeping-willow, one parsley, one black moun-
tain-Virginian-Elder, one flowering- Rasp : two stoneless
barberies, 6 roses, down the basons in the field : 2 Dutch
Honey-suckles against the Trellis in new Garden : & some
Pine, & Chili-Strawberries in new Garden.

21. — Sowed 12 seeds of Cedar of Libanus, a Crop of
Larches, Weymouth-Pines & Cluster-pines, in two Boxes
standing to the morning sun in the field-garden ; & hoop'd
& netted ym- Planted Ivy round the little-house, & a Bed
of Rasps at the north end of the House. Planted a fine
Mulberry-tree, of my own raising from a layer, in the new
opening in the new-Garden.

27. — Sowed more Melons in the Pots that fail'd.

31. — Sowed one pot of Mr- Garnier's Cantalupe 1753,
one pot of Ld- Lincolns Green Cantalupe 1751, one pot of
Mr- Hunter's Yellow Cantalupe 1752, and one pot of
Miller's very fine old seed.

April i. — Sowed a Crop of Carrots, Coss-lettuce, &
parsneps in the New-Garden.

2. — Cast 20 Cart-loads of Dung in the melon ground.

3. — Planted 13 Laurels round the necessary, & against
the street.

14, 15. — Made a large melon-bed with 20 loads of dung
for six lights in the field-garden. The weather wet, &
unfavourable. The melon-seeds in the pots came-up weak,
& poor, the season not favouring.

April 1 6. — Sowed a pot of Romania-melon-seed 1753 : &
a pot of Zatta 1751 : a pot of three-thorned- Acacia-seed ; &
a pot of seed mark'd only Acacia : Evergreen-Oak Acorns :
Bird-cherry-seed : cut-leaf'd tulip-tree seed : Boorcole, red

1 Near Farnham.— [H. M.]

2 E

218 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

& green : savoy seed : Campanula Pyrimidalis : Scarlet
Lychniss : H oly- oak- seed : leeks: Beets: parsley, &
onions.

17. — Sowed Basons of Double-China-Aster, Double-
Larkspurs, Nasturtiums, Nigella-Romana, Venetian-poppies,
Oriental-mallows, Venus-Lookinglass, Candy-tuft & Chry-
santhemums in the new borders, in the Garden ; & in the
Basons in the field. Sowed some Orange-Gourds, & long-
Gourds under the Arbutus mat. Painted-Ladies in the
New-Garden.

19. — Planted some foxglove-roots from London in the
shady Border in the new-garden.

April 19. — Turned-out two pots of Cantaleupe, & two
pots of Andalusian-melons into the two great frames. The
plants in thriving condition, but the bed hardly shews
any signs of Heat. The weather uncommonly dry, sunny
& sultry.

20. — The Romania, & Zatta-mellons appeared out of
the Ground.

21. — Turned-out two pots of Cantaleupe-melons into
the two single lights, the one Glass, the other paper.

22. — Made an Hot-bed for two Hand-glasses & one
paper light, with seven loads of Farmer Parsons's dung :
earth'd the basons with Dorton-mould. The Acacia-seeds
appeared to day. Sultry weather. Cut a good mess of
Asparagus for the first time.

23. — Planted large plot of Artichokes from Dr- Bristow's
in the new-garden ; & sowed a Crop of Coss-lettuce be-
tween. Made a slight hot-bed with i load of dung for
sunflowers, African-Marrigolds, double Asters, & Celeri ;
& hooped, & matted it. Made Cucumber-ridge with two
loads of dung for two Hand-glasses.

April 25. — Transplanted out of their pots some Zatta-
Melon-plants in the paper-light ; & some Romania-Melon-
plants under the two hand-glasses : the bed heats very
finely.

Transplanted some Cucumber -plants under the two
other Hand-glasses. Showry, warm weather.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 219

26. — Turn'd-out a pot of Cantaleupe-Melons into the
original seed-bed, & earth'd it up a great depth.

28. — Planted-out 6 Acacias in 6 penny-pots: very long
tap-roots.

29. — Transplanted some Cocks-comb-plants, not very
forward, into one of the two-light melon-frames. Trans-
planted three Orange - gourd - plants under the melon-
ground-Hedge. Planted two Storax-trees, from Guernsey,
sent me by Will : Yalden, in one of the basons of the
field.

June 23. — Cut the first Cucumber.

July 17. — Planted-out plots of Endive-plants. Turned-
out remarkably fine & large.

July 1 8. — Only six brace of melons set. The Acacias
in the pots very fine. A fine Crop of Cluster-pines : 10
or 12 Weymouth-pines : 2 Cedars of Libanus : not one
Larch, nor Arbutus.

An uncommon hot, dry summer to this time.

18. — About 500 savoys-plants, & about 6 score boor-
cole plants,1 all of our own raising, in Turner's Garden.

August i. — Cut the first Melon. Mem. — It hung too
long, & was mealy. This was intended for a Cantaleupe,
but proved a common sort.

26. — Gather'd the first Mushrooms from spawn put into
a bed last Decemr- ye 17th-

Only six brace of melons set : hinder'd in their ripening
by a long run of cold, shady weather.

28. — Planted-out a great many Holy-oaks2 in the new-
Garden, Yard, & field.

28. — Tyed-up 30 Good Endive-plants. More should be
tyed-up about the i8th of Septemr- with different-colour'd
Yarn.

Septemr- i. — Planted a plot in New-Garden with Pine-
strawberries brought from Waverly.

Those planted in the spring dyed.

2. — Cut two Cantaleupe-Melons : the biggest weigh'd

1 Borecole — a kind of sprouting Kale or Cabbage. — [H. M.]

2 This would be the old single species still seen in cottage gardens. — [H. M.]

220 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

3 P** 5 oun : they were perfectly dry, & high-flavour'd,
notwithstanding the weather had been shady, & cool for
three weeks ; & uncommonly wet and stormy for the last
week.

2. — Made a large Musroom-bed, eight feet long ; used
eleven Barrows of hot dung with no layers of earth inter-
mix'd.

15. — Planted the mushroom spawn brought from
Dean on the new made bed, it was moderately warm, the
larger lumps were set on the ridge, the smaller earth near
the bottom. N.B. — I planted the S E side & Thomas
the N W.1

19. — Tyed-up more Endive : those tyed-up before not
well blanch'd, for want of being ty'd with double yarn, &
in two places. The new Musroom-bed heats gently. The
double China-asters make a fine show. Mem. — The green-
Endive, by being so much longer, tyes-up, & blanches
much better than the white.

Septembr- 23. — Put the Acacias in their winter-quarters
in a frame under the Hedge of the melon-ground : planted
some lettuce to stand the winter in the same frame, & along
the border : placed an old frame for a Quart'- of a Hund :
of Cauliflower-plants : put the two boxes of the seedling-
pines under the sunny-hedge. Sowed a Crop of persicaria-
seed, & green Coss-lettuce on the same border. Sowed a
Crop of Belvedere on the same border.

Octobr- 6. — Sent the Cauliflowers from Dene.

3Oth- — Planted two basons in the field with Canterbury-
bells. Planted a Nursery of some Scorpion-sena, & Spiraea-
suckers in the New-Garden.

N<nf- 2. — Planted ten rows of Mazagan-beans (never
planted in England) in the field-garden.

Planted four Pyramidal-Campanulas in four large pots,
& plunged them in the Border under the melon-screen.

Planted 30 full-grown perennial-sunflower-roots in the

1 This would seem to have been an experiment, and the result would doubt-
less be watched with interest, to see who succeeded best in the planting, himself
or Thomas ! — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 221

border against the street, & Kelsey's Yard ; & in the upper
part of the basons in ye field.

Novr- 2. — Planted some slips from the perennial-sun-
flowers in a nursery.

Fine settled weather for 9, or 10 days before : the only
good weather since July.

The Campanulas, & sunflowers lay in the ware-house in
London, & were somewhat damaged by the closeness of
the Box.

6. — Sowed two more patches of ye la^st year's persicaria-
seed under the melon-hedge. One plant of the last sowing
came-up very strong.

n. — Most uncommon frost for one night, & considering
the season of the Year : Ice near an inch thick & the dirt
hard enough to bear an Horse.

6. — Planted 12 cuttings of Tamarisk sent down from
London with the Peren1- Sunflowers, &c.

24. — Turn'dthe Horse-path at the Bottom of the Baker's-
Hill, & continu'd-out the Quincunx-basons, and prepar'd
them for shrubs.

25. — Staked & tyed the Quincunx of Firs that were
much loosen'd by the late violent rains, & winds.

Decemr- i. — Earth'd-up the Artichoke - beds for the
winter.

Eleven evergreen-oaks alive down Baker's-Hill.

Decent"- 27. — Finished two large three - light Melon-
frames, each ten feet & an half long, & five wide in the clear ;
& containing 97 feet of Glass in ye lights, & an half foot.

A terrible winter for Earthquakes, Inundations, Tem-
pests, and continued Rains. No frost worth mentioning
except on the iith and 12th of Novemr-

Garden-Kalendar for ye Year 1756

Jan. 23. — Made an hot-bed on the dung-hill in the Yard,
with Mr- Johnson's frame, for white-mustard, & cress.

30. — Earthed-up the backward Celeri.

31. — Planted two Cuttings from the weeping-willow in
the New-Garden.

Feb. 14. — Planted 200 of Cabbage-plants in ye field-
Garden.

14. — Made a Melonry in the Field-Garden 45 feet long,
& lin'd it at ye back very warm, & secure with some
damaged rushes of John Berriman's : lin'd ye two side-
screens in the same manner ; & in particular that towards
ye Cucumber-bed, that it's Farina might not mix with ye
melons.

Mem. — The winter-Coss-lettuce, which stood very safe
under frames during the severe dry frosty winter 1754 :
are this winter rotted by dampness, tho' there have been
no frosts at all to touch y"1-

Feb. 1 8. — Snowed very hard from morning to night :
by ye evening the snow lay 14 inches deep on plain
Ground ; & lodged so heavy on the Hedges that it broke
ym down in several places ; & weighed all the shrubs flat
to the Ground. Went off with a gentle thaw without any
rain.

23. — Cast eight of our little Cart-loads of hot dung in
the field-garden for ye melon seed-bed.

24. — Sowed quarf- of a pound of spinage in the field-
garden.

25. — Planted six rows of large Winsor-beans in ye field-
Garden : six rows of marrow-fat-pease in Turner's Garden.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 223

27. — Planted a row, and a half more of broad-beans.

28. — Made the Melon-seedling-Hot-bed with the whole
eight loads of dung except a little for the Celeri. Weather
very fine, & the Ground in good dry order.

Made a Celeri-Hot-bed for an hand glass, & sowed the
Celeri-seed.

Planted some lilac-suckers from Bradley in Turner's ;
& some Cuttings of the parsley, & Mountain-Elder. Planted
a large lilac-sucker in a field-bason.

March i. — Sowed ten pots of Mr- Hunter's red-seeded
Cantaleupes 1752 : & two pots of Mr- Hunter's white-seeded
Cantaleupes 1754.

Sowed a pot of early prickly Cucumbers. Fine weather ;
& bed heats well.

Sprinkled the bed with quick-lime to kill the small
snails, & grubs.

2. — Raised the fence of the Cucumber-Ground equal
with that of the Melon-Ground, & lined it with pease-
haulm : so the two fences screen the whole North-end of
the field-garden the length of 70 feet.

6. — Removed the two Larches from the Ewel-Close
where one had been damaged by the Horses, into the
Basons in Baker's Hill. Cucumbers began to appear.

Removed one of the Laburnums into a gap in the
orchard-hedge. Planted some layers of Jasmine in Turner's
Garden.

7. — The Melon-plants began to appear.

8. — Sowed 12 basons in the field with double Larkspur-
seed. One ounce will sow 8 basons very thick.

March 8. — Sprinkled more quick-lime round the young
Melon-plants.

9. — Sowed a box of Polyanth-seed : cleansed the moss
& filth from off the Acacia-pots, & sifted on a little fine
earth. Sifted a little fine earth over the seedling Cedars
of Lib : & pines in the boxes.

10. — Sowed a Crop of Carrots in the New-Garden, &
mixed with it some radishes, onions, & coss-lettuce both
green, & white.

224 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

ii. — Sowed one pot of Mr- Hunter's White-seeded
Cantaleupes 1752.

Forked the Asparagus-beds ; & raked ym for ye first time.

Made a rod-hedge round the Quincunx of firs. Very
dry March-like weather : no rain since the great snow
Feb. 1 8.

13. — Hot, sunny days, & fierce frosts at night. Thick Ice.

15. — Brought a four-wheel'd post-chaise to ye Door at
that early time of Year.1

1 6. — Cast 15 good Dung-carts of hot dung for the
melon bed : 9 of our own dung, and 6 of Farmer Parsons's.
The Ground as dry as at Midsumr-

March 17. — Sowed an ounce of onion seed in y6 New-
Garden. Transplanted the Cucumber-plants from the pot,
to the full Ground in the frame. Planted some very large
potatoes from Swarraton in Turner's Garden. The Ground
was double-trench'd in the winter ; & some rotten dung,
& old thatch were dug-in at planting.

1 8. — Sowed two pots of Arbutus-seed, & one pot of
Magnolia-seed, & plunged them in the Hot-bed.

19. — Snowed hard almost all day. Several of ye Melon-
plants go-off with a mouldiness that spreads on the leaves.

20. — Received a large Cargo of Shrubs, & flower-roots
from Brothr- Thomas in London.

22. — Planted in the Basons in the field, a Moss-provence,
& some damask, Monday, & red roses ; Spirce frutex ; blue,
& white lilacs ; Syringa ; early golden-rod ; sumach ; Althaea
frutex ; guelder-rose ; coccigrya ; female dogwood ; double
flowering-thorn, & Persian Jasmine.

In the New-Garden forward-honey-suckle ; Lavender-
cotton ; golden-sage ; double & single Lychnis ; blue, &
white Campanulas ; catchflies ; blue, & peach-bloom Mich :
daises ; striped bulbous Iris ; ribbon-grass ; double, &
variegated perriwinkle : & fruit-bearing Passion-flower near
the brew-house-door.

1 Gilbert's surprise is natural, when it is remembered that the roads were
often impassable in winter round Selborne. He, it will be noted, almost
invariably rode on horseback in the winter. — [H. M.j

A GARDEN KALENDAR 225

Snowy frosty, untoward weather for planting. Four
new hand-glasses fm Alton.

March 23. — Back'd-up the seedling-bed, which began to
lose almost all its heat, with seven barrows of hot dung.

Drew a parcel of the cast-dung from the side of the
heap, & made an Hot-bed for an Hand-glass : sowed three
pots with yellow, & white-seeded Cantaleupes 1752 : &
several cucumber-seeds round the pots for the ridge-hand-
glasses. The first Melon-plants continue to go-off with
mouldiness. Danger of a scarcity of plants for the frames.
The Cucumbr- plants in the same frames very healthy.
Storms of Hail, & rain all day.

24. — Hard frost, & thick Ice.

March 27. — Frost so fierce that it damaged the flowers,
and shrubs very much : Ice near an Inch thick : heavy
snow all the morning.

29. — Dress'd the Rasberry-bed.

31. — Planted four limes1 in the Butcher's Yard, to hide
the sight of Blood, & filth from ye Windows.

April 2. — Planted out of their winter-box a bed of
Cauliflower-plants. Sowed two pots of Larch-seed ; two
pots of China-Arbor- Vitae ; & a pot of Arbor-Judae-seed.

3. — Made my great ten-light melon-bed with fifteen
dung-carts of hot-dung. Laid an Hillock of Dorton-earth
in the middle of each light ; & cover'd the whole bed about
two inches thick with earth. The earth wet & cloddy, &
not in condition for the purpose. Supply'd the Artichoke-
bed (which had lost most of its plants) with very good slips
from Dr- Bristow's.

5. — Sowed a large Quantity of Holy-oak-seed, with some
radishes for the bugs ; crop of parsneps ; crop of Leeks ;
row of parsley : Row of Larch, & Judas-tree-seed in the
common-ground : four rows of Evergreen-oak-acrons ;
plot of Tree mallow, & curled mallow ; some Honesty-

1 Three trees are still there, facing " The Wakes." Mr. Maxwell can re-
member the fourth, but it was removed when the yard on the north-east
side of the Butcher's Shop was built. These limes are now 146 years old.
— [R. B. S.]

2 F

226 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

seed ; Date-stones ; crop of red-beet ; & some cress, &
white mustard.

April 6. — Made a Cucumber-bed for three Hand-glasses
with two dung-carts of Parsons's Dung. The trench 16
feet long, two & an half broad, & one & half deep : the
dung did not reach to the level of the Ground by some
Inches.

Made a slight Hot-bed for hardy annuals with seven
barrows of dung : laid fine earth over it five inches
deep.

Sowed the border against Parsons's Yard with Sun-
flowers, Lady-pease, Venetian-mallow, Nasturtium, Lark-
spurs, Candytuft.

10. — Sowed in the annual Bed Sunflowers, African
Marrigolds, Orange-Gourds, Double-China Aster, Marvel of
Peru, Celeriac.

10. — Turn'd-out eight pots of Yellow-seeded Cantaleupes,
& two of white into my ten great Lights. The white-seeded
under the tiled lights. One pretty good plant under each
light. The bed but in indifferent condition by reason of
the continual rains, & black cloudy weather.

April 10. — Sowed some Yellow-seeded, & white-seeded
Cantaleupes in the old seed- Bed, for fear some plants in
the lights should miscarry : some Romania-melon-seeds in
D°- for ye Hand-glass-ridge.

Mem. — Those melon-plants that were once seized with
a mouldiness constantly dy'd away by degrees, 'till they
were quite devour'd by it ; except those plants on which
I tryed the experiment of clipping-off the infected part with
a pair of scissors : when they recover' d, & afterwards grew
pretty well. The only method I can find of preventing the
earth from falling from the melon-plants in turning them
out of their pots, is by plastering-down a cake of wet Clay,
over the mouth of the pots. Those pots turn-out best that
have two or three plants ; because there are more roots
to hold the earth together. No snail ever comes a near a
place well sprinkled with quick-lime, especially in a frame
where the wet is kept-off. And what is very strange,

* f

•!

•

"- ' "' •

A GARDEN KALENDAR 227

quick lime, tho' plentifully shaken upon them, will not
injure the youngest, or tenderest plant.

April 1 2. — Sowed plot of Savoy-seed, very good sort ; &
plot of Borecole * red, & green : some Pendulous Amaranth
in Annual Bed. Planted quarf- of Hund : of laurels against
the street in the new-Garden to thicken ye screen ; & down
Baker's-hill, where the turkeys had destroyed them.

13. — Planted some Laurestines down Baker's - Hill,
where the Laurels were dead. Constant heavy rains day,
& night.

Six rows of Marrowfats in Turner's Card11- This April
thro' a most surprizing season for wet, & frost. The 2Oth
was a vast rain : but on the 26th it rain'd for 22 Hours
without ceasing, & brought on such a vast flood as has
seldom been seen ; the meadows round Oxon being entirely
cover'd a great depth.

May i. — Received from Brothr- Thomas an Arbutus,
common Cypress, Portugal-Laurel, Cluster-pine, Silver-fir,
Swedish - Juniper, Evergreen Cytisus, Passion - flower, &
some small evergreen Creepers. Fine plahts, & most of
them turn'd out of pots & sent down with all their earth
about ym- My ten - light Cantaleupe-bed so flooded by
those vast rains that all the plants are dead.

Planted ye evergreens in the basons in the field.

May 4. — Heavy storms of snow, & thunder.

5. — Frost so hard that the dirt carryed.

6. — Broke-up my ten-light Cantaleupe-bed, & work'd it
up with five dung-carts more of hot-dung. Sensible heat
remaining in the bed, tho' it had been so flooded. Put
earth into the boxes, in good dry order. Soft mild
shower.

7:8: 9. — Very wet season.

10. — Planted my ten-light melon-bed a second time
with Waverley-Cantaleupe, & Romania-melons. Bed in
fine order for Heat.

Planted-out the seedling Cedar of Libanus in a
penny-pot.

1 See antea, p. 219, " Boorcole."— [R. B. S.]

228 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Four lights of Cantaleupes, & six of Romagna-Melons.

May ii. — Violent rain, snow, & hail : Ice in the night.

12. — Made a ridge for five hand glasses, with four dung-
carts of dung.

Received from Kensington one Holly-leav'd Oak, one
Olive-leav'd D°-', one red Cedar of Virginia, one White D°--
one Spanish-Evergreen Creeper, one Balm of Gilead-fir,
two Weymouth-pines, one Acacia-leaved-Cypress. All
nicely pack'd with a deal of earth about their roots ; &
about a foot & half high.

From Williamson Nursery-man at Kensington.

14. — Sowed some common green, & white- Dutch
Cucumber-seeds under an Hand-Glass.

Set up my first Oil-Jar Vase at the bottom of the Ewel-
Close with a pannel only in front : Mount, pedestal, & Vase
nine feet high. Dripping season still.

May 15. — No one Day so much as spring-like before :
now absolute Summer.

Sowed a crop of Green-Coss-lettuce among the New-
planted Artichokes.

Planted three of the Hand-glasses with Cucumber plants,
three plants in a Glass.

May 17. — Pricked-out the seedling Weymouth, &
Cluster-pines in the New-Garden.

Prick'd-out a plot of Celeri in Turner's.

18. — Planted 300 & quart1"- of Cabbage-plants in the
field-Garden. Very hot sunshine with a cold East-wind.

19. — Set-up my second Oil-jar vase at the top of the
broad walk, with a face to the cross-walk. Mount, pedestal,
& Jar some inches above nine feet high.

19. — Pinch'd my melons to make them throw-out
runners : the melons for want of having been in pots, a
long while in taking to ye Ground.

20. — Planted six rows of large white Dutch Kidney-
beans as long as ye Spinage will permit.

May 24. — Earth'd-up the melon-hillocks for ye first
time with Dorton-mould. Mould in fine order.

28. — Bright sunshine, & smart frosts for this fortnight

A GARDEN KALENDAR 229

past, with a cutting East- Wind most part of the time : now
a small shower.

Ground strangely bound, & parched. Cucumbers begin
to set.

31. — Cut the first Cucumber : 3 more almost grown on
the same plant. Planted all the Hand-glasses with Cucum-
ber-plants, white, & green. Planted some basons in the
field with Sunflowers. Bright, settled dry weather ; the
Ground bound as hard as a stone.

June i. — Five of the melon-plants have runners with
two Joints.

3. — Pinched the forwardest of the melons at the third
Joint : & pinch'd-off all the small buds about their stems.
Best Cantaleupe knit for bloom.

7. — Three weeks & three days drought, except a shower
once for a few minutes. Now moderate showers.

June 10. — Earth'd Melons second time with Dorton-
earth : second runners show second Joint. The Glazier
cemented the large lights, which drip wretchedly : mended
but not cured. Frequent Showers.

16. — Prick' d-out five Hund : of Savoys ; & 175 of Bore-
cole. Length'ned - out rows of French - beans. Melons
throw-out plenty of fruit ; male-bloom full blown. Hot,
dripping weather, which makes the melons grow wonder-
fully. Prick'd-out more Celeri.

19. — Lined-out the melon-bed with 8 dung -carts of
Dung ; & laid-on the full thickness of earth without, &
within the frames. Earth'd the frames twice with Dorton-
mould, & the last time with common Garden-mould.

27. — Gathered Mazagan Beans.

Several melons set.

Sowed Crop of Endive.

July 24. — Full twenty Brace of Melons, most of them
well-grown : the plants in great vigour.

July 26. — Planted -out Crop of Endive in the field-
Garden.

27. — Planted-out first plot of Savoys.

29. — Planted-out Borecole, & rest of Savoys.

230 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Aug**- 2. — Cut first Melon, a Romania : very early, con-
sidering the first bed was destroy'd.

3. — Cut brace & half more of Romania : turn'd, & tiled
the rest, which was much wanting. Cut 70 Cucumbers.

Aug: 4. — Trenched-out 8 rows of Celeri : planted some
of the Borders in the New-Garden with Polyanths of my
own raising.

Cut four brace & half of Melons this week.

15. — Had cut eleven brace of Romania-Melons : one
from the plant that was put a seed into one of the great
frames on May ye 10.

18. — Planted six pots with Cuttings of Geraniums.
Mushroom-bed bears pretty well at one end.

Aug: 1 8. — Sowed Crop of Turneps in the Quincunx, &
among the Savoys.

21. — Sowed half pound of spinage ; & with it turnep-
radish seed ; & brown dutch, & green-Capuchin-Lettuce
to stand the Winter.

22. — Cut the first Cantaleupe, a very small one : it was
almost cleft in two : was high-flavour'd, & vastly superior
to any of the Romanias. This melon set the first of any ;
& was full 8 weeks in ripening. The plant on which this
grew was one of the first crop, the only one that survived ;
& was moved in a careless manner back into the seedling-
bed ; & brought back again when the bed was new-
worked-up.

Constant heavy rains for a week : the wheat that is
down begins to grow.

24. — Cut second Cantaleupe, the largest in ye Boxes ;
weigh'd 3 pds- 7 oun : sent it to London to Brothr- Tom.
Turn'd colour before it began to smell, which is unusual.

Aug: 25. — Planted-out Holy-oaks in the New-Garden
next the street ; & among the limes in the Butcher's
Yard.

26 : 27 : 28. — Cut a brace & half of Mr- Hunter's Canta-
leupes : a brace were not much embossed on their Rind,
& not so high flavoured as might be expected : the other
was very rough, very firm fleshed, high flavoured, & very

A GARDEN KALENDAR 231

weighty for its size. N : B : All the Cantaleupes yet have
chang'd colour, & smelt without cracking at the Stalk.

28 — True fine Harvest-weather. Wheat much grown
about the Country ; some grew as it stood.

29. — Cut one Waverly, & one Miller's Cantaleupe : sent
the Waverly one to Bradley.

Miller's tho' it promised well was very abominable ;
being about an Inch thick in Rind, without any flesh or
flavour. The rind was finely emboss'd, & the shape Com-
pressed like a Turnep. Brought the only flowering Pyram :
Campan. into the parlour : it produced only a single stalk.

Septemr- 2. — Tyed up 30 Endives : first tying.

7. — French-beans so backward that not above three
boilings have been gathered yet.

ii. — Cut the other Miller's Cantaleupe : turn'd out as
execrable as the former.

16. — Brought a large Cantaleupe from Waverley, weight
3 pds- 9 oun. : turn'd-out very high-flavour' d, & curious :
saved the seed.

25. — Planted 300 laurel-Cuttings in Turner's.

Octobr- 3. — Cut brace & half of Romania-Melons, good
for latter Crop.

Octobr- 9. — Set nine Hyacinths, given me by Mr- Trinley,
to blow in Glasses in ye parlour.

25. — Cut last melon : the 4ist-

Novemr- 9. — Planted ten rows & half of Mazagan-beans
in the field-garden.

One Quart of true small mazagan-beans will plant eleven
good rows.

9: 10 : ii : 12. — Extream hard frost, & bearing Ice.
From the i8th- to ye 25 : uncommon fierce frost, & some
snow.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1757

Jan. Ist — Planted a row of Tulips, & Ranunculus's,
given me by my Brothr- Thomas, in the Border in the
New-Garden next the street. Dug-out the soil, & filled the
trench with earth well-mixed with lime-rubbish.

3. — Planted the Fir-Quincunx with five rows of Winsor-
beans : dunged the ground, that was very poor, with ten
wheel-barrows of very rotten dung. After the beans the
ground to be trench'd with Celeri.

Levelled, & widen'd the Area of ye Melon-Ground ;
having made an underground Drain to prevent its being
flooded any more.

4. — A most extraordinary dry season for wheeling-out
the dung of the old Hot-beds ; & for trenching the ground
for Crops.

On the 2nd- began a frost, which on ye 3rd- & 4th- by
means of a strong East wind became very severe, so as to
freeze-up all the pools & ponds : the ground, which had
been quite drained before by a fortnight's dry weather,
look'd white & dusty, & was not the least relaxed or greasy
at noon for many days together. On the ioth- came a
thaw, & a little snow. The Laurustines, & other tender
Evergreens began to suffer, a little especially on the severe
windy days. Froze-up again, lasted (tho' there were
frequent hasty showers) without the frost ever being out
of the Ground till Feb. 6th- Great Quantities of snow fell,
which being half melted by the rain made the country
slippery to a strange degree. The frost penetrated deep
into the ground, & seems to have been the severest since
that in 1740. Seems to have done no material damage to

A GARDEN KALENDAR 233

vegetation ; but has made the Ground very light, &
mellow.

Feb. 10. — Sowed half a pound of spinage in the field-
Garden, with some Browndutch, & Capuchin-lettuce ;
some common, & white-turnep Radishes.

ii. — Several of the Hyancinths are tall, & just ready
to blow.

12. — Planted six rows of Hotspur-pease, & two of
Marrowfats in the field-Garden.

Summer-like weather : the ground by means of the
frost perfectly mellow. Sowed a crop of parsely in the
New Garden.

17. — Made an Hot-bed in the Yard with 16 wheel-
barrows of dung, only to raise ye Cucumber-plants, &
a little Cress, & white-mustard. To be taken away, &
work'd up in a future Bed.

Feb. 1 8. — One of the Sunbury Jacinths (ye only one,
not decay'd) in full bloom. Those from Mr> Budd drawn-
up very tall but not blown.

19. — Sowed some early Cucumber-seeds under one of
the Hand-glasses.

21. — Planted 100 of Cabbages in Turner's : sowed hand-
glasses in the Yard with Cress, & white-mustard.

24. — Carryed eight of our little Cart-loads of dung into
the field-garden for a seedling melon-bed.

28. — Made a very stout hot-bed above three feet thick
for the melon-seeds, & to forward the Cucumber-plants,
with 8 Cart-loads of dung. Saved about two barrows of
dung, & made a Celeri-bed for one Handglass.

March 2. — Sowed the new Hot-bed with Yellow-seeded
Waverley Cantaleupe 1752 : & White-seeded Waverly D°-
1752 & 1754 '• with Dutch Cantaleupe (never sowed in
England) 1754 : & with John Bosworth's Zatta-melon from
Florence 1754. Sowed also a few early Cucumber-seeds
for fear the plants should fail.

Sowed a small Hand-glass Hot-bed with Celeri, & Cele-
riac. Dressed Rasp-bed : & hoed beans : but a thin Crop.

4. — Sowed 14 basons in the field with double upright

2 G

234 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

larkspur-seed ; & bush'd them well. Sunk a wine-Hog's
head in the field-garden for a well.

5. — Sowed some Asparagus-seed to mend the beds that
are decaying.

Very dry weather, & severe frost.

8. — The seedling- melon -bed, tho' made so strong,
would not come to any Heat : so I cut away the bed
sloping-in on every side, & lined it very thick with four
little cart-loads of dung just fresh from the stable.

March n. — Bed begins to heat very well : prick'd the
cucumbers from under the Hand-glass into it. Melons
not yet come up. Lost about a week in the forwarding
the Cucumber-plants by the bed's not heating. Sowed the
Hand-glasses in the Yard with more Cress, & Mustard.
That little bed keeps its heat well still.

14. — Sowed 22 Mazagan-beans, all worm-eaten to try
if the rest will be fit to plant next Year.

Tyed the melon-bed, that crack'd & was like to bulge-
out, with a strong cord, that seems to secure it.

Made a melon paper-House 8 feet long, & 5 feet wide :
to be covered with the best writing-paper.

Planted two seedling white-Elders in the little mead.

17. — Supplyed the basons where the shrubs were dead,
with new ones.

Melon-plants come-up very fast.

1 8. — Planted a weeping- willow, a fine plant, one Year
from a Cutting, in one of the basons in the field : planted
a black- Virginian-Mountain-Elder in the little mead.

19. — Sowed 20 more Yellow Cantaleupe-seeds, Selborn
1755 : to supply the room of any plants that may fail.

Sowed 9 basons in the border next Parson's Yard with
double Larkspurs. Some of the forward Cucumber-plants
show a rough leaf.

21. — Sowed Crop of Carrots, White & Green Coss-
Lettuce, & common radishes in Turner's Garden. Headed-
down the limes in the Butcher's Yard ; & took several
Cuttings from the Weeping-willow & planted them in the
Nursery.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 235

March 22. — Sowed the Clover in the wheat ; & mixed
with it the white-Dutch-Clover that had been in the House
two or three Years.

Sowed 40 of the Murdoch Myddleton's white-Cucumber-
seeds in the seedling-bed. Bed heats very well.

23. — Raked, & weeded the Asparagus-beds.

24. — Sowed 20 seeds of prickly Cucumbers just come
from London.

26. — Cast six loads (dung-carts) of hot dung in the field-
garden for the cucumber-bed. Planted Quart1"- of Hund :
of Cauliflowers in a well-dung'd plot in the field-Garden :
from Preedy at Farnham.

March 28. — Made a very stout Cucumber-bed five feet
wide, two feet & half deep, & thirteen feet long for three
lights, with the six loads of Dung : cut very deep holes
in the middle of each light, & rais'd a hillock of fine earth
to receive the plants : cut also a trench at the back of the
frames, & plunged 12 pots to the brims to receive the
melon-plants.

Sowed nine more basons of double-upright Larkspurs
in the border in the new-Garden against the street.

31. — Planted the plants of Cucumbers in the new bed,
three in an Hole : they show each four leaves ; but have
not grown much for some days past.

Bed gives a very strong Heat.

Planted a Quart of marrot-fat-pease in three rows in
the field-Garden.

April i. — Planted-out twelve pots of melons : five with
yellow-seeded Cantaleupe plants, old seed from Waverley,
with one D°- new seed of my own saving in the same pot :
three with new Yellow D°- three with White-seeded Canta-
leupes, old seed from Waverley : & one pot with Dutch-
Cantaleupe from Holland, never sowed in England. Left
six Selborn Cantaleupes, & two Zatta-plants in the seedling
bed.

Mem. — To soak the earth well beforehand with water,
or else the fine earth is very apt to crumble away, & leave
the roots naked in moving.

236 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

2. — Sowed two or three white Cantaleupe-seeds in each
of the pots that contain the white Cantaleupe plants.

Sowed a good Quantity of the old green Cucumber
seeds ; & D°- of Middleton's White D°- in the one-light
Cucumber-frame.

The former sowing of Middleton's white Cucumber-
seed, & of the new green D°- from London came-up
wretchedly.

Sad wet, cold weather, & constant high winds (some of
them very terrible, & mischievous ones) for three weeks past.

New Cucumber-bed heats well ; & Cucumber, & melon-
plants have struck-root already.

April 5. — Sowed a Crop of leeks, beets, parsneps, turnep-
radishes, & onions.

Unusual Hot weather this week : during which, John,
who was but a very young Gardener, scorch'd up, & suff o- ,
cated all his forward Cucumbers : & drawed his melon-
plants, but has not spoiled them.

21. — Snowed very hard for sixteen hours : the greatest
snow that has fallen this Year ; & must have been a foot
deep had it not for the greatest part melted as it fell.
Went away without any frost, & seems to have done no
damage.

April 23d- — Made the melon-bed for the six large lights,
& two of the small ones, with 18 dung-carts of dung, just
30 feet long, & about two & half high, & all above ground.

25. — Dressed the border against Parsons's & sowed in it,
Sunflowers, Candy tuft, Venetian-poppy, & Venus looking
glass : sowed large plot of savoy seed, plot of Sweet
William-seed, & some rows of sorrel, & parsley. Sowed
some Celeri on the melon-bed between the frames ; & some
white-seeded Cantaleupes for the paper-House in one of
the large lights.

On examination it appeared that the earth in the
Cucumber-bed was burnt by the fierce heat of the bed :
dug it out of the basons, & put in fresh : One bason of the
early Cucumbers will recover, the other two must be new-
planted.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 237

My Polyanths, which I raised from seed given me by
Mrs Snooke, & sowed last spring, make now a most
beautiful appearance ; many of them have large upright
stems, producing many flowers, which are large, beautifully
striped, & open flat. Mark'd the finest blowers with sticks,
intending to save seed from them.

April 26. — Turned-out five pots of Waverley Yellow-
seed Cantaleupes, & one Selborn D°- into my six great
Lights : and only one pot of John Bosworth's Dutch Canta-
leupe into the middle of my two light frame. All the pots
were turned-out well except the Dutch-Cantaleupe, whose
earth stuck to the pot, & pull'd-off many of its fibres.
Sowed Crop of Borecole green & red ; & vast plot of Holy-
oak-seed : & a row of tree-mallow seed.

April 26. — Sowed four rows of dwarf white Battersea-
kidney-beans in the New Garden. An handful of beans
left out of one pint. Ground in good dry order.

Supplyed the two basons of Cucumbers that were burnt,
with some white, & green prickly plants.

May 9. — Made an Hot-bed for my melon-paper house
with four loads of dung joined-on to the former bed.

Made hot-bed for seedling-annuals with three barrows
of weeds, & four of dung.

Early Cucumbers show nothing but male bloom.
Planted two rows of large white Dutch-Kidney-beans.
10. — Sowed Annual-bed with African & French Marri-
golds, Marvel of Peru, Gourds, & double China-Asters.
Sowed some rows of Sunflower-seed.
Plants shew some few Cucumbers.

Some of the melon-plants decaying in their seedling-
leaves : turned-out some more pots into the basons. Shall
save but one Waverly melon-plant ; all the rest Selborn
seed, except the two White-seeded plants under the paper,
that are Waverly.

May 12. — Sowed an Hand-glass on ye cold ground with
several sorts of white Dutch-Cucumbers ; & a few green
prickly Cucumrs- Sowed a late Crop of green, & white
Coss-lettuce. Prick' d-out some rows of Capuchin-Lettuce.

238 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

13. — Earthed-up the melon-hillocks for ye first time
with Dorton-earth.1 The reason that ye first melon-plants
that were turned-out did not succeed, seems to be, that the
earth in the pots was press'd down too hard, so that the
fibres could not push thro'. Laid-on the hillocks upon the
new-made melon-bed ; & put-on the paper-house. Earth'd
the forward Cucumbers, & water'd them all over.

May 1 6. — Pinch'd, & turned-out two pots of white-
seeded Wav : Cantaleupes under the paper-house : the
bed very hot. The plants strangely rooted for their age.
One of the plants under the two-light-frame has got a
runner with two joints.

18. — Mended-out the Artichokes that were decayed with
some plants from Johnson's. Very hot, sunny weather :
no rain for five weeks ; the ground very much burnt.

20. — Pinched one of the melon-runners at the third
Joint. The weather full fierce for hot-beds under Glass.

May 23. — Earth'd melon-hillocks the second time with
garden-mould, which had been turn'd & prepared on pur-
pose, & is in excellent order. The melon-plants in general
weak, & puny : pinch'd some of their runners at the second
& some at the third Joint according to their strength.

Sowed three rows more of large Dutch-Kidney-beans
in the field-garden : the sowing of White dwarf D°- seems
to be rotten in the Ground, notwithstanding the great
dryness of the Ground.

24. — Sowed an other Hand-glass with white-Dutch-
Cucumbers in the cold Ground.

26. — Planted 200 of Cabbage-plants in the Field-Garden.

27. — Earth'd-up the melons under the paper-house the
first time : the plants thriving.

May 29. — Cut first Cucumber. Several more set. Fine
soaking shower after six weeks drought.

June Ist — Prick'd-out first bed of Celeri : & transplanted
from their seedling-bed a large Crop of leeks. Ground
thoro'ly moisten'd by a long gentle rain.

1 " In these days we think the earth from Selborne Hill is preferable to that
from Dorton for gardens." — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 239

2. — Planted-out the natural Cucumbers under the hand-
glasses. Planted some varigated Gourds in the Corner
near the Brew-house-Door. Sowed a row more of large
French-beans in the field-Garden.

3. — Widened-out the early Cucumber-bed with the dung
of the seedling-bed, & laid-on a good depth of stiff earth.

6. — Sowed five rows of dwarf white-kidney-beans in
the new-Garden, where the early crop fail'd. Soak'd the
beans over night in water, the weather & ground being
extreamly dry.

June 7. — Tyed-up a few of the best Coss-Lettuce : a
fine Crop.

Several of the melons show bloom, but are very weak
in vine.

Earth'd-up melons the third time.

Weeded & thinn'd-out Carrots ; a good Crop.

10. — Earth'd up melons the fourth time : the boxes
almost full of earth. Extream dry weather. Melons mend
by a more frequent watering.

ii. — Staked the Holy-oaks in the Garden, & Butcher's
Yard, & tyed them up.

Water'd melons pretty much at a distance from their
stems. Great drought. Melons shew fruit. They, &
Cucumbers require constant shading from ye fierce heat.

13. — Prick'd-out second Crop of Celeri in Turner's
Garden.

Earth'd-out the melon-frames with their full depth of
earth ; & watered them well. Extream hot weather.
Melons improve every day, & shew several fruit ; but are
still scanty in vine. Those under the paper-house thrive
well.

June 17. — Gathered first pease.

19. — The Coss-lettuce, that were tyed-up, well-grown,
& finely blanch'd.

20. — Lined-out the melon-bed with 18 Dung-Carts of
Dung, & earth'd it the full depth within, & without the
boxes. Bed 13 feet wide, & contains 40 loads of Dung.
Plants under the boxes still, but weak; those under the

240 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

paper-house very thriving. Gentle rain : the ground before
burnt to ashes.

21 : 22. — Prick'd-out about 650 savoys; & about 230
Bore-cole-plants.

24. — Buried the stones, & rubbish from ye Butcher's
in the Yard to make it sound. Dry, scorching weather.

June 25. — Watered melons well : burning season, &
no signs of rain. Fruit in plenty ; but none set.

27. — Earth'd the melon-bed still deeper on account of
the extream Heat ; & pull'd the Lights quite off for the
whole day, & covered the frames with mats. Plants draw
very long without any fruit setting.

Cucumbers raised in the cold ground very forward, &
thriving.

28. — Planted several Basons in the field with Sunflowers.

30. — Sowed a plot of Endive, & shaded it with a mat.

July 5. — Pull'd up the two melon-plants in the two-
light-frame, which had never showed a fruit so far as to
blow ; & planted in their room two Selborn Cantaleupes
sown about the 21 of May, just shooting into runners.
Drought continues ; & the Garden suffers greatly.

July 1 6. — Planted-out, after waiting five or six weeks
for a shower, the Af : & French Marigolds, & double-
China-Asters, in the midst of an unusual drought : the
Earth quite dust spit-deep.

17. — Gathered first natural Cucumber from a seed put
into the cold Ground the 12th of May.

20. — Great tempest of thunder & lightning, & vast
rains after 13 weeks drought.

Frequent showers till the 15 of August ; then sixteen
days wet, & very bad Harvest weather.

August 22. — Found on my return from Sunbury six
brace of moderate-sized Cantaleupes ; & about the same
number of small ones, that will ripen, if the season be
favourable. No fruit would set till the rains came, & the
intense heats were abated : & what did set was all on the
third wood, the second casting its fruit, & drawing very
weak.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 241

Planted-out in my absence near a thousand savoys, &
a large plot of Borecole ; was sown a pound of spinage,
mixed with turnep-radishes, & lettuce of many sorts : &
trench'd out eight good rows of Celeri. The Pyram : Cam-
panula in beautiful bloom ; but has only two stems.

Aug. 29. — Planted-out 43 Holy oak-plants before &
behind the melon-screen, & in the border of the New-
Garden against the street.

Septemr- 17. — Tyed up about 25 Endives : they run very
small this Year.

1 8. — Cut first Cantaleupe, a small fig-shap'd one, & not
thick-flesh'd. The leaves of the plants unusually decayed.

Septemr 19 : 20 : 21 : 22. — Slip'd & new-planted the
pinks in the Borders against the House : dug-up the
Crocuss, & planted them in double-rows before the pinks ;
they are encreased to near 500 roots : slip'd the best of
the Polyanths, & planted them in two rows in border
against the broad walk : planted a border of seedling
Sweet- Williams against Parsons's Yard : planted three
rows of green-Capuchin, & Brown-Dutch-Lettuce the
length of the melon-ground on a border just under the
rush-screen to stand the winter : planted several Basons
in the field with Sweet-Williams : took-up the yellow-lilys
& a fine large Martagon under my Father's window, &
planted them in a bason in the field : the two Xiphiums
were encreased to a great number ; planted some of them
in the Basons round ye lilies ; & some in a row under my
Father's window : planted my Tulips in the same place ;
& a few Ranunculus, & Fritillarias : planted a row of
Crocus-roots on each side as You go out of the new
Garden.

Septenf- 27. — Put nine Hyacinths to blow in the Glasses
over the Chimney. They were given me by Mr- Trinley
& brought me by Mre- Mulso.

28. — Planted a row of Sweet Williams, & a row of
Polyanths under the back of the melon-screen : some
Polyanths along the dark walk in the orchard.

Delicate Autumn-weather, & no rain for more than a

2 H

242 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

month. Roads perfectly dry, Cantaleupes come-in apace :
very high-flavoured, but small ; as they were all on the
third wood. The white-seeded sort very good.

Oclobr- i : 2. — Cut two very high-flavoured Cantaleupes,
both under two pds- in weight. They were very weighty
for their size ; & their coats very black, & embossed. Sent
them to Lord Keeper.

ii. — Tyed-up second tying of Endives with red yarn.
Earth'd-up three rows of Celeri quite to the top.

Cut three Brace of Cantaleupes for Mangoes, that were
too backward to ripen. Left two brace & half that may
ripen tolerably well, if the season favours.

Octobr- 1 6. — Received from my Broth1"- Thomas 50 double
snow-drop-roots ; six very large double Narcissus-roots.

17. — Set three of the largest Narcissus's to blow in
sand.

17. — Sowed a large quantity of Laurel-berries in all the
gaps of the Hedges ; down Baker's Hill ; at the top of
Turner's Garden ; & in the New-Garden against the street.
Berries very large & ripe, from Mr- Bridger's.1

Octobr- 24. — Planted in the Basons in ye Field five double
rockets, six scarlet Martagons, six Fraxinellas, 3 tallest
purple Asters, 3 dwarf D°-- 2 German Goldylocks, 6 double
Sunflowers, 3 tall smelling Sunflowers, 2 Carolina Sun-
flowers ; from Murdoch Middleton. In the broad borders
under my Father's window ; 6 Solomon's-seals, 6 double
Narcissus's from Mur : Middleton : several double rockets
from Mr- Budd ; striped Epilobium in the field.

Put two Jonquils to blow in the Glasses; & changed
some of the Hyacinths that did not thrive for some of
M. Myddleton's.

26. — Finished digging-up a new piece of Garden-Ground
60 feet by 30 in Bakers-hill beyond the Field-Garden.

Octobr- 27. — Sowed a large Quantity of Elder, Buckthorn,
& dog-wood-berries in the ditch by the sand-walk.

28. — Planted seven rows of small, early Beans in Turner's
Garden.

1 A yeoman farmer at Oakhanger. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 243

Took away the two three-light frames.

The Ground very dry, & in fine order.

29. — Planted 50 snow-drops in three Clusters under my
Father's window. Turn'd-out double Dunged, & earthed
the Asparagus-beds.

30. — Cut a melon ; tolerable for the season.

31. — Turn'd-off the earth from the melon-bed ; & cut
two brace of unripe fruit.

Novemr- i. — Planted in the Border next ye street 24
tulips from Mr- Budd : 12 Hyacinths from D°-' 5 Hyacinths
from Murdoch Middleton : 12 Jonquils from D°" 8 Nar-
cissus's from D° - 2 Dutch Narcissus's from Bro. Thomas :
& two Groups of fox-gloves from Mr- Budd. Trenched the
border well with lime-rubbish ; & put the roots into the
Ground in fine dry order.

Planted in a double-trench'd plot of ground five rows
of Horse-radish 10 inches deep.

Planted several slips of Mich : Daisies round the basons
of Golden-rod ; & in the new-planted basons of double-
perennial-sun-flowers.

No rain for many weeks, & the ground as dry as in
Summer.

Cast the Dorton melon-earth, & mixed some rotten
Dung with it.

Novr' 6. — Cut-up a Cantaleupe that had been cut green,
& laid in the Buffet to ripen. It had a very good flavour,
& was better than many a common melon ripened in the
Height of the Season.

26. — The early beans come-up very well. Mild growing
weather as yet.

Decemr- i. — Eat a Cantaleupe that had been a month
in the House. It was firm, & well-flavoured.

Decemr- 9. — Earth'd-up the Artichokes. Hoed the beans,
that are grown pretty tall. Very mild weather 'till this
time.

26. — Cut the last Cantaleupe, a very small one & not
very good. Very mild weather ; hardly any frost yet.

The spring & summer 1757 were remarkably hot &

244 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

dry. The dry weather began in passion-week, & con-
tinued on without any Interruption (except ye 29 of May)
'till the 20 of July. The air was rather cold in April &
May : but the sun, shining all day from a cloudless skie
for many weeks, dryed the ground in a very uncommon
manner : & the heats of June, & July quite burnt it to
dust. I observed that our wet clay withstood the drought
very well for many weeks : but when once it was thoro'ly
parched (as it was more than spit deep) vegetation suffered
more than in the gravelly soils. The barley, oats, and
pease, having no rains to bring ym- up, did not yield half
a crop : but the wheat (which is never known to be injured
by dry weather) turned-out very well. On ye twentieth
of July fell a very heavy, & extensive thunder-shower :
after which there were moderate rains, that restored a
little verdure to the grass-fields. From the 16 of August
set-in a very wet season for 15 or 16 days, which made
people in some pain for the wheat that began to grow.
About the beginning of Septemr- began the most delicate
Autumn, & lasted quite into Novemr- with very little or no
frost quite to the close of the Year. On a large well-pre-
pared melon-bed I could get no melons to set 'till the great
rains fell ; all the watering & shading not being sufficient
to keep the plants from drawing. By my Brother Barker's
account they had seasonable rains in the spring & summer ;
for their lent-crops in Rutland were very good.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1758

Jan. i, 2. — Fierce black frost ; went-off with an heavy
rain.

9. — Wheeled into the Cucumber-ground 17 barrows of
very hot dung for seedling Cucumbrs-

Earth'd two rows of Celeri.

Very mild, spring-like weather.

10. — Sowed a box of Polyanth-seed of my own saving,
& set it under an Hedge where it could only have the
morning-sun. Hoed the beans, which are very prosperous,
the second time.

13. — --Made a deep one- light Cucumber-bed for my
smallest frame.

16. — Laid on the earth three Inches thick : it was cold,
& lumpish tho' mix'd-up with a good Quantity of rotten
dung, & two spade's full of wood-ashes. Matted down the
frame very close.

Jan. 17. — Finished an earth-house in the melon-ground.
It is worked in a circular shape with rods & coped over
with the same, & then well thatched : is nine feet over &
eight feet high ; & has room to hold a good Quantity of
mould, & a man at work without any inconvenience.

1 8. — Sowed about 40 early Cucumber-seeds of the Year
1752 in the hot-bed. Bed comes to its heat very regularly.
Hard frost, & great rime ; & no sun for some days. The
bed matted down a nights with three mats.

19. — Carryed out three moderate dung-carts of ashes
from the ash-house, & sowed on Baker's- Hill, which is
now laid for natural Grass ; & has been Clover for two
Years past : spread also the upper part of it with the dung

246 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

out of the melon-bed. Turned all the melon-earth ; &
mixed it with a good proportion of the Dung of the last
melon-bed. Dung hardly rotten enough.

Jan. 20. — Hot-bed works very well. Hard frost for
two or three days : now ground covered with snow.

One of the Hyacinths in the glasses seems to promise
to blow soon.

22. — On this day which was very bright, the sun shone
very warm on the Hot-bed from a quarter before nine, to
three quart" after two. Very hard frost.

24.— rSet-up about 20 Yards into the Hanger, in a line
with the six Gates, a figure of the Hesperian Hercules,
painted on board, eight feet high, on a pedestal of four
feet & an half. It looks like a statue, & shows well all
over our out-let.

Cucumber-seeds swelled for sprouting, but not up yet :
lined the end of the bed next the screen with two barrows
of hot dung. Sort of thaw.

27. — Finding the hot-bed scarce powerful enough to
heat the three inches of earth thro', which was full wet
when laid-on ; I took-off the mould half the depth, & put
the seeds in again. Some of the seeds sprouted. Sowed
about 20 more. Earth very warm towards the bottom.

27. — Planted about 40 Ranunculus-roots, given me by
Mr- Budd, in the Border against Parsons's, to blow after
those that were put into the Ground in October.

29. — Cucumber-plants come-up apace.

29. — On this Day the mercury in the weather-glasses,
which had been mounting leisurely for many days, was
got one full degree above settled-fair in the parlour, &
within half a degree of the same in the study.

My Father1 who has been a nice observer of that
upstairs for full 37 years, is certain that it never has been
at that pitch before within that time. Very still, grey, close
weather, with the wind at full east, & quite a thaw : tho'
there has been somewhat of a frost for more than a
fortnight past.

1 His father, John White, died in October of this year, 1758.— {R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 247

Ground very dry ; little rain having fallen for these
three weeks past.

Jan. 30. — Mercury continues at the same height. Same
still, gloomy weather.

Sent for 42 bushels of peat-ashes from the forest-side.
Sowed fifteen bushels on the broad-mead, & 15 bushels
on the Ewel-slip. Ashes very dry, & curiously preserved.
Laid-up the remainder in ash-house. Brought at the same
time an old sand-stone-roller from Mr- Bridger's at Oak-
hanger. It was, it seems, formerly the property of Mr- Xmas
of Oakhanger, Father to Sarah Xmas ; & may probably
have been made these 60 or 70 Years ; & yet is very little
damaged by age or weather.1

31. — The Narcissus's, planted in sand in common blow-
ing-glasses, have crammed the glasses so full, that tho' they
budded very strongly at first, they have hardly advanced at
all since in height for many weeks : one of ye Glasses, that
was crack'd by accident, is quite split to pieces by the large,
strong roots.

Took it out of the Glass, & planted it in a pint-mug
fill'd with sand.

Feb. 2. — Sowed about 20 more cucumber-seeds; the
third sowing : the first & second come-up very well, &
begin to some greenness.

4. — Lined one end of the hot-bed with one Barrow of
Dung. Bed declines in heat. Sowed two samples of
white - clover - seed from different Seeds -men, in the
Hot-bed.

6. — Backed the hot-bed with six barrows of hot-dung.

Took away the suckers from the filberts against
Parsons's ; & planted some of them where they have failed
against Turner's.

6:7: 8. — Trimm'd, & tacked ye vines (as much as old
neglected trees could be reduced the first Year) according
to Hitt's directions. Covered many parts of the wall very
well with horizontal wood. Left the disbudding till the

1 This would be made of what we call "Headley Stone."— [H. M.]

248 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

budds are more swell'd. Trimmed ye fig tree, which was
full of Young wood, & plies very well to the wall.

Feb. 9. — Put-in about 20 more Cucumber-seeds. Former
sowings do not come up well.

ii. — One of the Hyacinths in the Glasses blown-out in
several of its buds.

Some in the Garden, thro' the mildness of the winter,
budded for bloom.

14. — Had 20 bushels of tan from Alton for the Cucum-
ber-bed.

23 : 24 : 25. — Made a cucumber-bed full fourteen feet
long, & almost four feet deep, at the back of my two two-
light frames with ten Dung-carts of dung, which is very
short this year on account of the scarcity of litter ; & was
very cold & wet by reason of the vast rains about that
time. Covered the dung the space of one of the frames
about five inches thick with tan, & filled a deep hole in the
centre of each light with the same. Laid a leaden-pipe
into the frame that has got the tin-chimney (according to
Dr- Hales's proposal), up thro' the back of the bed, in order
to convey-in a succession of fresh air a nights.

Made an hot-bed for a single hand-glass for Celeri.

Planted half hund : large, forward cabbage plants.

27. — Planted 100 brown-Dutch, & green Capuchin
Lettuces from Bradley that had stood y6 winter, in the
room of our own, which rotted thro' the wetness of the
soil.

28. — Sowed the Celeri-bed.

March i. — Great flood : wet for a long time.

2. — Laid the hillocks of earth in the middle of each
light. No earth fit to have been used, had it not been for
the earth-house thro' the vast rains.

4. — Plunged nine melon-pots in the tan-frame, & three
in the other frame. Contrived some wodden bottoms to
the pots to make the earth turn-out more easily. Sowed
plenty of cucumber-seeds in a good depth of earth. Bed
comes well to its heat. Sad wet, stormy weather.

March 6. — Sowed one melon-seed from that curious

itikrae

A GARDEN KALENDAR 249

Melon brought from Waverly in 1756, in each of the
twelve pots.

Bed heats well. Weather still so stormy, & wet, that
there is no removing the Cucumber-plants. It has rained
of late from all Quarters of the Skie.

7. — Found an opportunity at last to plant-out the
Cucumber-plants, three tolerable ones in each Hillock ;
some of which shew a rough leaf. Bed in fine warm order
both in the tan, & dung part.

Sowed two more of the same Cantaleupe-seeds in nine
of the pots.

9. — Transplanted a large Laburnum into the Butcher's
Garden.1 Planted half Hund : more Cabbage-plants.

ii. — Laid that part of the leaden-pipe, which comes
out behind the Cucumber-bed, coiled up in a large box
made out of ye seed-box ; & filled the box with about two
barrows & half of Hot dung. The nose of the pipe comes-
out about three inches beyond the box.

March 13. — Planted 100 more Cabbage-plants, in all
200 ; the rows two feet apart, & the plants one foot from
each other in the rows : every other plant to be pulled-up
early in the summer.

14. — Melon-plants begin to appear.

16. — Planted Gallon of broad-beans in the lower field-
garden, almost seven rows. Sowed pound of spinage, with
some common radishes, which ought to have been sowed
5 weeks before, but was prevented by the wet, in the upper
field garden. Sowed some Celeriac between the Cucumber-
boxes. Sowed eight basons in the field with double-
upright-Larkspurs ; & the two lowest with large-single-
branching D°-

Perfect summer for these two days.

1 The plot of ground on which the Butcher's shop stood in White's time, and
still stands to this day, must have belonged to Gilbert, as he evidently did what
he liked with it, planting the lime-trees, lopping them, and improving the place
generally by the planting of hollyhocks, laburnums, lilacs, &c. Mr. Maxwell
agrees with me that this must have been the case, the more so as he can remember
that the adjoining cottage was purchased by his father from Miss White. —
{R. B. S.]

2 I

250 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

18. — Earthed -up Cucumber - hillocks the first time.
Plants thrive, & many of them shew four leaves. Melons
up some in every pot ; they look healthy, & grow
apace.

March 18. — Turned-out a large Narcissus, that was
intended to blow within, into one of the borders. Planted
some bunches of single snow-drops in bloom under my
Father's window.

Sowed about 30 more green Cucumber-seeds in the
Hot-bed. Filled-up the box, that contains the leaden pipe,
with one more barrow of dung : the dung begins to heat
in the box : the nose of the pipe hot in the morning, &
cold towards the evening. Very wet afternoon.

19. — Vast heavy rains most part of ye day.

21. — Great snow all the day, & most part of the night ;
which went off the next day in a stinking, wet fog. Very
trying weather for Hot-beds, more like Jan. than March.
No sun for many Days.

23. — Planted among the Holyoaks next the street in ye
New-Garden 2 Austrian Briars, i black Belgic-rose, i York
& Lancaster D°-> i Marbled D°> i monthly D°- from Mr-
Budd : & two large roots of the aster-kind in the Border
before the roses. A very late-blowing sort.

25. — Planted three more Provence-roses from Mr- Budd
in the same place.

Forked Asparagus-beds: dressed Rasberry-bed : sowed
the lower plot of the new field Garden with seven rows of
marrow-fat pease at four feet asunder. Ground in a cold
clammy Condition.

Tryed an experiment late in y6 evening with a Candle
on the two Cucumber-frames after they had been close
covered-up some Hours. On putting the Candle down a
few Inches into that frame that has leaded lights & no
chimney, the flame was extinguished at once three several
times by the foul vapour : while the frame with the tiled
lights, & Chimney was so free from vapour that it had no
sensible effect on the flame. I then applyed the candle to
the top of the Chimney, from whence issued so much

A GARDEN KALENDAR 251

steam as to affect the flame, tho' not put it out. Hence it
is apparent that this Invention must be a benefit to plants
in Hot-beds by preventing them from being stewed in the
night time in the exhalations that arise from the dung, &
yer own leaves. The melons confirm the matter, being
unusually green & vigorous for their age. I applyed the
Candle to the nose of the leaden pipe, but it had no effect
on it : so that what air comes-up thro' it must be whole-
some & free from vapour.

March 28. — Planted 59 potatoes in Turners ; not very
large roots. Sowed the wheat with white Dutch Clover :
Baker's -Hill with Rye -Grass, & black -seed: the vase-
mount, & hollow -way into the Ewel, with D°- Fine
weather. Set-up the vases : put-on two bold Handles to
the lower one ; & two side-pannels to the pedestal. Sowed
two rows of parsley, & transplanted some mint.

Unusual sunny, scorching weather for a week past.
The heat drew the forward Cucumbers, notwithstanding
they were constantly shaded ; & would have spoiled the
melons (as ye same kind of heat did this time twelve-
month) had not the pots been raised. Forward Cucum-
bers weak ; & begin to shew for bloom.

April 3. — Sowed 14 of John Bosworth's curious large
white Cucumber-seeds in one of the frames, in order to
raise some plants for one of the Hand-glasses to save seed
from.

4. — Sowed almost an ounce of Carrot-seed, mixed with
Coss-lettuce green & white, & some common Radishes,
in Turner's Garden. Sowed in the field-Garden ounce of
onion-seed, half ounce of Leek-seed, & a small Quantity
of parsnep-seed.

6. — Made a one-light hot-bed for Annuals with six full
barrows of dung.

April: 9. — Very dry weather for this fortnight past :
for the last week fierce frosts.

10. — Several basons of sun-flower-seed sowed among
the Holy-oaks in the New-Garden against the street ; &
some amongst the Butcher's Limes. Sowed the annual-

252 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

bed with French & African - Marrigolds ; Double-China-
asters, & single D°- & white Asters ; pendulous-Amaranths,
& some Gourds for Dame Tyrrel.1

9. — Saw two swallows : one was seen in ye village on
the 3rd-

ii. — Sowed in a seedling-bed in the field-Garden Sun-
flowers, French-wall-flower, Columbine, Sweet-Williams,
Double-China-pinks under two hand-glasses, Everlasting-
pea, French Honeysuckle, Evergeen-Cytisus, & Holyoaks :
in the new-Garden in the broad-border, & against the
apple tree, painted-Lady-pease ; Nigella romana ; in the
Kitchen part half ounce more of Leek-seed, & small plot
of red beet.

April 12. — Sowed third Crop of marrow-fat pease, one
row in Turner's, two rows in old field-garden, two rows in
new field-garden.

13. — Worked-up a nine-light melon-bed with 18 good
dung-carts of fresh, hot dung, & 80 bushels of fresh tan.
I had made this bed just a week before, only two days
after the materials were brought in ; but finding it to heat
violently I ordered it to be pulled to pieces, & cast back
again, that it might spend its violent Heat. The bed is 36
feet long, six feet & an half wide, & about two feet & half
high. The tan makes a covering all over of about 8 inches
thick. In the middle of each light I laid a patch of rotten
dung about two inches thick, which I beat-down hard to
keep-off the fierce heat from the hillocks of earth.

Fierce east- wind ; & no rain for near three weeks : the
ground, & roads unusually dry.

April 15. — Raked-over the Asparagus-beds the second
time : stuck the first Crop of Marrow-fat pease : filled the
box that contains the leaden-pipe with hot dung the second
time.

Cutting winds all day, & thick ice every night.

16. — So fierce a frost with a South-wind as to freeze
the steam which run out in water from between the panes

1 This is the Dame "Terry" mentioned in Buckland's edition, vol. ii. p. 7,
who was said to be so well acquainted with Gilbert White. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 253

of ye Melon-frames into long Icicles on the Edges of the
lights.

17. — Prepared & dunged the basons in the field, which
are to be planted with Annuals hereafter. Fine shower.

1 8. — Put a barrow of fine mellow earth into each
melon-light. Bed seems now to be very mild. More
soft showers. Earth-house of great Use to keep a con-
stant supply of fine mould dry & ready for the frames.

April 20. — Found the melon-hillocks so hot that I durst
not turn the plants into them : plunged the plants in the
pots into the hillocks.

Turned-out some Hyacinths that were out of bloom
from the blowing-glasses into the flower border.

Sowed Crop of Boorcole green, & red. Polyanths in
full bloom ; but not so fine as last Year. Several Hyacinths
in the border very large & handsome. White & yellow
Narcissuss with golden Cups blow very well both in glasses
& abroad.

21. — Found the melon-bed so hot still that I did not
trust the plants out of the pots. Earthed the bed all over
an inch thick to keep down the steam, which in the night
had spoiled three of the plants. Bored some holes very
deep in the back of the bed to let out the violent Heat.
I find a moderate thickness of tan, when laid on a good
strong bed of dung, to occasion a very dangerous, &
unequal Heat, so that there is scarce any Judging when
the earth is free from burning. For in shady weather it
will appear very mild ; but on a hot morning will rage
again as fierce as when it first came to its full heat. Tan
gives a mild & lasting heat by itself, but does not seem
suitable with dung.

22. — Took-out the tan the whole depth as wide as the
Hillocks, & mixed-up the hillocks with a little fresh earth.
Did not find the earth burnt but much too hot. Filled
the space whence the tan came with barrows of rotten
dung trod down very hard, about four Inches thick.

Sowed four rows of dwarf kidney beans, the white sort ;
& a crop of Savoy-seed. Perfect Summer weather.

254 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

April 24. — Ventured to turn-out ye Melons, tho' some
of the hillocks were full hot : mixed-up a good deal of
fresh earth in each hillock, & set ye plants as high as
possible : left the wodden bottoms under some of the
plants to see if they will prevent the roots from burning.
Intend to cover the frames but slightly, while the bed is
so hot.

Made an hot-bed for the smallest one-light frame, to
prick the annuals in, with 5 barrows of dung, & two of
Grass. Made two beds for two hand-glasses with two
barrows of dung each to forward some of Bosworth's large
white Cucumbers to save seed from. Dressed Artichoke
bed. Forked up ye seedling Asparagus ; only 16 plants to
be found. Layed some boughs of Laurustines ; & planted
a Laurustine by ye pitching.

April 27. — Planted-out John Bosworth's large white
Cucumbers, three under each Hand-glass, to make early
plants to save some seed of that fine sort from : pricked-
out the annuals in ye two one-light frames, & sowed some
more Afr : Marrigolds, & more of Bosworth's Cucumber-
seeds. Weeded all the basons & flower-borders. Melon-
bed steams greatly ; but seems to be past its vehement
Heat.

Fine soft showers all the Afternoon, & evening.

Disbudded the vines that were laid on the walls accord-
ing to Hit.

May i. — Planted about 20 bulbs of Eschallots in the
New-Garden.

Some melon-plants continue to fail, tho' the bed is very
mild, & the mould sweet & unburnt.

12. — On my return from London I found several of the
melon-plants very large & thriving ; except in two of the
basons, where they were puny, & withered : supply'd those
two basons with some late-sowed Cantaleupe-plants from
Seed saved at Selborn 1755.

May 15. — A most extraordinary dry season ever since
the end of March : all our worst roads have been dryed-up
many weeks. For this fortnight past the heats have been

A GARDEN KALENDAR 255

very great. Grass & lent-corn must suffer unless rain comes
soon. Apple-trees finely blown. Bosworth's Cucumbers
come-on well under the Hand-glasses.

17. — Widened-out the Cucumber-bed four feet with the
dung of the seedling-bed ; & laid-on a thick covering of
earth.

Prick'd-out a good plot of Celeriac. Vines trained
according to Hit full of Bloom.

20. — Sowed a Quart, four rows, of large white kidney-
beans in the field-Garden : watered them well beforehand.
Earthed the melons, & watered them stoutly : trod the
earth round the stems down very hard to keep-out the
heat. Planted four Hand glasses in the cold ground with
Mr- Bosworth's large white Cucumber-plants raised in the
annual-bed. Very hot, dry weather. Sowed some Cucum-
ber-seeds under a hand-glass.

May 22. — Prick'd-out a plot of Celeri ; sowed a Crop of
Coss-lettuce green & white.

24. — Made a melon-bed for four Hills with six loads of
dung in front of the large bed : it is five feet wide, and
seventeen long.

25. — Turned-out a pot of Selborn Cantaleupes into each
Hill, & covered them with Hand-glasses. Intend to cover
the plants, when they spread, with the two two-light frames.
Violent hot weather : no rain for some weeks. The ground
burnt, & cracked to an unusual degree. Things in both
fields, & Gardens suffer greatly. The fierce heat has lately
damaged both melons, & Cucumbers, notwithstanding
constant shading, & unusual watering.

May 26. — Planted 6 basons in the field with Indian-
pinks : set the plants pretty near together. Fine soft rains
all day : everything greatly refresh'd after so tedious a
drought. Sunny days & east winds for the most part ever
since the last week in March.

29. — Weeded the Carrots, & Laurels, & hoed the
potatoes : weeded the seedling-flowers. Tacked the Young
wood of the vines all perpendicular, for the first time,
according to Hit.

256 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

30 : 31. — Raised & earthed up the melon-frames almost
their full quantity. Melon bed very warm still. Many of
the melon-plants very thriving ; abound in vine, & shew
male bloom, & fruit.

Planted 100 of late Cabbages ; & pricked-out some
Broccoli plants given me by Mr- Budd. Shady moist
weather for a week past : now frequent heavy showers
that have well soaked the Ground down to the roots of
Corn, & Garden-stuff.

June 2. — Sowed four rows of large white-Kidney-beans,
& one of dwarfs in ye field-Garden : five rows of Dwarf
D°- in the Quincunx.

3. — Gathered first beans.

5. — Cut a brace of Cucumbers. Shady moist weather.

6. — Earth'd the hand-glass melons the first time : the
bed not earth'd all over yet. The plants are strong, &
produce plenty of wood ; but are strangely blistered in
their second leaves by being exposed to ye fierce sun while
the night-dew was on them.

9. — Mulberry-tree shews several Blossoms for the first
time. Fine summer-weather with now & then a shower.
French-beans that had been watered all night, & were
sown on the 2d of June, began to appear on the 8th.

9. — Raised the Cucumber-frames the thickness of a
brick above the mould : turned down ye large white-
Cucumbers from under the hand-glass ; they are strong
plants, & shew fruit.

June 10. — Went to raise the melon-frames, but found
the melon-roots have extended themselves all along against
the sides of the boxes, & require room by lining.

Watered the Mulberry-tree well to make the fruit set.

12. — Gathered first Marrowfats.

Soaking rain for ten Hours.

13 : 14. — Lined the melon-bed three feet on each side
with eleven loads of dung ; & laid-on a good depth of
earth : raised the frames to the top of the earth. Lined
the ends of the bed with one load of Dung : the bed is
now full 40 feet long, & 12 feet wide. Earth'd it deep as

A GARDEN KALENDAR 257

far as the earth would last : run a slight hedge l round the
edges to keep up the earth.

15. — Earth'd the Hills of the melons under ye Hand-
glasses : stop'd some of the plants at the third Joint :
plants very vigorous.

Sowed Crop of Endive.

Soft showery weather.

June 15. — Prick'd-out 600 Savoys, & 350 Boor-cole-2
plants, green, & purple.

16. — Planted-out all the leeks at six inches asunder :
about 200.

Pricked-out a little more Celeri.

Planted out a bed of small Coss-lettuce.

Sowed a row of parsley.

Wet, blowing weather.

17. — Planted 100 Cabbage-plants in the room of those
planted May 3ist> which were dead.

Tyed-up first Coss-lettuce.

Some of John Bosworth's long Cucumbers set.

20. — Planted-out the greatest part of my annuals,
African & French-Marrigolds, Pendulous Amaranths &
China-Asters : They were pricked into a second bed, &
are very forward, & large.

Pricked-out an 120 Roman - Broccoli - plants from
Waverley.

Two Labourers have been working for 5 or 6 Days in the
Garden, & have hoed & weeded all the Crops, & cleaned
all the paths, & borders that were in a foul Condition.

22. — Planted more Annuals, Sunflowers, & China-Asters,
in field, and Garden.

27. — Nailed, and trimmed the vines : the second time,
according to Hit. The bunches in full bloom.

28. — Earthed the hand-glass melon-bed the full depth,
took away ye hand-glasses, & put the two two-light frames
over the plants. Plants strong, but shew little fruit, or
bloom.

1 Probably a low rod hedge of split hazel. — [H. M.]
* Borecole.— [H. M.]

2 K

258 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Planted some of Murd : Middleton's1 white-Cucumber-
plants under three hand-glasses.

July i. — Stuck the sticks to the large kidney-beans.
Heavy thunder-showers.

Melons swell apace. The late bed shews fruit. Dwarf
kidney-beans in full bloom.

3d- — Lined -out the two -light melon -bed a yard wide
with three loads of dung, & laid -on earth very thick.
Prick'd out a good many Sweet Williams. Planted out
more annuals : sowed a small spot of Endive.

July 4. — Pricked-out bed of Holy-oaks to put them
in less room : pricked - out vast Quantities of Sweet
Williams.

Blowing, wet weather on to the 14 : when there was
quite a storm all night, & such quantities of rain as made
quite a flood : the trees and flowers were much damaged
by the wind.

15. — Found on my return from Dene about thirteen
brace of Cantaleupes set ; some very large. Plants in vast
vigour with leaves near a foot in Diameter. More fruit
setting every day. Those plants in the two-light frames
seem to be full late ; hardly any of their fruit blown-out
yet. Two plants in new frame have 8 brace of fruit be-
tween ym-

18 : 19 : 20. — Showery, black weather. Trenched - out
seven rows of Celeri. Planted-out second plot of Endive :
first plot about a fortnight" before. Planted large plot with
Roman-Broccoli from Waverley. On examination it ap-
peared that the Cantaleupe-fibres have run the full extent
of the 12 feet bed : laid on some more earth behind to
secure their Roots from the Sun. Some of their branches,
on which are large fruit, are attacked with mouldiness this
wet weather. Raised the frames behind, the thickness of
a Brick, to shoot-off the rain, that drips thro', & rots some
of the Haulm.

1 Murdoch Middleton seems to have been a very second-class nurseryman, as
his plants appear to have failed on more than one occasion, or they were wrongly
named, &c.— {R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 259

21. — Quite heavy showers to day, & strong wind. Some
of the melon-leaves measure 1 1 inches and three Quart"- in
diameter.

20. — Gathered first French-beans ; white dwarfs.

24. — Stringed l pine strawberries.

Continual showers.

25. — Dug-up Hyacinth, & tulip-roots : Hyacinths bloated
with the wet weather. Planted in their room African &
French-Marrigolds. Vast rains still.

26. — Great rain.

28. — Vast rains with Thunder.

29 : 30. — Dry weather : on 3ist rain for 14 hours. The
melon-vines suffer with the continual wet, which has con-
tinued now more than a month. Cut-off a full-grown
Cantaleupe that was rotten.

August i. — Black, moist weather all day ; vast rains at
night.

2. — Sultry, bright morning : turned the large Melons.

3. — Tiled, & turned all the largest melons : full twenty
brace set ; tho' perhaps they may not all ripen.

4. — Sowed half pound of spinage, & some white-turnep-
radish-seed in the new field-Garden : began planting-out
savoys, & Boorcole. Two hot, bright days.

5. — Cut-off the small side-shoots from the bearing wood
of the vines, leaving one joint on ; according to Hitt's
directions. Grapes pretty large. The fourth hot, dry day.

7. — Drawed-out the boorcole, & savoy-bed to a foot &
half apart, & planted the new field-Garden with D°-

8. — Brought in a doors the Pryamidal Campanula : it
has seven Stems, & just begins to shew some bloom.

Aug. ii. — Trenched two long rows more of Celeri.
Vast rains the two days before.

12. — Finished the hay-rick : hay-making was in hand
just seven weeks. A deal of Hay much damaged.

13. — Beautiful harvest-weather.

16. — Tyed-up some of the forwardest endives. Vast
rains last night, & this evening. The wheat is all cut, &

1 i.e. tied them up, as was the method in those days. — [H. M.]

260 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

must soon be damaged if this weather lasts. It has never
been dry more than four days together, & that only twice,
since the first of July : in general only two days together ;
& that but seldom. The Cantaleupes have had a very dis-
advantageous season ; nothing but black, wet weather since
they have been set. Sr- Mat : Featherstone's Cantaleupes,

1 hear, have very little flavour.

19. — Earth'd one row of Celeri half the way up.

Planted a row of Savoys between every two rows of
dwarf-kidney-beans in the Quincunx. Housed the wheat
not in very good order.

Aug. 21. — Tyed-up more Endive.

22. — Cut the first Cantaleupe, the largest of the Crop :
weighed 3 pds- 5 oun : & half. It proved perfectly delicate,
dry, & firm, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather ever
since the time of setting. Saved the seed.

23. — Cut second Cantaleupe : weighed 2 pds- 5 oun :
Fine, bright weather for five days.

24. — Cut a brace more of Cantaleupes ; one weighed

2 p4*- 6 oun : one 2 pds- 4 ounces. Great rain in the
afternoon.

25. — Sent a brace of the Cantaleupes to Lord Keeper :
eat the third at Home, which turned-out perfectly delicate ;
rather superior to ye first, eaten at the Hermitage. Saved
the seed.

26. — Cut & set-up in the sun ye six large white seed-
Cucumbers : the biggest weighed 2 pds- 14 oun : & the
longest measured 13 inch : in length.

Sowed a small plot of Coss, green-Capuchin, & Brown-
Dutch- Lettuce-seed for plants to stand the winter.

28. — Cut small Cantaleupe, weighed but 15 oun : vast
rains all day, & a great flood.

29. — Tyed-up about 30 more Endives.

31. — Heavy rain for about 30 Hours, which coming
upon the back of such vast showers before, occasioned an
extraordinary flood, which ran over the foot-bridges, &
was greater than any winter-flood for many years past. It
filled James Knight's biggest pond, which had been fished

* V '"trek.

' '• r

A GARDEN KALENDAR 261

this summer brim full : * & raised the Landsprings in ye
fields, so as to damage the paths.

Septemr- 5. — Earth'd-up early row of Celeri to the
top.

Eat a brace of Cantaleupes at the Hermitage : the
black, rough one very high flavoured. Shady, showery
weather. Saved the seed.

Pulled-up the Onions, & Eshallots, & laid them to dry.
Onions begin to rot with ye wet.

7. — Eat a very delicate Cantaleupe : it had a bottle-
nose, & grew close to the stem. Sav'd ye seed. Shady,
showery weather : now a vast rain.

Septemr- 8. — Cut first Endives.

Vast rains still.

9. — This day ten weeks the wet season began.

10. — The Cantaleupes threaten to come all together.
Cut two brace, & half to day.

12. — Held a Cantaleupe feast at ye Hermitage :2 cut up
a brace & an half of fruit among 14 people. Weather very
fine ever since the ninth.

13. — Planted -out two rows of Polyanths down the
border next Lasham's. Should have been transplanted
many weeks ago, if the wet weather had not prevented.

14. — Eat a brace & half of Cantaleupes.

1 Mr. Maxwell has taken great pains to identify the various localities men-
tioned by Gilbert White. Seeing that this "Kalendar" was written nearly
150 years ago, and that many of the families, such as the Kelceys, the
Berrimans, and others, have become extinct, or have left the village, this has
been no easy task. Mr. Maxwell, however, has interviewed many of the oldest
inhabitants, and has thus identified many places which I myself should never
have managed to do. In the present case, for instance, he has found that James
Knight's ponds were at Coneycroft. They were the old fish-ponds belonging to
the Priory, where the stock of Carp, Tench, &c., were preserved. They are
now dry, or only hold a little water after heavy rains, such as we had at
Selborne in the first week of November 1899, when Mr. Maxwell found the
record of the week to have been five inches. — [R. B. S.]

2 Mr. Grant Allen in his map of the village gives the site of the " Hermitage "
as outside the "Zigzag." Mr. Maxwell tells me that his father spoke of the
Hermitage as being on the Bostal, which is much more likely to be correct, as
it would be close to White's property. Mr. Grant Allen places the "Alcove"
where local tradition assigns the site of the " Hermitage."— -[R. B. S.]

262 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Saved the seed of one that grew near the stem, & was
very fine.

Tyed-up more Endives.

17. — Had been dry for 8 days : now very wet.

18. — Cut a Cantaleupe from one of the later plants :
weighed 2 p**- 5 oun :

Esteemed very curious : saved ye seed.

Septemr- 26. — Earthed about half way seven rows of
Celeri.

27. — Cut two Cantaleupes, & took away two of the
frames : only one fruit remaining. Dug-up the Carrots,
& Potatoes : the potatoes not a great Crop, nor very large.
Dry, pleasant weather.

28. — Continued the dug-ground down Baker's Hill for
more Garden. Dug a border down the shrubbery under
the rod-hedge.

Octobr- 2 : 3. — Chip'd the best of ye Polyanths in ye broad
shady walk, & planted two rows again in the same place.

4:5: 6. — Planted three beds of Pine-strawberries, &
two of scarlet D°- in the New Garden. Planted a few large
strawberries called Collinson's. Nova Scotia, & white Straw-
berries sent me by Brother Thomas.

6. — Cut last Cantaleupe ; & housed the frame very dry.
Firm, good-flavoured Fruit.

Octobr- 8. — Fine still weather in general since the 9th of
Septemr- : now rain, & a vast storm of wind, that blew-
down some shrubs, & beat to pieces all the flowers.

17. — Transplanted about 100 Green Capuchin, & Brown-
dutch Lettuce to Dame Tyrrels Garden to stand ye winter.
Dressed the border at ye back of ye melon-screen, & planted
a row of Sweet Williams : planted a row of D°- in the
border in the New-Garden against ye Street.

21. — Received from Mur : Middleton 12 double blue
Hyacinths, 12 early blowing tulips, 6 Polyanth-Narcissus,
6 double white-Hyacinths, Quart1"- pd- of Anemonies, 50
good Ranunculus, two Moss-Provence-roses.

21. — Planted the two Moss-provence roses behind the
border next y6 street in the New-Garden. Put to blow

A GARDEN KALENDAR 263

in the Glasses 3 double blue, & double white Hyacinths ;
& one early Tulip.

Octobr- 27. — Slip'd-out the buds of the Pyramidal Cam-
panula, which blowed this Year, & planted them in several
pots, four in a pot.

Novr- 2. — Saw a very unusual sight ; a large flock of
House-Martens playing about between our fields, & the
Hanger. I never saw any of the swallow-kind later than
the old 10 : of Octobr- The Hanger being quite naked of
leaves made the sight the more extraordinary.

Warm wet weather for many days, with blowing nignts,
& sunny mornings.

The leaf fallen more than usual.

Novr- 8. — M : Middleton's large late Aster just blowing :
a fine showey flower of a beautiful purple.

8. — Set to blow in Glasses four Polyanth-Narcissus, &
two Hyacinths brought me by Brother Thomas.

14. — Planted in the Butcher's Yard between ye limes
one white, & two purple lilacs.

Novemr- 16. — Planted in broad border next Parsons's :
No. i. Double blue Hyacinths.
„ 2. D°- White.
„ 3. Early tulips.

„ 4. Quarter of a pound of Anemonies.
„ 5. 50 Ranunculus.
„ 6. My own Hyacinths.
„ 7. My own Tulips.
„ 8. Bro : Tho : Polyanth-Narcissus, & Jonquils :

some have been in Glasses.
„ 9. Mr- Budd's Ranunculus.
„ 10. Mur : Middleton's Narcissus.
„ ii. 16 Coronae Imperiales.
„ 12. Mr- Budd's Narcissus.
The border very dry, & in very fine order.
Nov. 20. — Planted four Damascene-plum-trees from
North Warnboro'.

Nov. 24. — Set-up two wickets from ye upper end of my
Ewel-close thro' Parson's field to the pound-field.

264 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Planted 9 long rows, 3 pints of early beans, in the field-
garden Ground in very dry, good order.

25. — Trenched & dunged very stoutly a piece of Ground
for melon-earth next spring.

Decent*- 14. — Earthed-up Artichokes.

The spring, & Summer of 1758 were much in the
extreams. From ye last week in March to the first of July
was one long dry fit, with very few showers between. At
one time, I think, the Ground was more scorch'd than even
in summer 1757 : & the lent-corn began to suffer greatly.
But on the Ist of July the great rains began to set-in, &
continued with very little intermission till the 10 of Septemr-
The Autumn was moderately dry, & pleasant ; & continued
very mild, one short frost excepted, to the end of ye Year.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1759

Jan. 19. — Wheeled-in, & cast 18 barrows of hot dung
for the seedling-Cucumber-bed.

20. — The season has continued uncommonly mild to
this time. Many kinds of flowers are got above ground
some weeks before their usual time : the snow-drops, &
some Crocus's were in bloom before old Decemr- was out :
& Farmer Knight complains that several of his turneps are
in blossom.1

Covered the tulip, & Hyacinth-buds with a thin coat of
tan that is rotten.

Have got some mould in excellent order for the early
Cucumbers; it is a mixture of strong loam, ashes, & tan,
tumbled about & well incorporated all the winter.

The Glass has been very high for many days with a
falling mist, & a blustering west-wind.

Jan: 22. — Turned the earth trench'd for ye Melons, &
gave it an other sprinkle of very rotten dung : turned the
Dorton-earth, & mixed with it three barrows of rotten tan.

23. — Made the Cucumber seedling-Hot-bed turning the
fronts to the south-west to take all the sun these short
days. Hard frost for two nights, & bearing Ice.

24. — Laid - on the mould on the hot - bed ; fill'd &
plunged four pots for Cucumber seeds. Sowed a pot with
Cucumber-seeds, & set it by the parlour fire for experi-
ment-sake. These seeds came-up, but would not advance
beyond the two first leaves.

26. — Bed come a kindly heat: sowed above an 100
Cucumber-seeds within & without the pots.

1 These turnips had certainly got extraordinarily forward. — [H. M.]

265 2 L

266 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

30. — Cucumber plants begin to appear.

Feb. 3. — Sowed a small Quantity of curious Polyanth-
seed, given me by Mr- Hale of Hambleton,1 in a box ; &
set ye box where it may receive the morning-sun.

Sowed 20 more Cucumber-seeds in the frame. First
plants thrive, & look of a good Colour. Unusual sunny,
fine weather.

Feb. 3. — Cucumbers in ye pot by the fire -side come
up very well.

5. — Set in a nursery-bed a good parcel of Hyacinth, &
Tulip-ofsets.

7. — Finished trimming, & tacking the vines according
to Hit. Took away abundance of ye old wood : The vines
in one Year more will be quite furnished with new.

Ashed the great mead, Clover-field, & part of the slip
with three dung-pots of ashes : quite cleared the House.

Cucumber-plants thrive so fast, that to day the 12 day
from sowing the seeds, many of the plants have got a rough
leaf. Fine dry weather, with a good deal of Sunshine;
more like April, than old January. Paths quite firm.

8:9: 10. — Set-on three Labourers this fine weather to
dig all my Ground ready for Crops : turn'd my plot of
melon-earth the third time : & wheeled out of the way all
the old rotten dung, & tan.

10. — Sowed Gallon of early pease; & half pound of
spinage : planted Gallon of Winsor beans, & 200 of Cab-
bage plants.

Feb. 9. — Turned-out of their pots, & planted in deep
mould several of the best Cucumber plants : plants strong,
& thriving.

Notwithstanding the long dry weather the Ground will
but just work decently.

12. — Carryed into the Hot -bed Ground eight loads
(dung-carts) of hot dung for the forward Cucumbers.

-Perfect summer : the air full of Gnats : & the surface
of the Ground full of spiders webs, as in a fine day in
August. The sun lay so hot on the frame that the

1 Hambledon, near Droxford. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 267

Cucumber-plants wanted to be shaded. Some plants have
a broad rough leaf.

13. — Made the bank against the new-garden pretty fine
& smooth by the advantage of this fine weather. Planted
it with flowers in two rows : the upper row was Colum-
bines. French-honeysuckles, & rose Campions, at a Yard
apart : the lower row all sweet- Williams, at a foot apart.
Ordered the bank to be well beat, & the water-table to be
cut so deep, that no mould can tumble on the brick walk.
The bank lays very handsome, on a hanging level.

Feb. 15. — Cucumber - plants thrive strangely. Some
have got a fourth leaf quite expanded ; & their first rough
leaf as broad as a Crown-piece. No rain at all since this
day month. Great fogs for these two days past, that hang
'till the afternoon : then bright sun-shine. Planted Holy-
oaks in the new border under the rod-hedge down Baker's
hill ; & mended-out the borders in our own, & the Butcher's
Yard.

17. — Received from Mr- Philip Miller of Chelsea about
80 Mellon-seeds 1754 : immediately from Armenia ; which
he finds to be better than those that have been first brought
to Cantaleupe, & thence to England.1

20. — Made my early Cucumber bed with 8 loads of
dung ; & cased it round well with a Coat of refuse hay,
well sparred-on.

Feb. 20. — Black, rough, March-like weather : seems to
threaten snow.

22. — Laid-on the hills of earth on the Cucumber-bed.
Now rain after many weeks dry weather.

23. — Turned-out two pots of Cucumbers in one of the
two-light frames : the Plants have got a fifth leaf, & a joint :
the two first rough leaves are as broad as the palm of my
Hand. This day month the seeds were put into the frame.
Plunged 14 pots for Cantaleupes in the two two-light
frames.

24. — Sowed six of the pots with Cantaleupe-seed from

1 See Bell's ed., vol. ii. p. 347, where a letter from Miller to Gilbert White
is reproduced.

268 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Waver ley 1756 : & eight of the pots with Armenian-Canta-
leupe 1754 from Mr- Miller. Fierce, piercing East-wind
with a low, sinking Glass. The Glass has been up at, &
above fair ever since new Year's day till Yesterday.

25. — Vast rain all night.

26. — Transplanted more Cucumbers in the other two
light-frame. Bed full hot.

Feb. 27. — One pot of Miller's Cantaleupes begins to
appear. Continual heavy rain.

28. — Sowed one more Armenian seed in each of the
six pots : so there are three seeds in every pot. Plants
came almost all up in general last night : raised the pots
allmost out of the mould.

March i. — Sowed some Cucumber-seeds to give away.

3. — The Cantaleupes looking not quite right. I plunged
the pots up to their brims in the mould.

4. — Cucumbers grow away, & put-out long wires ; have
six leaves, & three joints.

Sad heavy showers.

Put-in a few more Cantaleupe-seeds into the worst-
looking pots.

6. — Ventured to mat-down the Cucumber-frames un-
triged l for the first time.

Continual rain.

7. — Bright sun-shine all day ; scalded some of the
Cucumber-leaves.

8. — Continual rain all day.

9. — Raised the frames the thickness of one brick.
Cantaleupes look in general very well : plenty of plants
at present. Vast storm in the Evening, & very heavy rain.

March 10. — Vast tempest all night, & this morning ;
which at noon blew-down the weathercock on the tower.

12. — This day 6 weeks the Cucumber-plants appeared
above ground ; & have now five & six joints apiece, &
are full of budds for bloom, & fruit. Watered them gently
for the first time over the leaves with y6 watering-pot.
Promises for dry, & cold.

1 Unraised.— [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 269

13 : 14. — Carted 20 loads of hot dung into the melon-
ground for ye Cantaleupes : seven of my own, & thirteen
borrowed.

15. — One of the Cucumber-plants has a Male-bloom
fully expanded.

The weather very wet, & stormy.

Sowed ye Celeri Hand-glass.

17. — Vast storms still.

Cucumbers thrive, but not the Cantaleupes.

19. — Received from Brother Tho : three sorts of the
double-flowering Sweet Briar ; & two roots of the large
tap-rooted Lathyrus ; & three roots of the Lathyrus-Earth-
nut with a tuberose root.

March 19. — Vast rain most part of the day. Wind
abated. The late storms have done considerable damage
among our ships.

20. — Cucumber-plants showed plenty of fruit for the
first time ; all on the second wood. Black weather, &
continual showers.

22. — Moved the seedling Cucumber-frame nearer to the
two-light frames, & sowed it with radishes on very deep
mould.

Beautiful day.

21. — Mowed the grass-plot for the first time : a vast
plenty of Grass, which lined the Cucumber-bed. Made
two beds, with one barrow of dung each, for two hand-
glasses, for white-mustard, & cress.

23. — Planted 4 of the double-Briars in the new-Garden
against the street, & one in the front of the House ; &
the two long Lathyrus-roots against the apple-tree next
Parsons's. Grubb'd the orchard-walk, & planted it with
Holy-oaks, & Wall-flowers. Potted some sweet-williams.

Removed the double jonquils, out of the orchard, under
Lassam's hedge.

24. — Dressed the Rasps. Removed half the Capuchin,
& Brown-Dutch Lettuces from Dame Tyrrel's Garden back
to the New-Garden.

Sowed four Drills of Marrow-fat pease in Baker's Hill.

270 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Sowed a drill of parsley. Yesterday a beautiful Summer's
day.

Grafted my three Cantaleupe-frames, & raised them 9
inches behind, and in proportion before. Hyacinths in
bloom in the open air ; & one Narcissus. Early Tulips
have been blown above this fortnight.

25. — First Cucumber-blossom fully expanded.

Still, grey weather, with a very high Barometer.

Some fruit shows on the first runners of some plants.
The lining of grass-mowings gives a great Heat to the
Cucumber bed. Hyacinths abroad full as early, as those
in ye Glasses.

26. — Work'd-up the 20 loads of dung (brought in on
the 14th) into a Cantaleupe-bed for the nine large lights.
The bed is tucked to six feet & half broad, & 36 in length.
Laid some very stiff loam all over about an inch thick ;
& put on the boxes, & lights. The bed is about two feet
thick. Housed seven more barrows of dorton-loam ; in
all 14.

27. — Sawed-down those two espalier-trees in y6 New-
Garden that bore angular apples ; & employed John
Lassam to graft the stems with some Cuttings from the
Royal-russet in the Orchard. Grafted two of the Golden
pippins in the Orchard with Cuttings from a tree of the
same sort.

March 28. — Put the male-bloom to three of the first
fruit-Cucumber-blossoms, that were just turning-in, in
order to set them.

Sowed three pots more of Miller's, & three pots of
Waverley-Cantaleupes, two seeds in a pot ; to supply the
hills in Case of any failure. Miller's marked as usual
with sticks. Plunged the pots in one of the Cantaleupe-
boxes.

29. — Sowed half a Gallon more, four rows of Marrow-
fats, in the lower field-garden : the rows are four feet apart ;
the former sowing five.

30. — Put a brimful barrow of Dorton-loam into each
light of the Cantaleupe-bed. The Hills will require, now

A GARDEN KALENDAR 271

the boxes are raised, a barrow & half each at least. Bed
comes slowly to its heat ; & is very mild yet.

31. — Planted groups of Sweet Williams in the border
under the rod-hedge down the shrubbery.

Put half barrow more of loam to each Cantaleupe-Hill.
Bed very mild.

Finished a bastion, & Haha, fenced with sharp'ned piles,
in the vista from Baker's Hill to the Great-mead: & a
conical mount, about six-feet diameter at top, and five high,
at the bottom of the great mead. Mount about eight days
work ; Haha about sixteen.1

Fierce frost, & vast hoar-frost on the Grass : the Ground
continued very hard, and icy all day in the shade.

April 2. — Sowed ounce of Carrots with green, & white
Coss-Lettuce ; ounce of Onions ; & a few parsneps. Fine
weather.

3. — The Cantaleupe-bed not coming to a proper degree
of Heat, I ordered it to be pulled to pieces, & worked-up
with 10 loads of fresh hot dung just brought in. The
Labourers made-use of about 16 loads of the first bed
again : so the new bed contains 26 loads. Laid some loam
all over to keep-down the steam ; ^ some turfs under the
Hills. Put one barrow of loam to each Hill.

Bed more than seven feet wide ; & two feet & half
thick behind.

April 4. — Widened-out the Cucumber-bed in front three
feet with about two loads of the dung, which came-out of
the Cantaleupe-bed; & laid-on a thick covering of strong
loam : lined it behind with Grass, & weeds.

Some fruit set, that grows apace.

Planted some Everlasting-pease of my sowing last Year ;
and some earth-Nut Lathyruss under the rod-hedge against
Parsons's.

Planted more sweet-Williams, & some Columbines
under the rod-hedge against the shrubbery. Planted 8
Laurels, with a sweetwilliam between each two, on the

1 The Haha still exists, and is in excellent preservation. — [R. B. S.]

272 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

bank of the Bastion behind the seat. Planted Columbines
in the Orchard-walk.

5. — Raked-down, & weeded the Asparagus-beds the first
time.

7. — On my return from Chilgrove & Harting I found
the Cantaleupe-bed come to a very fine degree of Heat.
Turned-out the Cantaleupes into their Hills : the plants are
healthy, & well-rooted ; but a little drawn by the large
rambling runners of ye Cucumbers. The three nearest hills
are Waverley ; the six farthest are Armenian Cantaleupes.
Six pots left, which I plunged in the great boxes.

Sowed about 40 seeds of the great White-Dutch-
Cucumber, saved last Year.

Six pots of Waverley, & Armeman-Cantaleupes just
coming out of the mould, by way of supply, if wanted.

8. — Vast rain from the East : & all day on y6 6th-

9. Cut first Cucumber : it had a good flavour, & smell.
Several more set. The seeds were put into the Ground
10 weeks, & two days ago.

Unusual heavy rain for 29 hours.

ii. — Vast rain great part of the day, & night.

The lining the Cantaleupe-bed between the frames with
weeds cut from the orchard filled the bed with snails.
Forced to take the weeds away, else the snails would have
devoured all the plants. The water stands in the lining of
the Cucumber-bed almost shoe deep.

At a mark cut in the bark of the great Oak in the mead,
between two & three feet from the ground, I measured that
tree, with a design to see how much the body may swell
in one summer. It girted seven feet 5 inc.

April 12. — Sowed about a peck of old bacon-salt in
middle of the great mead.

Made half Hogsh: of raisin wine with an Hund: of
Smyrnas, & half D°- of Malagas : put to them in the tun-tub
27 Gallons of water.

13. — Made an Annual-bed for the biggest one-light frame
with 6 barrows of hot dung, & one of weeds : laid on the
mould six inches deep. Finished-off, & raked very smooth

-" ':

'

A GARDEN KALENDAR 273

the bastion, & sowed it very thick with rye-grass, & white
clover. Sowed ye bare places in the fields, & orchard with
the same.

Planted two rows of slips of a very fine sort of double-
bloody-wall-flower from my Dame Scot's of Harting.

Made the ground very mellow with lime-rubbish. Sowed
a plot of Holy-oak-seed, & leek-seed. Planted some rose-
campions, & Columbines in the new Garden.

A perfect summer's day, that fetched ye beds finely to
their heat after such gluts of rain.

Saw seven swallows, the first this Year, playing about
James Knight's House.

My great Dutch-Cucumbers come-up in one of the
Cantaleupe-boxes almost every seed.

14. — Sowed the annual Bed with African, & French
Marrygolds purple, & white Asters, & pendulous Ama-
ranths.

Planted a potatoe-bed with fine large potatoes cut in
pieces, which came from Swarraton : three rows a yard
from each other. Put half barrow of loam into each
Cantaleupe-light.

19. — Cut brace of Cucumbers : the second time of
cutting.

Sowed everlasting pease, & wild-Lathyrus from the
Lythe ; soaked the seeds in water two nights & a day :
Dwarfsunflowers ; Nasturtiums; Tree-primroses; Rhubarb;
Boorcole, red, & green ; & savoys.

Dressed Artichokes.

April 16. — Earthed Cantaleupe hills for the first time :
examined into the hills, & found the bed unexpectedly
warm : no loam burnt, but very hot. Gave a pretty deal
of water. Plants in general thrive, & throw-out runners.
The turfs at bottom very useful. Very cutting, March-like
weather.

17. — Cut brace more of Cucumbers.

Very stormy, cold weather.

16. — Heard the first nightingale in my fields.

On my return on the 28 from Oxon I found the Canta-

2 M

274 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

leupe-plants in good Condition ; several of the runners had
three or four Joints apiece. The three hills of Waverley-
plants much more gross, & strong than any of the Arme-
nian : tho' the last are in a promising way. Stop'd-down
the runners, & cut away some plants, where very thick.
The bed very hot. One hill quite destroyed by a Grub :
John destroyed the Grub, & transplanted-out a fresh pot in
the Hill.

Cut this day the twentieth Cucumber : many more
growing in succession.

Cutting east wind for some days.

April 30. — Made five hills in the new Garden for Hand-
glasses, three with two barrows of hot dung apiece, & two
with two apiece, for the large white-Dutch-Cucumbers.

Some of the Cantaleupes have a shew for bloom : their
hills have been earthed twice.

Sowed more balsoms in pots : the first sowing sadly
drawn.

Stuck the dwarf-early-pease with sticks out of ye faggots.

May Ist- — Pulled-away the Hedge round the fir-quincunx,
& hoed the Ground clean.

2. — The Hanger out in full leaf ; but much banged
about by the continual strong East-wind that has blown
for many days. The buds, & blossoms of all trees much
injured by the wind. The ground parch'd, and bound
very hard. The cold air keeps the nightingales very silent.
No vegetation seems to stir at present.

Disbudded some of the vines : the buds are about an
Inch long.

3rd- — Made second annual bed with 6 barrows of Grass,
& weeds only ; no dung.

Planted-out the five hand-glasses with the great white-
Dutch-Cucumbers ; 4 plants in a hill. The plants are
pretty much drawn. This evening the vehement east-wind
seems to be abated ; & the air is soft & cloudy.

Ground bound like a stone.

May 4. — Sowed a pint, four rows, of small dwarf white-
kidney-beans in the lower field-garden.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 275

Earthed the Cantaleupes the third time : found all the
plants in a very flourishing way, & the fibres extended to
the very outsides of the hills. Cut-away the plants to one
in some of the hills ; & left two in some, stopping down
the worst plant very short towards the bottom of the
runners, for experiment sake, to see what the small wood
about the stems will do. Some of the plants offer for male
bloom.

Saw the first Redstart, & Cherrysucker.

Sowed about two doz: of the large white-Dutch-
Cucumber-seeds for ye latter handglasses : the first sowing
got full tall, & big.

Delicate soft rain all the afternoon, & all night, which
soaked the Ground well to the roots of all vegetables.

5. — Fine Growing weather.

Several of the Cantaleupes have male blossoms fully
expanded.

May 7. — Disbudded all the vines according to Hit.
Almost every shoot shows bloom.

Housed 21 barrows of the last prepared Cantaleupe
loam : by means of the late rains in (sic), is in most delicate
order, & crumbles quite to dust.

9. — Berriman sowed Baker's Hill with Barley, & after
it 8 pounds of Clover, & two bushels of white-seed, or
Rye Grass.

The Ground cold, & cloddy, & pretty full of daisey-
roots, & grass, & not in very fine order. Added since 8
pds- more of Clover.

10. — Several Cantaleupe-plants shew fruit, & grow away
at a great rate.

Pricked-out the annuals into the second hot-bed.

Fine showery, growing weather.

12. — Gave the Cantaleupe-hills a full barrow of loam
each : the fourth time of earthing. Cut away the plants
to one on a hill.

14. — One Cantaleupe-fruit in full bloom.

Made three hills for large white Cucumbers in Turner's
Garden.

276 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

May 15. — Sowed the second pint of french-beans, large
white Dutch : soaked them in water over night.

1 8. — Sowed a Crop of white, green, & black Coss-
lettuce.

All my Savoy-seed, & Boor-cole fails this Year : not
one plant appears.

20. — Strong sun-shine for many days, & a sharp east-
wind. Cold white dews in the mornings. Our clay ground
as hard as a stone. This burning Sun, as usual, makes the
Cantaleupes not look quite right : most of the fruit, as
soon as it appears, turns yellow. The single fruit, that is
out of bloom, not likely to stand.

The Dwarf french-beans are come-up pretty well.

The lettuce that stood the winter are finely leav'd. This
unkind weather stops the setting of ye Cucumbers.

21. — Earthed the Cantaleupes the last time within their
boxes. Finding the Cantaleupes much exhausted, & dryed
by the fierce heat of the Sun, & the dry air, I watered them
all over, leaves & all, with one small pot of water.

The leaves all hang-down, & have a dry, paper-like
feel, & look woolly ; & the fruit all turns yellow. I re-
member they had all just the same appearance at this time
last Year, the sun-shine & east-wind being as vehement.

Planted 100 of late Cabbages.

26. — The burning, sunny weather continues.

The Gardens suffer much by the drought.

29. — Frequent showers.

The watering the Cantaleupes twice over y6 leaves
seemed to refresh them very much ; but has occasioned
one of Mr- Hunter's plants to grow a little mouldy at a
Joint on one of the leaders near the stem. So that water,
tho' never so much wanted, is dangerous near the stem.

The Armenian plants in general have small leaves, &
vines : & one in particular is so fine, & wire drawn, that
one would imagine it would never be able to carry any
fruit to perfection. The rest are healthy, & are disposed
very regularly in their frames ; & are full of fruit. No
fruit set yet.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 277

Took off the glasses from ye early Cucumbers, & annuals
to give them ye benefit of the showers.

28 : 29. — Housed four loads of peat in most excellent
dry order. The uncommon dryness occasions some waste
by making the bats l crumble.

Gathered two scarlet strawberries.

The early beans have large pods : the early pease are
well blown.

30. — The rain on the 29th very heavy for some Hours ;
so as to make the Cart-way run. Raked all the rough-dug
ground that was, 'till moistened, like an heap of stones.
Prick'd a plot of Celeri.

31. — Sowed a pint more of large French-beans. The
first sowings strangely devoured by snails. Tull gathered
a bowl-dish three quarters full in one evening ; & still
the plants were almost covered with them ye next. Cold
winds, & frosty mights since the rain.

Hoed the strawberries that were planted last Autumn,
& filled-up the vast cracks in their beds. At least half the
Autumn planted pine-strawberries are dead. The scarlet
will have some fruit ; & so will the few plants of Collin-
son's. The Nova Scotia will not bear this Year.

Stringed the bearing pine-strawberries, which are full
of bloom.

The Autumn sown Capuchin, & Brown-Lettuce, now in
high perfection. I have a very poor Crop of Coss-lettuce
this Spring.

June i. — Distant thunder, & fine showers all the evening,
& part of the night.

May 3ist- June Ist- : 2nd- — John2 tacked all the vines for
the first time this Year according to Hitt. Those vines that
were dressed in that method last Year, are now full of
fruit : those that have been trained only this Year have
little, or none.

1 The peat was cut into pieces of about the size of a brick-bat. Even fifty
years ago many people used peat-" bats" for banking up their wood-fires, but
coal has now taken its place. — [H. M.]

• His nephew.— [R. B. S.]

278 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNL

Frequent good showers. The ground is now finely
soaked.

Continued picking vast quantities of slugs from the
french-beans, which are in a poor way.

June 3. — Continual heavy showers all night, & all day.
The Ground is now well soaked.

5. — Lined-out the Cantaleupe-bed with twelve dung-
carts of hot dung. The bed is now 12 feet broad, & 40
feet long.

Continual showers all day : so that no loam could be
laid on ye bed, but what was already housed in the earth-
house.

The Fig-tree has plenty of fruit, which grows apace.

June 5. — Such a violent Rain, & wind all the evening, &
most part of the night that they broke-down, & displaced
the pease, & beans, & most of the flowers; & tore the
hedges, & trees, & beat down several of the shrubs.

6. — Continual rain all day. The lining of the Cantaleupe-
bed, which is not yet earthed, in danger of losing it's Heat
by being so thoro'ly soaked.

8. — Earthed the lining of the Cantaleupe-bed, & raised
the frames to the top of the earth.

The Waverley plants had filled the frames with their
roots : the fibres of ye Armenian sort had not extended
themselves so much.

Sowed a pint more of dwarf-kidney-beans in the room
of those that were devoured by snails. Fine summer
weather.

Turned-down the three forward basons of Cucumbers
from out their Hand glasses.

9. — Gathered first beans, a large Mess.

Fine soft weather for some days ; now a soaking rain.

ii. — Finished-off the borders in the new-Garden, by
cleansing, raising, & laying a good coat of fine peat-dust,
finely sifted, in order to make them light, & dry.

Sowed the first plot of Endive ; & a plot of Lettuce,
green & white Coss.

12. — In the Evening began a vast storm which continued

A GARDEN KALENDAR 279

all the night, & tore & destroyed the things in the Gardens
worse than the former : it broke down vast boughs in the
Hedges, & had like to have overturned the Limes in the
Butcher's Yard. If the Annuals had been planted-out they
must have been quite whipped to pieces. The hedges look
bare, & unsightly by being lashed, & banged by the wind ;
& the Ground is strawed with leaves.

13. — The middle Waverley-Cantaleupe has some decayed,
rotten runners : Quae : if occasioned by those two water-
ings all over their leaves in that scorching weather in
May.

The leaves of the Armenian-Cantaleupes have a much
blacker aspect than those of the Waverley.

14. — Planted the empty basons in the field, & two
borders in the New-Garden with annuals, French, & Afr :
Marrygolds, Sunflowers, Nasturtiums, pendulous Amar-
anths, & China Asters.

Hot growing weather : vast showers about.

15. — Planted 150 Savoys from Alton.

16 : 18. — Lined-out the Cantaleupe-bed with loam very
deep quite down to ye Ground on each side : the fibres
may now, if they please, extend themselves 16 feet.

The plants look in a most thriving way, & are loaded
with fruit ; btit they hold-off from setting strangely : no
one set yet.

Cut-off a great branch of one of the Waverley-Canta-
leupes, that was quite rotten.

June 19. — Planted-out Crop of leeks ; & some late Coss-
Lettuce.

Furious hot summer weather.

20. — To be planted pint of french-beans ; and an early
row of Celeri to be trenched.

All the former Crops of french-beans like to come to
nothing.

23. — Called-in upon M>- Miller at Chelsea, & found he
had 1 8 lights of Armenian - Melons in excellent order.
There were about two brace, & half of fruit to a light,
full-grown, & very rough, & black. He pushes his lights,

280 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

it seems, quite down in dry weather : & says the defect
of male bloom is owing to ye seeds being of some age.

30. — On my Return from Sunbury I found my Canta-
leupes in very bad plight indeed : two of the Waverley
plants were quite rotten, & corrupted at the stem ; & one
of the Armenians, the day after I came home, withered
away, tho' perfectly sound ; & dyed as if eaten-off at the
root ; tho' upon search no grub could be found in the
mould. And what is stranger, no one fruit was set upon
any plant ; tho' hundreds have dropp'd away. There
certainly is a want of male bloom in the Armenians to
a degree : but then the Waverley plants over abounded ;
& yet cast all their fruit.

I found a vast crop of pease, thro' the dripping season ;
& green pease soup every day. The first hand-glass
cucumbers are in full bearing : I intend to save 4 more
(the large white Dutch) for Seed. The small forward
beans have an unusual Crop. The fourth & fifth crop of
french-beans like to come to good.

July 2. — Planted-out a vast bed of Holy-oaks.

6. — Not one Cantaleupe set yet.

July 6. — Planted-out about 50 Polyanths, raised this
spring from Seed given me by Mr- Hale.

7. — Finished my Hay-rick in most excellent order.

The weather has been so perfectly hot, & bright for
these five days past that my Hay was all cut, & made in
that time.

The Crop was so great that Kelsey's people made 8
carryings of it : & the burden in the great mead was
supposed to be considerably greater than ever was known.
To my own stock I added two tons from Farmer Lassam,
which in all make a considerable rick.

Finished cutting the hedges round Baker's Hill.

July 21. — On my return from Dene on this day, I found
I had but one Cantaleupe set, and that a fig-shaped one,
not likely to come to good.

The plants are in uncommon vigour, & grow un-
accountably, & are full of fruit still ; but strangely deficient

A GARDEN KALENDAR 281

in male-bloom. The void spaces in the frames are quite
filled-out with the remaining plants.

Mr- Cane's Cantaleupes were all burnt-up, with a noble
Crop on them about ten days before the fruit would have
been ripe. He had a fine Crop : but the intense heats
scorch'd off all the fibres thro' his light, dusty earth.

Tull planted-out Endives, & lettuce in my absence ;
& pronged-up the bulbous roots against Parsons's, planting
annuals in their room. John trimmed & nailed the vines
in a very handsome manner according to Hit. Those vines
that have been managed in that manner for two years, have
a noble crop of fruit very forward. My Crops of beans,
& pease are very extraordinary this year. The annuals
against the broad walk in the new-Garden are uncommonly
large.

July 23. — Gathered 36 Cucumbers. Earth'd-up the
Chinks round the hand-glasses with melon-loam.

Unusual hot summer- weather for three weeks past.
Wheat-harvest is begun in some places.

26. — Pulled-up an other of the Armenian Cantateupes,
which was rotten at Stem. So now I have lost four plants
out of nine. The fruit begins to set now at a vast rate on
the remaining plants ; as fast as ever they fell-off before.

The hot vehement season continues: the ground is
wonderfully burnt.

July 31. — Now a great rain after several weeks drought.

Aug. i. — On Examination I found above 20 brace of
Cantaleupes set : about 10 brace on one of the Armenian
plants ; about 8 brace on the only remaining Waverly
plant ; about 3 brace on an other Armenian ; 2 brace (one
a full-grown fruit) on an other : & one Armenian is quite
barren. The Waverley plant is infected with the rot that
destroyed the rest, which I endeavour to stop by wiping,
& dust. It is observable that those plants that bear so
prodigiously are those which (their fellows being rotten)
have the space of two or three lights to run in. Had the
fruit set in this manner a month or six weeks ago (when it
all dropp'd off) there had been a noble early Crop.

2 N

282 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Aug. 10. — The first-set Cantaleupe, tho' unpromising at
first, now a fine, beautiful, large fruit just like Miller's.
The rest of later date come-on apace. Prodigious hot,
sunny weather.

Sowed half pound of spinage mixed with Capuchin, &
Dutch-Lettuce, & white-turnep-Radishes. Trenched four
rows more of Celeri : & planted-out 150 more Savoys.

Tyed about 20 of the Endives.

Sowed a little more Endive-seed.

14. — Lost the third, & last Waverley-Cantaleupe with a
Crop of 4 brace of fruit on it. I have now lost five plants
out of nine. The four Armenians now remaining have 10
brace of fruit likely to come to good. Pulled-off two brace
& half of fruit, some of a considerable size. Hot dry
weather still.

Aug. 16. — Sowed a Crop of Coss- Lettuce, and Endive
to stand the winter.

Trimm'd the side-shoots of the vines for the last time.
The Clusters are unusually large, & forward.

Perfect Summer-weather, but cooler.

27. — Cut a vast quantity of White-Dutch-Cucumbers.
One that was young, & eatable weighed 2 pounds 5 ounces,
& measured 12 inch: & half in length. The Canker
continues to spread among the Cantaleupes, & is likely to
destroy plants full of beautiful fruit within a fortnight of
being in perfection.

28. — Planted on the bank several large white Lilly-
roots, Crown-Imperials, & double white-rockets.

Cut the first Endive.

Septemr- 4. — Planted some tree prime-roses on the
bank.

It has been very wet, blowing weather for several days
past.

8. — Tyed-up about 2 doz : of the best bunches of
Grapes in Crape-bags.

ii. — Cut ye first Cantaleupe : it was finely emboss'd,
& weigh'd 3 p*15- n ounc : but when it came to be cut-up,
it had hardly any flesh, & was rank, & filthy.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 283

Tyed-up more Endive.

Uncommon sunny, sultry day.

15. — Tyed-on 18 more Crape-bags on the best bunches
of Grapes.1

Fine dry weather with pretty cold dews.

29. — All the Cantaleupes cut. Not one in perfection,
tho' many were finely embossed, & looked wonderfully
promising. The Canker, I suppose, had prevented their
drawing any nourishment, & getting any thickness of flesh.

Fine dry weather for a long time past, & the roads
perfectly good.

The small bunches of Grapes are very good ; the large
ones not yet ripe against the wall.

Octob. i. — Tyed-up last Crop of Endive.

The largest Cantaleupe was finely embossed, & tho'
almost all rind, weigh'd 4 pounds 2 ounces.

3. — Now a vast rain after many weeks fine Autumn
weather.

5. — Gathered the two first bunches of bag'd Grapes :
they were a little mouldy ; but the sound parts of the
bunches were perfectly ripe, & sweet.

Octob 8. — Now perfect summer weather again, after
one wet day.

The Grapes in the bags unusually fine ; & both bunches,
& single Grapes are as large again as usual. It is to be
observed that as this new Culture swells the Berries so
much ; they are apt in this Cluster-sort to press too hard
on each other, & prevent ripening, & occasion mouldiness :
therefore if the grapes were thinn'd out the beginning of
the summer with the points of a pair of scissars, it would
certainly prove an advantage.

10. — Planted two rows of Crocuss along the borders
under the dining-room windows : both borders, especially
that that hath the vines in it, were made very light, &
mellow with an abundance of Sand, & blacksmith's cinders.

Weeded, & cut down the leaves of the strawberries ;
& mended-out those beds that failed with the pine sort.

1 To protect them from the wasps. — [H. M.]

284 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Now very dry, & warm : but there are great tokens of
rain.

ii. — Now great rains, & wind.

Tunn'd three quarters of an Hogsh : of raisin-wine.
The Quantity of raisins in the mash-vat were i hund : &
half of Symrnas, & 3 Quarters of an hundred of Malagas.

The Quantity of water put-up was 18 3-gallon-buckets ;
which made sufficient Quantity without any squeesing.
The Colouring was 14 Quarts of Elder-syrop. The weather
was so hot that it stood but eleven days to ferment in the
vat. The elder-Juice was boiled-up with 14 pounds of
sugar.

Octobr- 16. — Finished-off the bank in the new-Garden,
& planted the front row of the additional part with pinks
both red, & pheasant-eyed : laid it with turf some days agon.

On measuring the great oak in the meadow which was
measured in ye spring, I found it to be encreased in girth
about one inch.

1 8. — The mornings begin to be frosty, yet ye Grapes
continue in high perfection.

19. — Finished a broad brick-walk thro' ye new wicket at
the end of the dining-room ; & carryed a narrow one up
by the side of ye pitching to the orchard-walk : rectifyed
the broken pitching, & turned the gutter at the brewhouse
door, so as to get a 12 inch border four feet long for a
white-muscadine-vine.

22. — Planted a row of Coss-lettuce touching the wall
along the vine-border tinder the dining-room window to
stand the winter. Planted a row of Holy oaks against the
boards of the wood-house.

24. — Planted the irregular slip without the new wicket
in the Garden with first two rows of Crocuss ; a row of
pinks ; several sorts of roses ; Persian Jasmine, & yellow
D°- several sorts of Asters ; French-Willows ; a curious sort
of bloody wallflowers ; Double Campanulas white, & blue ;
double daisies ; & a row against the hedge of good rooted
Laurustines. Planted the back row of the part of the bank
newly lengthened-out with blue, & white Double Cam-

<_y«« *f?n<z££ dt&n-cri&i <yafa^ie*j

A GARDEN KALENDAR 285

panulas ; & the border under the dining-room window
with the bloody-Double-wallflowers. Planted a bason in
the field with french-willows. Planted many dosens more
of Coss-lettuce against the buttery-wall, & down ye wall
against the Yard.

Octobr- 25. — Planted a large layer of the musk-rose from
Mr- Budd against the board of the old barn.

Wet season after very dry weather.

26. — Trimm'd, & tack'd the bottoms of the vines ac-
cording to Hit : the lower parts of those under the Dining-
room window are deficient in wood, 'till more can be got
from ye stems.

Began curving two shoots in order to reduce two of the
vines to regular shapes from the bottom by degrees.

Novemr- 5. — Planted my Hyacinths, Narcissus's, Ranun-
culuss, Tulips, Crown-Imperials, & Anemonies in the border
against Parsons's. It had been trenched very deep with a
good Quantity of rotten tan, & was in perfect dry order
when the roots were put-in.

Planted a small thriving larch at the east corner of
Baker's Hill ; two well-grown Provence-roses in the field-
shubbery ; and two Monthly roses in the orchard walk ; all
from North-Warnboro'.

Fine sunny weather. Planted two rows of hardy lettuce
under the filbert-hedge against Parsons's.

6. — Trimmed & tack'd the fig-tree, leaving a leading
bough in the middle to fill the wall by degrees quite up
to the eaves.

This tree is full of young wood, & fills the wall well ; &
may be carry'd by a second stage according to Hit up to
the tiles.

Planted a number of Goose-berries & Currants from
Mr- Johnson, good plants, in the or chard- walk, & among
the rasps.

The Grapes lasted in good perfection 'till the beginning
of Novemr- those that were hung-up in the study are very
sweet, but shrivelled up like raisins, notwithstanding a
grape was stuck on the stem of each Cluster.

286 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

12. — Plunged the seven pots of Pyram : Camp: in the
border against Parsons's under ye Filbert-hedge. Planted
a nursery-border of small bulbous-roots. Dug up a decay-
ing Cluster-pine, & parsley-elder in the shrubbery, & put
a two-thorned-Acacia, & Judas-tree in their room. A most
delicate summer-like day.

Novr- 14. — Transplanted the striped-Epilobium into a
fresh bason. Planted about 20 fraxinellas, seedlings from
Mr- Budd, in a nursery. Planted several Laurels in the
gaps of the Hedges round Baker's Hill.

The potatoes raised from about 14 large ones cut in
pieces, turned-out a fine Crop of about 3 Bushels : several
single ones weigh'd about a pound. Put-by about 30 of
the finest as a supply for a crop next year.

Planted some cuttings of parsley-elder, with some
cuttings of fine white Currans.

15. — Planted in the new-garden two standard-Duke-
Cherries ; an espalier-Orleans-plumb ; an espalier-green-
gage plumb ; a duke-cherry against the north-west-wall of
the brewhouse, & a standard-muscle-plumb in the orchard.
There trees came from Forster of North Warnboro', &
seemed to be good in their kind ; were planted the day
they were taken out of the nursery, in basons, which being
prepared before, were in excellent crumbling order.

Novr- 1 6 — Planted 3 pints, 7 rows of small early beans in
the lower field-garden.

Feb. 12. — From Farmer Kelsey 3 loads of Dung, pd of
my own one : i pd-

March 13. — From Farmer Parsons pd- 5 loads.
From F : Berriman 4 loads, pd-

14. — Farmer Berriman 5 loads, pd- of my own pd. seven.
„ Farmer Kelsey 3 loads, p4
April 2. — Farmer Kelsey 3 loads, pd-

„ „ Parsons 3 loads, pd- of my own two pd-

„ „ Berriman 2 loads, p^

June i. — Farmer Kelsey 4 loads, pd- of my own three pd-
„ 5. — „ Berriman 5 loads, pd-

Garden- Kalendar for the Year 1760

May 17. — On my return this day (after six months
absence at Lyndon, & London) I found my Garden in
general in very good order, considering the long drouth
this spring. The Cucumbers in full bearing, but stunted
in their vines. The Cantaleupe-melons in good condition,
& just shewing fruit ; & the Succados very stocky plants.

The Asparagus beds are got stronger & bore wonderfully
this spring. All the kitchen-crops are in good plight : &
the Coss, & hardy lettuce that stood the winter, very fine.
The Bergamot-pear, & knobbed-russet grafts like to take.

May 18. — Fierce storms of Hail, which batter'd the
vine shoots at the end of the Dining-room very much.
They were very forward this sunny spring : the leaves were
cut full of Holes, & several shoots were beaten quite off
the trees. The persicaria - plants in the border under
suffered much.

28. — Dame Turner, & Girls weeded all the brick walks.
Prick' d-out first Celeri, & prick'd-out, and planted a good
many Savoys.

June 4. — Furious hot weather for several days. The
pease, & beans kept back for want of moisture. Some

Cantaleupes in bloom.

287

288 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Covered all the inside of the boxes with wheat-straw to
keep the sun from drying the mould ; & to prevent much
watering.

Tull employed in cleansing the garden from weeds.
The vine-shoots grow in a most extraordinary manner, &
are full of fruit.

Planted some Persicarias in the New-garden border.

Out of one vine-shoot, which was procur'd from the
old stem of a vine last summer ; & being exceeding strong
was laid-in five feet long, arise as many shoots this spring
as produce 14 bunches of Grapes. Fine rain all night.

6. — Planted-out all the persicarias; & about 2 doz : of
the slips of the double bloody-wall-flowers.

Moist, hot, growing weather.

7. — Lined-out the melon-bed very strongly, more than
three feet on each side, with eleven loads of dung, & a large
Quantity of weeds. Planted out a bed of late Cauliflowers.

June 9. — Gather'd first strawberries, scarlet, & Nova
Scotia. Cut the crop of rye-grass, & clover in Baker's hill :
a good Crop.

10. — Planted 22 basons in the field with annuals, french
& Afr : Marrigolds, China Asters, pendulous Amaranths, &
sun-flowers.

ii. — The vines at the end of the dining-room in bloom ;
about three weeks sooner than usual : occasioned, I sup-
pose, by the very sunny season.

12. — Housed the Baker's-hill-hay in excellent order :
there were three decent loads.

14. — John finished his second tacking & thinning the
vines : those against the Yard shew prodigious strength ;
but are not yet blown. Dry, settled weather.

June 14. — Planted annuals in the home Garden.

15. — Wood-strawberries came-in in plenty.

1 6. — Set Tull to earth the Cantaleupe-bed all over to
the Ground very thick.

The Cantaleupes are full of fruit in bloom, & now shew
a tolerable share of male bloom.

The vines begin to blow against the Yard.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 289

Stopp'd-down the shoots of the vine over the entry-
door.

17. — Sowed first endive-seed.

Three vine-layers (last Year's-shoots) have produced
between them 39 bunches of Grapes.

19. — It being dripping weather, planted & pricked-out
plenty of Savoys, & Celeri ; trench'd-out one row of Celeri ;
& tyed-up several spring-sown Coss-lettuce. Those that
stood the winter are all gone to seed.

Cold frosty air.

The muscadine vine-cuttings in the gutter thrive well ;
& so do the cuttings of the same sort, & of the cluster-vine
in the nursery.

The grafts of the Bergamot-pear, & knobbed-russet
from Ringmer take well.

This cold, windy weather likely to injure the vine-
bloom at the end of the Dining-room.

The Cantaleupe-bed earth'd all over down to the
Ground in an unusual thick manner.

The Nova-Scotia-strawberry a good bearer, & ripe even
before the scarlet.

June 20. — Planted-out leeks, & Boorcole ; & sowed a
plot of turneps. Continual showers.

21. — On looking over the Cantaleupes, found one fruit
set, & more in a promising way.

Some few bunches on the dining-room end have some
Grapes set on them. Showers.

23. — The Succado-melons (of which I have three basons
in the space of two lights) have got several fruit in full
bloom.

Vast rains from the East.

June 26. — Great rains.

27. — Sowed a small plot of Coss-lettuce.

28. — Agreed with John Wells to purchase the upper
part of Lassam's orchard.

Stopp'd part of the vines against the yard, which are
in bloom.

July i. — Finish'd stopping the vines.

2 O

290 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

2. — Sowed second Crop of Endive, & more lettuce.

3. — Sultry dry weather for three days : vast rains, &
thunder in the night.

Planted-out two rows of seedling-polyanths all along
the orchard-border.

New-planted two basons of the cold cucumbers : all
the cumbers are in a strange way, have no vines ; & are
likely to come to little. The complaint is general.

July 6. — Vast rains, & a flood.

7. — Clear'd-out the melon-frames that were quite choak'd
with vines : not above 4 or five Cantaleupes set : the
biggest fruit about the size of a hen's egg : the Succades
shew no disposition for setting yet. Rain still.

Finish'd cutting the tall hedges.

Some grapes as big as young pease : all the bunches
in bloom, & yield a smell that may be distinguish'd at
many Yards distance.

14. — Cut both the meads ; a decent Crop. The weather
was so hot, & sunny that we carry'd most of the Hay the
next day ; & finish'd the rick in excellent order the third.

1 8. — Planted-out endive, a large plot, in the field-
garden.

20. — The vehement sunny weather for these 8, or 9
days past has brought on the annuals strangely ; & for-
warded the white Cucumber-plants sown in the middle of
May so much that they seem likely now to come to good.

July 21. — Trench'd-out a Crop of Celeri in Turner's
Garden.

The first hand-glass white-Cucumbers all perish'd with
the blight.

Melons make out lamely : one Cantaleupe full-grown ;
no Succade set.

Trimm'd the vines the third time. The grapes swell
this hot weather.

The tree-primroses in full bloom, & are a shewey proper
plant for large outlets.

August i. — Returning from Dene I found the Melons in
a poor way : but two Cantaleupes full-grown, & those

A GARDEN KALENDAR 291

small ; & only five or six more just set ; & only one
Succade set.

The late-sown white-Cucumbers begin to bear a little ;
the first are quite wither'd away.

An universal blight has this summer more or less
affected all the vegetable world.

The grapes to the Yard are very thinly set : those to the
South-west are thick set, & very forward ; but the Bunches
are small.

Tull1 in my absence trench'd four rows of Celeri in
Turner's Garden ; & planted-out a Crop of Savoys. No
rain for three weeks & three days 'till Aug : i : & then
showers.

Aug : 4. — Sowed a box of Mezereon-seed.

7. — Planted-out a Crop of Coss-lettuce to come-in in
Septemr-

Continual Showers ; & the Corn begins to grow.2

9. — The Succade-melons now set apace.

The white cucumbers bear but poorly.

10. — Vast rains.

u. — Cantaleupe-melons set now ; but are seemingly too
late for ripening.

Sowed Coss, & Dutch lettuce to stand the winter.

Sowed a quarter of a pound of spinage mixed with
white turnep-radishes. Put the bulbous roots in paper-
bags, and hung them in the lumber-garret. They are
vastly increased, especially the Hyacinths.

Aug: 14. — Trimm'd the side-shoots of the vines the
fourth time : the fruit thin on the bunches.

Fine harvest weather for several days past, with cold
drying north winds.

The white-cucumber-plants, which produced one fair
large fruit ; now shew nothing but spotted, sickly ones.
The early bed bears pretty tolerably still.

1 8th- — Cut more than half the second Crop of Clover on

1 Tull's name was " Robin," and it occurs in the account-book (see Bell's ed.,
vol. ii. p. 321.— [R. B. S.]

2 i.e. sprout in the sheaf. — [H. M.]

292 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Baker's hill, which by reason of ye dripping weather could
not be housed till ye 23rd- There was one good load in
pretty good order.

23. — Some of the Clusters of Grapes against the end of
the dining-room begin to change colour.

27. — Cut Miller's first Armenian-Cantaleupe : by no
means a curious fruit.

Brought three plants of curious Celeriac from Waltham :
the leaves are jagged like curl'd parsley.

Septr- i. — Housed the remaining Clover in Baker's Hill;
which, considering the showery season, was got in good
order.

Septemr- 2. — Found several large Cantaleupes in a
neglected frame.

Tyed up the first Endives, & some late Coss-lettuce ; &
earth'd-up the early row of Celeri quite to the top.

8. Gathered the first bunch of Grapes from the end of
the dining-room, which was quite ripe : those on the Yard-
side are but just turning colour. My Grapes in general are
but thinly set.

Plenty of figs in good ripe order.

Curious summer weather for many days.

ii. — Gather'd the first Mulberry that my tree ever pro-
duced : it was very sweet, & good, but small.

There are some more on the tree.

12. — Cut the first Succade-mellon ; it was very weighty
for its size, which is always small. It proved very fleshy
& highflavoured, & seems a valuable sort.

Cloudless skies, strong sunshine, & strong East-winds
for many days, which rise & fall with the Sun. Fruits
ripen at a vast rate ; & the roads are perfectly dry.

Sepr- 12. — Tull & John are busy every day in grubbing,
paring & burning the new-purchased Garden ; & harrowing-
out the couch-grass.

The weeds & turf have produced already many bushels
of ashes ; & will soon be burnt-up if this dry weather
lasts.

The Persicarias are vastly large, & fine.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 293

All the annuals are come to a good size.

13. — Tyed-up 20 more Endives.

Gather'd two bunches of Grapes, which were perfectly
sweet & ripe. Very sunny weather still.

26. — The Succado-melons now come apace.

Vast rains, thunder, & lightening for 8 or 10 days ; & a
likelihood of great floods.

Grapes in great plenty, & perfection.

29. — Cut a brace of Succado melons.

Gathered the Cadilliac pears, about half a bushel : three
parts in four were blown down. Vast rains, and storms.

Octobr- i. — Used the first Celeri.

2. — Cut the last Succados, & a good-looking Cantaleupe.
Continual rains ; & frequent thunder still. The labourers
work at the Haha when the weather permits.

Octobr- 14. — Continual wet weather for a month : so
that the fallows are full of water, & no corn can be
sown.

15. — Transplanted six Geraniums into six penny-pots to
stand the winter.

The new part of the Garden quite cleared from trees,
& stools of trees.

Grapes in plenty, & perfection.

18. — Turned-out seven pots of Pyram : Campanulas into
a mellow, sandy Border.

22. — Transplanted a White-Muscadine vine of Mr- Budd's
sort into the border under ye Dining-room window. John
annointed it with Dr- Hill's mummy, & planted it a Cutting
last March ; & now it was a strong plant, & had a quantity
of long fibres.

In the summer it made a shoot of about four feet, &
was now headed down to 4 or 5 buds.

No frosts yet.

24. — Put the whites of 8 eggs, shells & all, with a little
sand, to 3 quartrs- of an hogshead of raisin-wine, which
would not draw fine.

Put Quart of Brandy.

Grapes continue very good.

294 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Octobr- 25. — Received from Mre- Snooke a basket of swans-
egg, Doyenne, White Buree, & Colmar-pears f or a specimen :
also some Crasans, & Spanish Boncretiens.

27. — Took-up from the Laurustine - hedge about 40
layers : laid-down about as many more.

Nov : 8. — Began dressing the vines : found plenty of
new wood in most places.

There have been a few smart frosts this autumn : but
in general a continual run of wet weather for these six
weeks past ; & great floods.

10. — Widened the grass-plot towards the wall-nut-tree.

The farmers have been greatly hind'red in their wheat-
season by the rains ; & will hardly be able to sow all their
fallows.1

12. — Removed 8 black-cluster, & 6 muscadine-vines
(which were planted Cuttings last April) into the sandy bed
at the end of the Asparagus. Most of them were well
rooted, & had made good shoots. Set the Geranium-pots
in ye Garret- Window.

Novr- 15. — Continued to curve the leading shoots of the
two vines against the end of the Dining-room, which in one
Year more will be at their full length, & may be reduced to
a single stem.

The vines against the yard abound in Young wood of a
vast length, & will have fresh Horizontals everywhere,
without bending back any shoots.

1 8. — Planted-in between the rows of Crocuss round
the dining-room 100 Scotch-Crocuss, & 50 double snow
drops.

19. — Planted the new bank with perennial sun-flowers,
rose-campions, tree-primeroses, & several sorts of Asters.

Planted a bed of tulips, Hyacinths, Ranunculus, Ane-
monies, in a plot well-mellowed with lime-rubbish. A
tolerable dry season for four or five days, after a glut of
rain for many weeks.

1 In those days the farmers used to "fallow" their ground, i.e. plough it
up, and allow it to rest untilled throughout the summer previous to the wheat-
sowing. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 295

Dug the walks at the top & bottom of the new garden in
order to prepare ym for leveling.

Novr- 22. — Dug-up the double white rockets under the
back of the melon-screen, & planted them on the end of
the bank next the dining-room : planted with them some
double white Campanulas. Planted 20 double daffodils
near the other bulbs. Laid a shoot of the Moss-provence-
rose, binding it round very hard in two places with wire
twisted very tight, in order to make it take root.

25. — New-planted a bason of red-martagons : planted
some Crown-Imperials, red Martagons & Jonquils on the
bank : planted the ofset-bulbs, & roots in a nursery bed.

Finished the vines.

Decent'- 8.— Sent 30 Coss-lettuces to Mr- Etty's little
wall'd Garden to winter.

16. — Brewed half Hogsh : of milder strong-beer with
only five bush : of malt, & two pds & half of Hops : made
at the same time half hogsh : & 12 gallons of small beer.

17. — Trimm'd & tack'd the fig-tree, which is full of
Young wood ; & laid a long tender shoot from the stool
to the Corner of the House to supply that part of the tree
with fresh wood.

Very mild growing weather yet for the time of Year.

Decemr- 19. — Made half Hogsh : of raisin-wine with one
Hund : of Smyrnas, & half Hund : of Malagas ; & put to
them 13 buckets of water, each bucket containing three
Gallons.

31. — The Year went-out, as it had continued ever since
winter began, in a very mild way. There have been scarce
more than two smart night's frost, & those early in
Autumn : so that the Grass in pastures has kept springing
the whole season ; & the early, & hardy flowers, & plants
are very forward. There has been a pretty deal of gentle
rain ; & now & then soft sunny days like April, which
brought the flies, & other Insects out of their lurking
holes.

296 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

DUNG BORROWED, 1760.

Jan. 10. — Of Berriman pd- . . . 2 loads.

Feb. 8. — Of Berriman pd- . . 2 loads.

Of Kelsey pd- ... 2 loads.

Kelsey carried out for us 2.

Feb. 15. — Of Parsons pd- . . . 2 loads.

March 16. — Of Parsons pd- . . . 5 loads.

Of Berriman pd- . . 6 loads.

Of Kelsey pd- . . . 7 loads.

Kelsey carried out for us 2.

June 3. — Of Kelsey pd- ... 5 loads.

Of Berriman pd- . . 3 loads.

Kelsey carried out for us 3.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1761

Jan: i. — Transplanted a polyanth-Narcissus, many of
whose Cups were in bloom, into a large pot to set within
doors.

2. — Finsh'd a new wicker melon-screen, & lin'd it well
with straw, & made a border about four feet broad under
it, & dosed the earth well with sand, & some ashes, &
dung ; intending to make it a border for early Crops, &
to plant some Espalier pears along it, & to run a narrow
brick-walk by the side of it.

3. — Brought-in two loads of hot dung for the seedling-
Cucumber-bed ; & many loads of stones for the Haha.
The ground treads sadly for want of frost.

Sowed a long row of persicaria-seed under ye dining-
room window. The wall-flowers begin to blow. Put some
Cucumber-seeds in a pot by the parlour fire.

Jan : 5. — Made the seedling Cucumber-bed.

Warm foggy weather, with a very high Barometer.

6. — Tunn'd the wine : l there did not run-out sufficient to
fill the barrel by one bucket full ; which was squees'd out
of the Chaff.

8. — Earth'd the Cucumber bed with mellow, sanded
mould. The bed in fine moderate order.

10. — Sowed about 40 Cucumber - seeds. The bed
promises well.

1 Or as some would say, "racked it off." It was a very common way, if the
wine was not enough to fill the barrel, to run some more water through the
chaff (i.e. the raisin-husks) in order to increase the quantity, as the wine would
not keep if the barrel were not filled. — [H. M.]

»97 2 P

298 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

10. — Put seven bottles of rasp : syrop to ye raisin-
wine.

12. — Tunn'd 8 gallons of good small raisin-wine in the
vinegar-barrel. What vinegar is bottled, is very fine, &
good.

14. — Plenty of Cucumbers up in the Hot-bed ; & in the
pot by the fire side.

Planted a row of Laurel-cuttings in the field-garden.

Hot-bed goes-on well : sunny weather for ye plants.

15. — Sowed a Crop of radishes, lettuce, & Carrots on
the sanded border under the melon-screen. Transplanted
some Cucumber-plants that came-up apace.

17. — Smart frost ; which enabled me to plough the new
garden after waiting the whole winter. ' Put more Cucum-
ber-seeds into the bed.

19. — The frost continues : carted into the new Garden
20 loads of marl well dissolved ; 7 loads of lime-Rubbish,
& soot from the Malt-house ; & a load & half of ashes.
The ground began to thaw towards noon, and was much
trodden, & kneaded before the Job was done.

Put the rubbish & ashes on the two lower Quarters, &
the marl on the four upper ones.

24. — Long the mason finish'd the dry l wall of the Haha
in the new garden, which is built of blue rags, so massy,
that it is supposed to contain double the Quantity of stone
usual in such walls. Several stones reach into the bank
20 inches.

The wall was intended to be 4 feet & an half high : but
the labourers in sinking the ditch on inclining ground
mistook the level, especially about the angle : so that at
that part to bring it to a level it is 5 feet 8 inch : high, &
4 feet 6 inch : at the ends : an excellent fence 2 against the
mead,8 & so well fast'ned into the clay bank, that it looks
likely to stand a long while. The workmanship, exclusive
of casting the stones, cost £i : 8s : lod.

1 i.e. made without mortar. — [H. M.]

2 No wonder that the Haha is still (1899) in an excellent condition.— [R. B. S.]
8 There was no " Park " at " The Wakes " at this time.— [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 299

Jan : 24. — Cucumbers thrive well, & shew a rough leaf.
Misty, still weather with an high Barometer. John finish'd
Mr- Etty's wall-trees in 4 Jobs.

26. — Sowed about 14 Succado-melon-seeds to plant an
early melon-frame, if they succeed. Cucumbers look finely ;
& begin to shew a second rough leaf.

Sloped, & finish'd-off the ditch of the terrass ; & levell'd
most of the terrass.

Spread the marie, & rubbish on the new garden : there
is a good Coat of each.

Smart frosts for three or four days.

29. — Frost continues very smart. Finished cutting all
the Alleys thro' the new Garden ; & levelled all the terrass
as far as it can be, 'till it settles. Cleared away the roots
of trees in the meadow.

30. — Frost smarter than ever. Wheeled the dung that
was left after paying the farmers out of the melon-ground.
Trench'd a well dung'd plot above the earth-house for
melon-loam ; & turned some old melon-loam.

The heat in the Cucumber-bed declining, order'd the
bed to be lined with 15 barrows of very hot-dung.

Beautiful rimes for several mornings on ye Hanger. It
froze within to night.

31. — Carted in 10 loads of Hot-dung for the bearing
Cucumber-bed.

Succado-melons begin to appear.

Dug-out all the under-ground dung in ye melon-
Ground, & levell'd the Area.

Feb : 2. — The over-fierce lining scalded all the plants.
Sowed more seeds.

3. — Potted the Succado-plants that were not much
damaged.

Very high barometer, & settled fine weather.

Sowed more Succado seeds.

Feb : 5. — Made the bearing Cucumber-bed with 10 loads
of good dung : it is, I think, too deep ; being four feet odd
inch : behind, & three feet odd inch : before. The bed is
made full early, as the plants are but just peeping out of

3oo NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

ye ground : but the dung being brought-in for the forward
plants would not keep without making-up.

6. — Planted seven rows, about £ of a Gallon of Winsor-
beans in one of the middle quarters of my new Garden.
This is the first crop in my new purchase, which was in so
wet a condition as only to be fit for beans.

7. — Last sown Succados, & Cucumbers come-up apace.

9 : 10. — Levelled the terrass, & new walks so far that
they will want but very small amendments before they are
turfed. Fierce March-like winds from the west for many
days, that had quite dry'd the Ground.

12. — The wind turning suddenly to the north, last night
was the fiercest frost this winter.

Dug one of the lower new Quarters, which came up
pretty well. Snowed hard all the Afternoon, & rain'd at night.

Feb : 16. — Put the mould on the Cucumber-bed, which
seems now to be pretty mild.

Continual showers.

The first Succadoes have a perfect rough leaf. The
second sowing are potted, & look pretty well.

19. — Planted-out the Cucumbers in their bearing beds,
five plants in an Hill : each plant has a fair rough leaf.
The bed seems very mild.

Heavy showers.

21. — Sowed a dung-cart & an half of ashes in the great
mead. There was a very strong wind while they were
sowing, which seem'd to carry away a great deal into the
Air.

Sowed more Succados for fear of accidents ; & some
small early Cucumber-seed.

24. — Made a seedling-Celeri-bed with one barrow of
dung, & covered it with an hand-glass.

25 : 26. — Clear'd the meadow of faggots, & wood ; &
levell'd the Ground, where the hedge was grubb'd.

March 2. — Sowed 12 Waverley-Cantaleupe-seeds in one
of the bearing Cucumber-frames.

March 4. — Carted into the melon-ground ten loads of
hot dung for the Succado-frame.

K

A GARDEN KALENDAR 301

The Cucumbers thrive surprizingly, & have three Joints
each. Earth'd up the hills a little to-day. The bed
maintains a fine gentle, genial heat. The Succado melons
thrive ; & the forwardest begin to shew a Joint.

Continual stormy weather from ye west with small rain.

7. — The Cantaleupes come-up well ; every seed.

9: 10. — Long finish'd the brick -walk along by the
melon-screen ; & Tull sowed the border with radishes,
lettuce, & Carrots. Long made a large stone-drein also at
the bottom of the new-garden across the walk into Lassam's
ditch : it is so placed that in great floods the waters from
every alley must run with a swift descent towards it.

10. — Cucumber-plants thrive wonderfully, & begin to
throw-out wires. Some have five joints, & are stopp'd-
down for runners.

Stopp'd some of the forward succades in pots.

10. — Sowed five more Waverley Cantaleupe seeds to
supply in Case of accident.

Planted about 200 Cabbage-plants in part of one of the
middle new-quarters.

An other levelling Job at the terrass.

Frequent showers.

ii. — Made the Succado-melon-bed with ten loads of
dung for one three-light frame. The bed is very stout ;
full four feet deep behind, & near three before. The frame
& bed are more than six feet high.

Planted some double bloody-wallflowers, from last year's
cuttings, in the border of the melon-screen.

Planted the 12 Cantaleupe-plants in six pots. Frequent
showers.

13. — One of the plants that was stopp'd down shows a
Cucumber at the foot of a runner. The Sun in a few
minutes scalded Part of a leaf that touch'd the Glass.

14. — Mowed the Grass-plot the first time : there was a
vast deal of Grass, which lined the Cucumber-bed.

Sowed a Crop of Carrots, parsneps, Coss-lettuce, Onions,
radishes, & spinage, in the first lower Quarter of the new
Garden ; which raked, & crumbled in pretty good order.

302 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

16 : 17 : 18. — Finished leveling the terrass, & new walks;
& dug the new borders, & Quarters.

Fine still, settled weather, with a rising Barometer, &
wind to the East, & North.

The stopp'd Cucumbers have side-shoots with three Joints.

The five Cantaleupe-seeds all up.

March 18. — Sowed a gallon of dwarf marrowfat pease
in one of the middle Quarters : they made just nine rows
at four feet apart, & exactly fill'd the quarter. The mould
was hardly mellow enough to drill them ; & they were
covered in with difficulty.

19. — Dug the border at the back of the melon-screen, &
planted a row of Holy oaks at five feet apart.

20. — Earth'd-down the succade-bed ; & put the hills
into each light. Raised the Cucumber-frames. The plants
are Very large, & have vast leaves.

21. — Sowed six large basons in the field with double
upright lark-spurs.

The sun at a few minutes neglect scorches the
Cucumber leaves.

23. — Turned the Succades out into their bed, which
seems very mild. The best plants are forward, & show
runners. Planted besides one or two very stocky plants in
each hill, which never have been potted.

Cleared the Cucumber bed of all pots ; raised the
frames, stopp'd the plants, & earth'd the bed out to the
frames.

Fine sunny weather.

Four pots of succades left.

The Cantaleupes are very strong in their pots, & show
a rough leaf.

Prong'd & raked the Asparagus-beds.

Watered the Cucumbers over yr leaves the first time.

25. — Finish'd turfing the terrass, & new walks, which
took-up 8 loads, & an half of turf, being each twelve feet
wide ; beside the slope of the terrass.

Hot, dry, sunny weather, which makes the turf stare,
& chop.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 303

First cucumber blowed before any male bloom.

Transplanted out forward lettuce from ye wall. Dress'd
Rasps.

March 28. — The Succade-bed was beginning to burn
it's mould a little : put some fresh mould round the bottom
of the hills.

26. — Cast 1 8 loads of dung for the Cantaleupe-bed.

Planted some Catch-flies on the end of the bank next
the house.

Planted four rows of fine large potatoes cut to pieces :
each row three feet apart ; & each piece one foot.

30. — Grafted the tall peaked pear-tree in the orchard
with Doyenne-Grafts ; & the standard pear in the new
Garden with Crasan, & Chaumontelle Grafts. The Cions1
came from Ringmer ; & the two latter sorts were canker'd
& bad. Put an handful of salt in the loam.

Hot sunshine with a drying east wind.

Cut vent-holes in the front of the succade-bed to
prevent burning.

31. — Planted some wild, & Garden Lathy russ in the
bank at the back of the melon-screen between each two
Holy oaks : they were two years old in the seedling-bed, &
had long tap-roots between 2 & 3 feet long running into
the carrion. The seed of the wild Lathyrus was gathered
from a plant observed by my Bro : Tom to flourish most
beautifully in the midst of a bush in the short Lythe.

April i. — The Succade-bed continuing too hot, I ordered
a pole to be thrust quite thro' the bed under each hill, so
that one might see thro'. One hill being more furious than
the rest I had the plants (top of hill & all) taken-off in a
shovel, & the hill new made-up with cold earth. The
plants grow, & are not yet injured.

i. — Grafted in two cuttings of M : Middleton's espalier-
Crasane, instead of the Ringmer ones, which were canker'd
& bad : left one Ringmer one.

Planted 6 basons of double larkspurs in the new-garden
borders.

1 Scions.— [H. M.]

304 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

2. — Sowed in the seed-bed in the melon-ground Batter-
sea Cabbage seed, Savoys, borecole, leeks, Holy oaks,
stocks, carnations, & sweet Williams.

Bright sunshine, with an east-wind, & very high baro-
meter. The Ground is bound like a stone.

Hoed, pronged, & cleans'd all the home garden, &
borders, during this parching season.

Ap : 3. — Planted a Garden Lathyrus on the new bank
between every two asters, & p : sunflowers.

Stopped-up the vent-holes in front of the Succade-bed ;
left them open behind.

Most of the plants look well.

Sowed a great Quantity of Cucumber-seeds for the
neighbours.

4. — Sowed tree-prime-roses, beet, & some seeds of a
red Cowslip in a pot.

Sunny, burning weather.

Dress'd artichokes: in that hot weather the beginning
of December they sprouted thro' their ridges, & continued
growing very much the winter thro' ; & have now vast
greens.

Hoed & cleansed the grubb'd ground in the meadow.

April 6. — Made the Cantaleupe-bed for two three-light
frames with 18 loads of dung. It is about 14 Inches wider
behind than ye Succade-bed, & about three feet deep.

7. — Turn'd out a fine pot of Succades into a hill joining
to a former. The succades were in great danger of being
burnt by the hot weather's setting the bed in a rage again :
but by cutting & boring vents, & frequent opening the
hills all seems now to be safe.

These plants have long runners that have been stopp'd
again.

8. — The Cantaleupe-bed is in a great fury, & comes
very early to it's heat. Frequent still fine showers after
near a month's dry weather.

Cucumbers blow a great pace.

Made the annual bed with 7 barrows of dung for the
biggest one-light frame.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 305

9. — Sowed one of the upper quarters of the new garden
with three quarts of marrow-fat dwarf pease, which made
eleven rows at 3 feet apart, & just fill'd the ground. The
ground, which had laid rough all the late dry scorching
weather, being slack'd with the rain, raked, & fell to pieces
in very good order ; the marl seeming to do a great deal
of good.

Apr: ii. — Put a finishing touch to the new Garden
by cutting the edges of the turf round the water-tables,
& terrass, & mending any patch of turf that was
wanting.

Planted 24 cuttings of the fine bloody - wallflower.
Those planted the beginning of last June came to little.

Sowed the annual-bed with dwarf sunflowers, Marvel
of Peru, Basoms, China Aster purple, white, Fr : & Afr :
marrigolds, Pendulous Amaranths, & Convolvulus minor.
Sowed some China pinks, Convol : minor, & dwarf Sun-
flowers in the cold Ground.

15. — Planted a row of Laurels of 255. pr- Hund : from
the filberts against Parsons's down by the rod-hedge to the
new part of the Garden ; with a Laurustine between every
two Laurels.

Fine gentle rain for 12 or 14 Hours.

Planted some laurels at the lower end of the new bank.
The fine rains make the new turf take kindly to the ground,
& close up it's Joints.

April 17. — Planted half hundred more cabbage plants ;
& some forward coss lettuce from under the melon
screen.

Sowed the part of the meadow where ye hedge was
grubb'd, & the Haha with rye-grass : some white-Clover
in the Haha.

18. — Made a low circular mount round the great oak in
the mead, & Turfed it.

Earthed-down the Cantaleupe-bed, & hill'd the lights :
found the bed very hot still.

Sowed more China-asters on the end of the Cantaleupe-
bed. Perfect summer.

2Q

3o6 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

16. — Measured my new purchased piece of Garden,
which contained forty two rods of Ground ; & the old part
fifty six : in all half an acre, & eighteen rods.

18. — Planted some cuttings of the black Cluster, &
Muscadine Grapes.

20. — Made a frame, or cradle for annuals of rods, &
pease-haulm about four feet wide, & eight feet long ; &
put into it about 16 barrows of dung, & grass-mowings.

April 20. — Made a small hot-bed for the small one-light
frame to raise white-cucumbers in.

Set-up the urns.

21. — Turn'd-out six pots of Cantaleupes in the six hills :
there were two plants in every pot except one. The plants
are strong, & stocky ; but seem to be somewhat injured by
staying so long in the pots. The bed now seems safe from
burning, having been made sixteen days. Sowed some
white-Dutch . . . Cucumbers in the one-light frame. Cut
the first Cucumber, which might have been cut some days
before. More fruit were lost than usual : but now there
are abundance set. The bees frequent the frames
much.

Planted 12 cuttings more of the double wallflower.

April 28. — Planted five rows of dwarf- white-french-beans
pretty thin in one of the new Quarters : used just a pint of
beans.

Finding some of the Cantaleupe-plants look a little
amiss, I prick'd two seeds into each hill.

Cutting N : E : Winds for many days.

Cucumbers sett at a vast rate : there are now about
three brace fit to cut.

Sowed more white-Dutch-Cucumbers in the one-light
frame : and a few large dark-green.

May 12. — Fine rain after a long dry fit.

Sowed a small crop of Roman-Broccoli.

Cucumbers in vast abundance, & very large.

The Succades offer fine fruit.

14. — Hot summer weather : the Succades swell & seem
several of them to be set.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 307

Began building my fruit-wall.1

15. — Disbudded the vines for the first time: great
quantities of fruit especially at the end of the dining-room.
The fig tree shows about 140 fruit.

Finish'd a forest-Chair on the bastion ; & a plain seat
under the great oak. Hot burning weather.

May 19. — Vast rain with a very stormy wind, which
hinders the masons in their wall-building ; & damages the
vines, shrubs, flowers, & trees of all sorts.

20. — Made six holes for the large white Dutch Cucum-
bers, with one barrow of dung to each hole, & planted
three plants under each hand-glass.

20. — My Brother Tho : & I went down with a spade to
examine into the nature of those animals that make that
chearful shrill cry all the summer months in many parts
of the south of England. We found them to be of the
Cricket-kind, with wings & ornamented Cases over them,
like the House kind. But tho' they have long legs behind
with large brawny thighs, like Grasshoppers, for leaping ;
it is remarkable that when they were dug-out of their holes
they shewed no manner of activity, but crawled along in
a very shiftless manner, so as easily to be taken. We
found it difficult not to squeese them to death in breaking
the Ground : & out of one so bruised I took a multitude of
eggs, which were long, of a yellow Colour, & covered with
a very tough skin. It was easy to discover the male from
the female ; the former of which is of a black shining
Colour, with a golden stripe across it's shoulders something
like that of the Humble-bee : the latter was more dusky, &
distinguished by a long terebra at it's tail, which probably
may be the instrument with which it may deposit its eggs
in Crannies, & safe receptacles.

It is very likely that the males only make that shrilling
noise ; which they may do out of rivalry, & emulation
during their breeding time ; as is the Case with many
animals.

1 A small piece of Gilbert White's fruit-wall with the stone commemorating
its erection [G. W.] still remains standing, and is well cared for by the sympathetic
owners of "The Wakes," Mr. and Mrs. Paxton Parkin.— [R. B. S.]

308 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

They are solitary Insects living singly in Holes by
themselves ; & will fight fiercely when they meet, as I
found by some which I put into an hole in a dry wall,
where I should be glad to have them encrease on account
of their pleasing summer sound. For tho' they had ex-
press'd distress by being taken out of their knowledge ;
yet the first that had got possession of the chink seized an
other with a vast pair of serrated fangs so as to make it
cry-out. With these strong, tooth'd Malae (like the sheers
of lobster's claws) they must terebrate their curious regular
Holes ; as they have no feet suited for digging like the
mole-cricket. I could but wonder, that when taken in
hand, they never offer'd to bite, tho' furnished with such
formidable weapons. They are remarkably shy, & cautious,
never stirring but a few inches from ye mouth of their
holes, & retiring backward nimbly into them, & stopping
short in their song by that time you come within several
yards of yir caverns : from whence I conclude they may
be a very desirable food to some animals, perhaps several
kinds of birds. They cry all night as well as day during
part of the month of May June, & July in fine weather ; &
may in the still part of the night be heard to a considerable
distance ; abounding most in sand-banks on the sides of
heaths, especially in Surrey, & Sussex : but these that I
caught were in a steep, rocky pasture-field facing to the
afternoon sun.

21. — Frequent showers, & a strong wind.

Sowed a Crop of large white-French-beans.

22. There are about 12 brace of Succade-melons set;
the largest of which are about the size of a pullet's egg : &
two Cantaleupes, which seem to be secure.

May 27 : 28 : 29. — Vast rains, with black, cold weather
for many days.

June i. — Went thro' with tacking the vines for the first
time.

Cold black weather still, with a northerly wind, very
unkind for all vegetation.

3. — Great rain.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 309

4. — Planted-out 2 hand-glasses of the large green
Cucumbers ; & a large pot of Savoys, & late - raised
Cabbages.

8. — Cold black weather, which makes the Cucumbers
pale, & ill-flavoured ; & hurts the melons.

Drew first Carrots under the melon-screen.

The Rooks are perchers : l there are but two ; & one of
the old ones was some how destroyed as soon as they were
hatched.

9. — Sowed the first Crop of endive.

17. — Great rain : rak'd-down, & planted the winding-
border over-against the fruit-wall with tall annuals behind,
& a row of China-asters before.

Cut-off a large Succade fruit that was rotted at a joint
just by the stem of the fruit. It had firm seeds in it, &
would have soon been ripe.

June 19. — Limed the vine-borders round the house.

Black weather without a gleam of sunshine for many
days.

Prick'd out more Celeri. Planted more Savoys.

21. — Discovered a curious Orchis in the hollow shady
part of Newton-lane, just beyond the Cross. It is the
Orchis alba bifolia minor, Calcari oblongo ; grew with a
very long stem ; & has been in flower some weeks. I
brought-away the flower, & mark'd the root, intending to
transplant it into the Garden, when the leaves are wither'd.

22. — Hot summer weather. Cut my Clover-hay.

Cut the first Succado.

Hot burning weather, which grew more & more
vehement 'till the 25 ; & then a great deal of thunder, &
lightning all night.

23. — Cut a brace more Succades.

25. — Cut an other Succade.

1 There is no Rookery at "The Wakes" now, but Mr. Maxwell drove me
over on the 5th of November 1899 to Newton Valence, and showed me a line
of splendid fir-trees in which there used to be a Rookery within his memory.
The birds have deserted this place also. Could Gilbert White's Rooks have
been a pair of Carrion Crows (C. corone) ? — [R. B. S.]

3io NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The annuals are sadly scorch'd by the heat.

The Succades, considering the long shady season they
grew-in, & the early season of ripening, are good, & well-
flavoured.

June 25. — Put up two loads of Clover-hay on the rick,
& covered it well with straw.

26. — The vines begin to blow very fast.

July 4. — Rick'd-up the meadow-hay in good order.

6. — Planted-out leeks, savoys, & two plots of endive.

10. — Most of the Succades being cut, I ordered the
plants to be watered in order to try for a second Crop.
The finest Succades weigh'd about 20 ounces, & were very
good.

There are two Cantaleupes only which are just near
cutting : the rest are only now setting in great plenty.

Cut the first white- Cucumber.

Took-in the Cucumber-frames. The early Cucumbers
are now full of fruit.

Saved seed from two fine Succades.

Perfect fine summer-weather.

The Succades have some second fruit in bloom.

12. — Cut the first Cantaleupe : it was a fair, well-
emboss'd fruit, & weigh'd one ounce short of two pounds ;
but was pale-flesh'd, & not in so fine perfection as the
best Succades.

16. — Cut the second Cantaleupe, a small one.

July 1 6. — Trench'd three rows of Celeri.

Raised the melon-frames to give the roots a little room.
There are plenty of Cantaleupes ; & a good second Crop
of Succades.

Large white Cucumbers in great plenty ; & plenty still
on the old forward bed. Stewed 20 for dinner.

The Succades have some second fruit as big as hens
eggs.

25. — Finish'd my fruit-wall, coping the two returns at
the ends with stones of a sandy nature out of the old
priory. The coping-bricks were full of flaws, & cracks,
being made of earth not well-prepared, & instead of over-

A GARDEN KALENDAR 311

hanging the wall, came but just flush with it : however, by
using six that were broken-ended, we had just enough, &
they may lie on the wall many Years.

Began delving the fruit-border which was trod very
hard.

Finish'd peat-cart ; the spits were in excellent order :
housed four loads ; & brought in all my wood : & two
loads of sand ; one for ye fruit-border, & one for the hot-
bed earth.

July 25. — Hot, ripening weather for a long time.

Inoculated five budds of the double Haw-thorn on a
common one : the budds were poor coming from a sickly
tree, & did not part well from their wood.

27. — Look'd-over the melons, that were run pretty wild.
There are about ten brace of well-grown Cantaleupes ; &
not more than two brace of second Succades ; their haulm
being damaged by over dryness.

Sprinkled all the plants within, & watered the boxes
round ; as the mould is uncommonly dry, & burnt, & the
weather very scorching.

Large white Cucumbers bear vastly.

30. — Dress'd the fruit-border the second time with lime,
& sand.

Trench'd the next year's melon-earth, & dress'd it with
a good coat of lime.

The earth very dry, & parch'd.

Aug : 28. — On my return from Ringmer after three
weeks & four days absence I found Tull had cut nine brace
of melons. The continual sunny weather had brought on
the Cantaleupes before I expected them, & made them
come almost all in a week. They were divided among our
neighbours, and were much commended.

I found the annuals very handsome & very strong ; the
Savoys strangely grown ; & the endives very large. Tull
had planted out rows of Sweet- Williams, & Stocks in my
absence.

The vines were grown very wild ; & have no fruit yet
turn'd in Colour, notwithstanding the heat of the summer.

312 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The best Cantaleupes weigh'd about two pounds & an
half.

Aug : 29. — Cut a Cantaleupe, which prov'd a very fine
one. Weigh'd the largest of the great white-seed-Cucum-
bers : it's weight was three pounds & 14 ounces ; & it
measured 14 inch : & an half in length.

Tull has dug the fruit-border twice, & levelled it : but
there has not been rain enough yet to moisten the stubborn
Clods, so as to make them fall well to pieces.

29. — Sowed a small Crop of Coss-lettuce for plants to
stand the winter.

Aug: 31. — Pruned the vines, that were much over-run
with shoots, for the last time.

The Grapes just begin to turn Colour.

Tyed-up about 20 endives, which run very large this
Year. All the buds of the double Hawthorn seem to be
dead.

Septenf- 2. — Cut two Cantaleupes, very fine fruit. The
Cantaleupes run to a fair size, notwithstanding the bed is
very little wider than the frames. The Succades produced
about 6 brace of good second-crop fruit, which ripen'd well,
& are almost all cut.

4. — Cut a fine Cantaleupe ; the last of any size or value.
It prov'd a very curious one. Mark'd the best, & most
double annuals for seed.

5. — Dug the fruit-border the fourth time after a great
rain : it fell well to pieces, & seems to be well-mellow'd
with sand & lime : 'till this rain it lay in great Clods as
hard as stones, being so much trod by the masons &
harden'd by a hot, sunny summer. It has three coats of
good mould on it, & must be full two feet deep in good
soil.

Septr- 8. — Earth'd-up the Celeri for the first time. Cut
the two last Succades : good siz'd fruit. Cut in the whole
about 30 brace of melons of both sorts ; many were very
curious fruit.

It is to be observ'd that, as my frames are so wide,
a crop of melons succeeds better when the bed is little

A GARDEN KALENDAR 313

broader than the boxes, than when the bed has been lin'd-
out, & earth'd down to the Ground. Because when the
bed has been made so extensive in my strong soil the more
delicate sorts of melons have collected more moisture than
was proper, & have been liable to mouldy & rotten bines :
but now with a narrow bed there has been no decay in
the plants, notwithstanding there have been frequent great
showers the summer thro'.

9. — The grapes now turn a great pace.

12. — Hous'd the lights, & took the melon-frames to
pieces. Hot sunshine with cold dews.

18. — Dug the fruit-border for the last time, & levell'd
it for planting. It is in fine mellow order, & falls
very fine, having been dug five times ; & dress'd with
three Coats of sand, two of lime, & one of morter-
rubbish.

It now lies-up within four inches of the upper Joint of
the stone part of the wall.

Sad wet black weather for a long time ; & some very
heavy rains. The Grapes come-on but poorly.

Septemr- 28. — Planted Sweet- Williams, & pinks alter-
nately on the new bank.

Earth'd up the Celeri the second time.

Fine settled weather after above a month's cold wet
season.

Some little Succades, secured under hand-glasses, still
continue to ripen.

28.— Made 18 quarts of elder-juice, & put to it 36
pounds of 4! sugar, which made 29 Quarts of Syrop.
Mem: two gallons & half of pick'd berries, moderately
squeesed, produced about a gallon of Juice.

Octob : 7. — Planted-out in a bed to blow 60 Carnation-
plants, & 80 stocks : the best are to be removed into
borders.

Octobr- 14. — Now the Grapes are good, notwithstanding
the vast continual rains.

The drein that goes from the bottom of the new-gardeu
under the walk, & fruit-wall runs apace.

2 R

314 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

21. — Dry, fine weather.

Planted 130 of Cabbages in the new Garden at two
feet apart to stand ye winter.

22. — A very white-frost with thick ice.

24. — The ground being very dry I planted my bulbs ;
a row of Hyacinths above 60, & a few Tulips, & polyanth-
Narcissuss on the edge of the fruit border : a row of
tulips, & polyanth-Narcissuss, Cornflags, & Jonquils next
Parsons's : & two rows of Crocuss under the buttery-win-
dow. Planted a large bed of Nursery-ofset-bulbs in a bed
by themselves.

Planted-out against Parson's, & under ye Buttery-
window several of my fine bloody-double-wallflowers. Just
before I finished came a vast rain.

Novr- 2 : 3. — Planted two standard-golden-pippens in
the old orchard; & 12 small crab-stocks in the nursery.
Took-up & removed the things in the nursery, & planted
them in regular lines three feet apart. Dug-up & planted
6 pear-suckers for stocks.

Sanded, dung'd & trench'd the next year's melon-earth
a second time ; it was dress'd once with sand & lime, &
falls now very mellow.

Dry, soft, delicate weather. Grapes continue very
good still.

5. — Planted four rasp-plants from Chidbury-hill Wilts
at the nearest end of the rasp-border, & several slips of
pyram : Campanulas in a Nursery-bed.

7. — Planted one Quart, three rows, of small early beans
in a Quarter of the new Garden.

A smart frost with Ice.

Dress'd the basons for the espalier-pears with mortar-
rubbish ; & laid some rubbish at the bottom of every
bason.

13. — Planted a quart more of early beans.

Decenf- 15. — Brewed half Hogsh : of moderate strong
beer with 5 bush : of Rich : Knight's malt, & two pd- &
half of hops. What was brew'd in the same barrel last
Decr- was excellent.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 315

Decemr- 17. — Made half hogsh : of raisin -wine with
hundred of Smyrnas, & half hundred of Malagas ; & put
to them 13 buckets of water, each bucket containing
3 Gal:

22. — Wheel'd-in 20 wheel-barrows of hot-dung to cast
ready for a seedling-Cucumber-bed.

Vast quantities of rain have fallen the autumn & winter
thro' : & as yet there have been but a very few days of
hard frost.

23 : 24. — Vast rains, & floods.

26. — Made an hot-bed for the biggest one — light frame
with the 20 barrows of dung.

Planted a Dutch-medlar, & a Service in the old
orchard ; & a mountain-ash in one of the basons in the
field.

Vast rains.

30. — The bed not coming to it's heat from the vast
wetness of the Dung, I order'd in a load from Kelsey's ;
which with 10 barrows of my own made a new one.

By the negligence of Murdoch Middleton my wall-trees
never came 'till the 26 : they are in general good trees,
were planted (considering the wetness of the season) in
good condition ; & in the following order, beginning from
the terrass : Breda Apricot ; sweet- water vine ; Roman
Nectar : Mr- Snooke's black-cluster vine ; Roman Nect :
white Muscadine vine ; Newington Nectar :

Mur : Middleton's Sweet-water-vine ; Nobless-peach ;
Mr- Sn : White Muscadine vine ; Nobless-peach ; John
Hale's 2 Passion flowers, one at each end of the wall.

Decemr- 30. — Planted two Cistus's in Mr- Etty's dry
garden ; & a Phlomis, & an Halimus in my own. Planted
some cuttings of the American black Poplar, & the
Groundsel-tree in the Nursery.

316 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

DUNG BORROWED, 1761.

Jan. 3. — Of Kelsey dung p^ car. p4 . i load.

He carried of our's i load, p*-

31. — Of Kelsey d«»>K pd. car. pd. m t 6 loads.

Feb. 2. — Of Parsons pd- «•*• dao& **• . 4 loads.

March 3. — Of Parsons pd- car. dung p*- 5 loads.

4. — Of Kelsey dune **• «r- 1*- . . . 4 loads.

carried one of mine. pd-

March 26. — Of Berriman pd- car. . 2 loads.

Of Parsons pd- car. dun* Pd- . 3 loads.

Of Kelsey du"gpd. car. pd. < IO loads.

carried out of mine 3. p4

DRY FINK WEATHER

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1762

Jan: I. — Put about 20 Cucumber-seeds into the Hot-
bed before it was come to it's heat : it has been made only
two days.

4. — The bed comes to a bold heat. Exceeding wet
weather ; & the ground full of water.

There has been no settled dry weather since the end
of August.

5. — Tunn'd the Half Hogsh : of raisin wine : there were
about 3 gallons too much without any squeezing. Coloured
it with 17 pints of Elder Syrop. The wine tastes very
sweet. Added two more pints.

Jan : 5. — Cucumber-plants begin to appear : the bed is
very warm.

ii : 12. — A violent storm with vast rains, & floods.

14. — The bed, when covered much from the great rains,
too hot still. Obliged to keep the light tilted anights. The
plants a little damaged by the steam, & heat. Continue to
sow more seeds.

14. — Bottled out the barrel of vinegar, which was very
fine, & extremely keen ; & put-in 8 gall : more of strong
small-wine.

20. — Cucumber-plants have a rough leaf. Shut the
light down quite close to-night for the first time. The
mercury mounts very high.

26. — Brought in ten loads of hot dung for the bearing
Cucumber-bed. Bright sunny weather & dry pleasant
frosts for many days. Trench'd my flower-bank, & some
of the Kitchen-ground.

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

A GARDEN KALENDAR 319

enough to make the fruit grow. There are many fine plants
left in the seedling bed.

12. — Sowed 14 Succade-seeds in the fruiting-frames ;
those that were sown in the seed-bed included, which never
vegetated.

Strange sudden alterations from fierce frosts to heavy
rains, & so back again.

Feb : 15. — The bed seems to be come to a good heat.

Succades begin to appear.

1 8. — The bed advances in heat, & rather draws the
plants. Potted the Succades.

Nasty, wet, blowing weather.

19. — Sow'd 10 more Succade seeds.

Sow'd a box of Polyanth seed.

The sun, which quite forsakes the upper walk of the
new garden about the end of Octobr- begins now to shine
full along it about half an hour before it sets. The
Hepaticas, Crocuss, snowdrops & double daisies begin now
to make a very agreeable appearance as the first promise
of spring. Warm moist weather, which makes the grass
spring sensibly.

A shoot of a white vine, which I lately short'ned, bleeds
pretty much.

The ground has never this winter been once covered
with snow.

20. — Made an hot-bed in the rod-frame with 16 barrows
of dung ; &, after covering it pretty thick with mellow
mould, sowed it with radishes.

Feb : 20. — Sowed two basons of Persicarias in the border
against Parsons's.

21. — A most violent N : E: wind all the evening, & all
the first part of the night, with a small, dry, drifting sort of
snow, which drove thro' the tiles, & every cranny in a most
extraordinary manner. The ground is but just covered
except in drifted places. A very hard frost in the morning.
Many people froze to death.1

1 Evidently a " Blizzard," as we should call it now. — [R. B. S.]

320 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

24. — Severe frost with heaps of drifted snow on the
Ground. A high barometer.

The Cucumber-bed steams very much ; & it has been
so very cold lately, that there has been very few oppor-
tunities of giving the plants sufficient air. The plants look
the worse for their Confinement.

25. — Finding the bed full hot, I pull'd-off the pease-
haulm-lining at the back.

Sowed the Clover in Baker's hill all over with two dung-
carts of Ashes.

27. — Sowed 8 basons of double upright-larkspurs along
the border of the Garden-door walk, & in the border
between the Cherry-trees.

Cold black weather : the snow has now laid a week in
shady places.

The forward Cucumbers look very poorly.

March i. — Fierce frosts a nights, & strong cutting winds
a days with storms of snow.

Murdoch Middleton's pear-trees of last year proving
canker'd, & distemper' d, he changed them ; & I added some
more sorts.

They stand now as follows in the new Garden, begin-
ning from the first quarters on the side next the wall, then
going down the middle quarters ; & then by the side of the
terrass.

N : Side of the Quarters next the wall :

Chaumontelle, & Virgoleuse :

S : side of D°- Crasane, & Doyenne :

The middle quarters :

Sl Germain, Brown Bury, Doyenne :

Up the side of the terrasse :

Autumn Burgamot ; & Swann's egg.

There are also at the inner ends of the wall-quarters two
Green-gage plums :

One Crasane-pear in the border of the walk facing the
Garden-door : & one le Royal, & one Queen-Claudia plum
in the melon-screen border.

March 2. — Planted a plot in Turner's with five

A GARDEN KALENDAR 321

rows, three pints & half of early pease at four feet
apart.

Very strong frost with thick ice : freezing air all day
with flights of snow.

6. — This is now the 14 day since the snow fell ; & it lies
in great Heaps still under the Hedges.

There have been every day since cold cutting winds
with a dark cloudy skie, & strong frosts every night.

The want of sun, & freezing air make the Cu-
cumber-plants look very poorly, & quite stop their
Growth.

Sowed a gallon, n rows of dwarf-marrowfats, which at
3 feet & half a part just fill'd a quarter.

Sowed two ounces of spinage.

The dug-ground is quite dusty.

10. — Pull'd-up the forward Cucumbers, which have
never thrived since the fierce weather began ; & planted
some from ye seedling-bed which are better.

Sowed a Celeri-bed with seed from London, & some
seed of a jagged-leaved sort from Mr- Missing.

Planted some Spanish-Chestnuts from Mr- Roman,1 &
some variegated Sycamore-keys from bro : Tom. Sowed
a bed of Leeks. This is the i8th day of the frosty weather :
very thick ice last night ; & the snow still lies in cold
shady places. A freezing wind.

March u. — This is the 19 & last day of the fierce
weather.

13. — Cut down all the wall-trees, & all the espalier pears.
The two peaches seem unsound at the pith ; all the rest are
healthy trees.

Widened the walk down Baker's-hill, & turfed it.
Planted several sorts of Asters in the new garden.

Soft spring-like weather for the first time.

15. — Carryed-in ten loads of Hot dung for the Succade-
bed.

26. — Sowed Holy-oaks, sunflowers, Cullumbines, China
asters, & savoys.

1 The Rector of Faringdon, when Gilbert White was curate there. — [R. B. S.]

2 S

322 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

27. — Planted four rows of Potatoes ; pieces from fine
large roots.

April 6. — Sowed a bed of onions.

7. — Planted the succade-bed, that has been now made a
fortnight, with some good potted plants, & some plants
raised in the bed. The bed is full hot. Sowed the first
Cantaleupes.

Sowed three rows of broad-beans.

Apr : 7. — The f orwardest Cucumber about as big as the
top of one's finger. The plants now grow away. Fine
summer weather.

Planted holy-oaks, asters, & peren : sunflowers up the
garden-hedge in Baker's hill.

8. — Sowed five rows of marrow-fat pease.

9 : 10. — Brought-in 17 loads of hot dung for the
Cantaleupe bed.

Sowed some white Broccoli-seed from Bp's Waltham.
The Succade-bed is very hot ; but the plants by being
tilted a nights, & shaded a days look very well, & have
runners.

12. — Sowed the Cantaleupe-seeds, & some Succades.

16. — Sowed some common Cabbage-seed, & some
Roman Broccoli.

Made one hand-glass-bed to raise the large white
Cucumbers.

Made the Annual-bed.

Potted the Cantaleupes.

17. — Sowed the annuals.

19. — Made the Cantaleupe-bed with 17 loads of dung :
it is of a very proper thickness.

20. — Dress'd the Artichokes.

24.— Earth'd the Cantaleupe-bed, & hill'd it.

Made six hand-glass beds, with one barrow of dung to
each, for the large white Cucumbers, & planted them.

The fruit-wall & espalier-trees are all alive, & begin to
shoot.

26. — Cut the first Cucumber. There are plenty com-
ing on.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 323

Fine hot summer weather for these twelve days past,
which has brought every thing on in a wonderful manner.

27. — Planted the Cantaleupe-bed, the two first Hills
with Waverley plants, & the rest with plants from my own
seed ; all save the last Hill, which is planted with Succades
to keep up a Succession.

The plants are beautiful & thriving beyond Common :
but the bed is very hot & wants watching.

Very hot weather with the appearance of thunder.

April 27. — The first Succades fill the hills with their
fibres, & have runners with several joints.

The fruit-trees against the wall push apace. I disbudded
them to-day. The vines also are all alive.

May 3. — Sowed 6 rows of white-Dwarf-french-beans.
The seed looks but poorly.

8. — The Succades begin to shew fruit.

Hot sunshine with very cold winds.

ii. — The Succades have male bloom full blown.

17. — The Succades have now fruit in bloom.

22. — Some Succades seem to be set.

Brought some Geraniums, & a Sedum from Bp's
Waltham.

Shady moist weather : prick' d-out plenty of Savoys,
Celery, & Celeriac.

25. — Tack'd the vines, & disbudded them for ye first time :
the appearance of an abundance of fruit. Hot sunny
weather for many days.

June 4. — Vehement hot dry weather for many days (a
fortnight past) so that the fields & Gardens begin to suffer
greatly. The early Cucumbers hardly bear at all tho' con-
stantly water'd : & the melons swell very slowly.

Turn'd-out the white Cucumbers from under the
Glasses.

June 8. — This long hot sunny season has forced some of
the vines into bloom. They did not blow last year 'till
about the 26.

Cut my Clover-hay.

The forwardest Succades nearly full-grown : the Canta-

324 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

leupes have abundance of fruit in full bloom, but hardly
any male bloom.

A long dry hot season : the Corn begins to suffer.

1 6. — Cut first white Cucumbers from the hand-glasses.
Hot burning weather still.

Began stopping-down the vines.

They are all in full bloom.

The Cantaleupes begin to set.

17. — This morning a valuable shower for an Hour &
half that made the Cartway run.

Cantaleupes & Succades now set at a vast rate.

June 1 8. — Sowed four rows of white-dwarf-french-beans :
soak'd the seed in water.

Sowed a small plot of Endive.

26. — Dry and hot weather yet.

Some bunches of Grapes, that used in general to be
only just in full bloom, now so forward, that they are
grown pretty well to the third part of their full size.

An abundance of Cantaleupes set : the vines are in
good health ; & some fruit are the size of a large apple.

The Succades have but a scanty first crop, which is near
cutting : but promise well for a second.

We transplant the annuals only a few at a time as they
can be water'd. They are stocky in their nursery bed.

The fruit-trees against the wall, by being sprinkled over
the leaves two or three times a week during this burning
season, have been kept in a constant growing state, & have
not one curled leaf.

A fine shower on June 20.

28. — A fine rain. Planted out some Savoys ; & more
annuals. The pine-strawberries bear well.

30. — Hot summer weather.

July 3. — Cut first Succade.

5. — Set-out for Tidworth. During that week Tull cut
4 brace of Succades.

About the ioth Mr- Cane began to cut his crop of
Cantaleupes, which were extraordinary delicate, & of a
good size.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 325

On my return to Selborne the 24 I found 3 brace & an
half of Succades cut, and ready to cut in the early box.
The late hill of Succades are not come ; & the Cantaleupes
are small & not very rough ; but the vines look healthy.

People are in the midst of wheat-harvest, & have cut
some oats. Not the least rain since Wednesday seven night.
The country is burnt-up in a most deplorable manner,
beyond what any middle-aged person remembers ; all the
ponds & many wells are dry.

The grapes are uncommonly forward, & flourishing ; &
the vines have made vast shoots.

July 28. — Cut the first Cantaleupe at six weeks from the
setting: it was, I suppose, hurried by the vehement hot
summer ; but was not very curious.

29. — Cut second Cantaleupe.

Cut the first Succade of the Hill in one of the Canta-
leupe-boxes ; which came not 'till after two Cantaleupes ;
tho' planted at the same time.

There usually is a fortnight difference in their ripening.

31. — The Succades of the latter hill come apace.

Those in the first box have been well watered ; & shew
a pretty good second Crop.

Vehement hot weather still.

August 3. — Cut all the Succades of the farther hill,
which came a great pace this very hot dry weather.
Watered the hill well, to try for a second Crop. They
were excellent.

4 : 6. — Frequent showers with a strong wind that blew
down many apples & pears. The first rain. The rain
improved Mr- Etty's wall-fruit visibly in a day or two.

Cut a large delicate Cantaleupe.

7. — Planted-out Savoys ; & sowed half pd- of spinage, &
some radish-seed.

The ground is moist'ned in but a little way.

Aug : 4. — Cut my field of oats.

10. — A fine rain. Sowed a plot of turnep-seed & trench'd
out the first Celeri, four rows in Turner's Garden.

12. — A fine rain with some distant thunder.

326 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The Grapes begin to turn Colour.

Planted in the new garden two trenches more of Celeri ;
& two of Mr- Missing's parsley-leaved Celeriac. Mr- Etty's
Nectarines, & Peaches begin to shew their fine ripening
Colours.

13. — Frequent heavy thundershowers with hot growing
weather.

14. — Hot moist weather. The Succades have plenty of
new wood, & shew several brace of promising second-crop
fruit.

The grass-walks have in ten days quite recovered their
verdure ; tho' they were so deplorably burnt.

Planted 12 stock-gilliflowers from Mr- Etty. Eat a very
curious Cantaleupe : it weigh'd two pounds, & an half, &
was very dry, & thick in flesh.

Aug: 1 6. — Cut the last Cantaleupe. Many were very
delicate, cracking both at Eye, & stem.

21. — Planted three rows of Polyanths on the bank next
the Alcove : planted two plots of backward Savoys.

Septemr- 8. — The wasps (which are without number this
dry hot summer) attack the grapes in a grievous manner.
Hung-up 1 6 bottles with treacle, & beer, which make great
havock among them. Bagged about fifty of the best
bunches in Crape-bags. Some of the forwardest bunches
are very eatable, tho' not curiously ripe. Mr- Snooke's
grapes were eat naked to the stones a fortnight ago, when
they were quite green.

There are about 3 brace of second-crop Succades, which
will come in good time if the weather proves good.

Frequent showers since the 4th of Aug : now a promise
of dry weather. The fields abound with grass as if there
had been no drought this summer.

Septemr- 18. — Delicate autumn weather for a fortnight.
Began eating the grapes, which are good, but not curiously
ripened yet.

By means of bottles & bird lime I have prevented in-
numerable swarms of wasps from doing the grapes any
considerable damage. They are reduced now to a very

A GARDEN KALENDAR 327

moderate number ; not more than appear in common Years.
Gather'd some nonpareils & golden-rennets, which are very
fair, & ready to be laid up, being a fortnight at least earlier
than common.

Cut a decent second-crop-succade.

Walnuts & apples are innumerable this year ; but there
are no small-nuts.

20. — Tyed-up a large parcel of endives : they are but
small this year.

21. — Cut a succade.

23 : 24. — Exceeding heavy rains with tempestuous winds,
which blowed down an abundance of apples.

Gather'd-in the Cadillac-pears : near one third were
blown-down.

Cut-up a very good-flavoured Succade.

Octob : 5. — Trimm'd & tack'd the wall fruit trees for the
winter. They are all alive, & healthy.

Planted-out some Coss-lettuce to stand the winter under
the fruit-wall.

13. — Grapes very curious. The wasps begin to be very
troublesome, so that we caught 200 of a day. Eat two
very good Succades within these few days. Dry weather,
with white frosts.

15. — Supply'd the row of Hyacinths on the fruit-border
with several double blue, & a few very double flat-blowing
flowers.

Very dry seasonable weather.

16. — Dug-up the Crown-imperials on the bank, & took-
out a large basket full of roots, & planted only two roots in
each bason.

Grapes very curious.

17. — First very great white frost.

23 : 24 : 25. — Vast floods. Vast damage in many parts.

26. — Plenty of Grapes, & very curious.

29. — A flight of snow for a few hours.

Nov : i. — Grapes very fine.

3. — Gathered the last Grapes, which were above thirty
curious bunches, from the vine over ye Entry door.

328 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Planted four curious gooseberry-trees from Waltham,
& two basons of rag- wort from Funtington.

Novr" ii. — Great snow.

Planted some very small Coss-lettuce against the fruit-
wall.

Shut-up the Alcove l with straw doors for ye winter ; &
took-in the urns.

13. — Severe frost with very thick Ice.

Eat the last Grapes.

19. — The frost still continues very fierce. Bearing Ice
for many days. Uncommon early frost.

The fierce frost continued eleven nights.

24. — Trimm'd & tack'd the vines, whose shoots are both
smaller & shorter than usual : perhaps owing to the vast
Crop, & very burning Year. However there is wood
enough to fill the walls.

29. — Planted the border by the necessary full of tulips,
Polyanth-Narcissuss, Double daffodils, & Jonquils.

Moved the two plum-trees from the melon-border to the
rasp-border. They had taken poor root.

Decemr- 5. — Planted one hundred & a Quarter of stocky
Cabbage-plants, to stand the winter. Made a strong rod-
hedge against Parsons's Yard.

10. — Sowed three pints of small early beans. The
ground was in fine order ; there having been hardly any
rain for a month past.

1 8. — By the favour of the long, dry weather I prevailed
on Parsons to set-about cleansing the river course from
Gracious-Street to Webbs bridge, which was quite choak'd,
& in great rains occasion'd a very troublesome flood. We
threw out about 50 loads of mud, & have open'd so free a
channel, that the road is quite dry, & the water will have
an easy passage as fast as it comes to those parts.

1 Mr. Grant Allen assigns the site of the Alcove to the Bostal. I believe
that it was at the end of Gilbert's mead, and the foundation is still to be seen
in Gracious Street. Mr. Maxwell pointed out this piece of stone work, and
related that Professor Bell had informed him that it was the foundation of one
of Gilbert White's summer-houses. — [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR

329

Finish'd a paved foot-path from the Butcher's shop to
the Blacksmith's, above 70 Yards : it cost just one pound.1

Decenf- 24 : 1762. Made a seedling-Cucumr -bed with
two dung-carts of hot dung, which was in fine order, &
had never received any wet since it was thrown-out.

27. — Very hard, still frost. Pleasant weather, & no rain
for several weeks.

31. — Extream severe frost with a cutting wind.

DUNG BORROWED FOR 1762.

Of Kelsey — Dung pd- Car. pd-
Jan : 26. — Of Kelsey D : pd- Car. pd- .

Car. 3 of my own.
March 15. — Kelsey Dung pd- Car. pd- .

Parsons Dung pd- Car. pd
April 8. — Kelsey Dung pd- Car. pd-
10. — Parsons Dung pd- Car. pd-

i load.

7 loads.

5 loads.
5 loads.

8 loads.

9 loads.

1 This path still exists. In these days it would have cost at least £10,
[H. M.]

2T

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1763

Jan : i. — Sowed about 20 seeds : the bed is in very fine
order. Very fierce frost indeed, which begins to reach
things within doors. The wall-flowers seem to be much
damaged.

There has been no fall now, except a trifling shower,
since the n of Novemr- when there was a pretty deep
snow. The ponds begin to get low.

Extream hard frost still. The Cucum"- begin to appear.

Jan : n. — Fierce frost still, but not very windy.

The sun has scarce appeared for many days : so that
the paths & roads have been hard & dry all day long. The
Thames, it seems, is so frozen, that fairs have been kept on
it ; & the Ice has done great damage to the ships below
bridge.

Covered the bulbs with straw, & the Artichokes, & some
of the most curious Asters : & put straw round the bloody
wall-flowers.

Lined the Cucumr- bed a little : the plants look pretty
well.

This frost began on Xmas-day.

15. — The frost more fierce than ever with vast rimes in
the night, & sunny days. No snow yet. I have covered
the wall-trees, & ajl tender things with straw.

The frost has been three weeks today.

17. — Carted-in & cast 10 loads of good hot dung for the
bearing cucumber-bed.

Most severe frost still. There has been no rain since
Nov. IIth- The country is all in a dust, & many people
are obliged to draw water for all their Cattle.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 331

19. — Vast rimes all day long for these two days without
the least thaw.

20. — To day is 10 weeks since there was rain.

21. — Vast rimes still day & night.

22. — To-day the frost has been a month.

24. — Made my bearing-cucumber-bed with ten loads of
very good dung.

The first-sowed cucumber-plants look very well for such
a severe season, & have a rough leaf, & an other opening.
I keep sowing more seeds every week. Very bright still
weather.

25. — I measured in a new-dug grave in Faringdon
Church-yard, & found the frost had enter'd the ground
about 10 inches. Vast fog.

27. — This day the dry weather had lasted eleven
weeks.

28. — The frost begins to slack.

Jan: 29. — Strong south-wind with rain, & a mild thaw.
The frost began this day five weeks.

31. — A thoro' thaw with strong wind, & a great rain.

Feb : 5. — After ten days absence at Ringmer I found the
Cucumber-plants in pretty good order ; but the bearing-bed
too hot to plant-in.

8. — Planted my Cucumber-plants in the bearing-bed,
which seems to be pretty mild.

The plants are of different ages : the forwardest have
a joint, & a broad rough leaf.

Wet blowing weather for several days.

Feb : 9. — Brewed half Hogsh : of strong-beer with 5
bush : of malt, & two pds- & half of hops.

Used only rain-water to try the difference.

Added one bush : of malt, & made an hogsh : of table-
beer.

12 : 13. — Heavy snow for 14, or 16 hours.

14. — Deep snow notwithstanding the ground was so
wet ; & a pretty hard frost, & bright sunshine.

The cucumber-plants grow, & look very well ; & some
of them have two joints.

332 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

15. — A second deep snow in the night, which goes-off
today with a swift thaw, & rain.

15. — Made half an Hogsh : of raisin-wine with one
hund : of Malagas, & half an hund : of Smyrnas.

One basket of ye Smyrnas were pretty much candyed :
the rest were pretty good. Put to the raisins 12 buckets of
water, each bucket containing 3 gallons.

19. — Frequent rain, & dark weather in general since
the thaw.

Sowed 12 Succade-seeds in the Cucumber-bed. Lined
the bed round with hay to keep-in the heat. The plants
look very green, & thrive.

The bed seems in fine gentle temper.

21. — Sowed two Jobbs of ashes of my own making;
which with what few more I may make will manure the
great meadow all over.

22. — Constant rains.

23. — The Succade-plants come-up well.

The Cucumbers thrive.

A very soft spring-like day.

25. — Sowed 8 rows of marrow-fat pease : the first crop
on account of the frost & rain.

Planted a white muscadine-vine from Ringmer at the
end of the Dining room : a moss-provence-rose from a
layer in the border opposite the fruit-wall ; & a monthly-
rose in the same border. Mended the Laurustines against
Parsons's.

Sowed ten more Succade-seeds : eleven of the former
sowing look well.

Dry sunny weather for three days.

26. — Potted the first Succades, which are fine plants.
The Cucumbers begin to fill the Hills with their fibres, &
to want earthing.

26. — Sent a small flitch of bacon to be hung in Mr-
Etty's smoke loft : it lay in salt six weeks ; but two of them
were fierce frost.

Lay'd several small twigs of the Moss-Provence-rose :
the larger shoots do not root kindly.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 333

March i. — Planted about three Quarts of broad beans
in the room of the small ones which were all kill'd by the
frost.

Vast rains still. We are now entred into the 5th week of
the wet weather.

The last-sow'd Succades are coming-up.

2. — Great rains for several days past : to day stormy
wind & thunder.

There are vast floods about the Country : & incredible
damage is said to be done in the Island of Ely by the
breaking of the banks. It has been a very wet season now
for near five weeks. The ground is so wet that nothing
can be done in the Garden.

5. — Tunn'd the raisin-wine, which held-out exactly,
leaving about a gallon for filling-up. Coloured it with
twelve bottles of elder-syrop ; & put to it one quart of
brandy. I have usually put but a pint at the beginning.

March 5. — Made the Succade-bed with ten cart-loads of
dung, brought-in the same day. The bed & frame are full
seven feet high behind : somewhat the higher for it's being
made by mistake full scanty for the frame.

Several of the best Cue : plants are just ready to burst
into male bloom.

They & the melon-plants thrive well, & have been
earth'd twice. Potted to day the second-sown Succades.

Fine, sunny weather for two days.

The Passion-flowers at the ends of the fruit-wall appear
to be much injured by the great frost, tho' they were in
appearance well covered with straw.

6. — Two of the Cucumr- plants have male-bloom full-
blown. Beautiful weather.

7. — Sowed a Crop of Carrots, radishes, Coss-lettuce, &
parsneps altogether in part of one of the lower quarters of
the New-garden. The ground is in good order. Planted
a standard Orleans-plum, & a standard Autumn-Ber-
gamot-pear in the Orchard next Baker's Hill. Beautiful
weather.

Cucumbers blow male-bloom apace.

334 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The Succade-bed begins to fume.

10. — Sowed a row of parsley.

Sowed an Ounce of Onion-seed in one of the new
Quarters : the ground in excellent order.

Fine sunny weather for a week.

12 : 13. — Furious N : E : winds with so very keen an
air, that things froze within doors in not much less degree
than they did in January.

14. — Fierce clear frost, but a still air.

Sowed carrots, radishes, & Coss-lettuce under the
melon-screen.

The Cucumber-plants first began to discover some fruit
on the 13.

15. — Fierce still frost, & strong sunshine.

These frosts cut-down the wallflowers & Polyanths in a
sad manner just as they are coming into bloom.

The Succades are stopp'd-down, & thrive vastly.

March 17.— Earth'd, & hill'd the Succades, the bed
being very moderate in appearance.

Soft, spring-like weather.

Sowed a spot of Polyanth-seed on a border facing to
the South : the seed was saved in 1761.

19. — Planted the Succade-bed with two pots of plants
in each hill. Each pot contain'd two fine stocky plants,
that have each two large rough leaves ; & have been stopp'd
down, & show for runners. The bed seems to be mild ; &
has been made a fortnight to day.

Matted-down the bed with three of my 9 new London-
matts ; & trigg'd the lights a little.

A stormy west wind.

22. — Found several Cucumbers in bloom this morning.
Wet windy weather.

24. — Sowed 1 8 Cantaleupe-seeds in the Succade-frame.
They were saved from a fine fruit in 1756, & are very
plump, & large ; & are the same with those from which
Mr Cane raised such fine Melons last year at Tidworth.

Set several of the Cucumbers in bloom.

The bed rather declines in heat.

•

_. - » - -

A GARDEN KALENDAR 335

The Succades begin to grow, & extend their roots in
their new hills.

Some of the young Nectarines are in bloom ; & one
peach.

The Hyacinths under the wall are blowing apace: some
are blown.

25. — Gave the Cucumber-bed a strong lining of hot
dung to set, & forward the fruit.

The plants had extended their fibres quite without the
frames.

Planted 20 good Cauliflowers from Hartley1 in a well-
dung'd spot, & covered them with hand-glasses, & pots.

March 25. — Transplanted into a good mellow plot of
Ground those few Coss-lettuces under the fruit-wall that
survived the severe winter.

26. — Planted five rows of Potatoes quite across one of
the middle quarters of the new-garden in well-dunged
deep mould. The pieces were cut from large firm roots
that had been well-preserved from ye frost. If the pieces
had not been planted 15 inc : apart, they would not have
held-out.

Sowed a good large plot of Savoys ; & a plot of leeks.

Fierce frosts with very thick Ice.

28. — Sowed London-Celeri, & Mr- Missing's Parsley-
leaved Celeriac under an Hand-glass with two barrows of
dung.

Earth'd the Succades (which had pretty well run their
hills) for the first time.

The middle hill was hot ; but there were no tokens
of burning.

The young Cucumbers begin to swell, & seem to be set.

29. — Earth'd the Cucumber-bed for the last time.

One of the forwardest fruit is gone-off.

Removed the Cantaleupe seeds, that did not come-up
so soon as they should do, into a warmer part of the bed.

30. — Moss'd the Cucumbr- bed all over to see if that will

1 Probably from Sir Simeon Stuart. — [H. M.]

336 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

promote the swelling of the fruit by keeping the bed moist
& warm. It is a practice much in use among Gardeners.

April i. — Sowed in the borders round the Garden 21
•little basons of double upright larkspurs ; from an ounce
of London seed.

Sowed a plot of stocks from seed of my own saving :
they came first from Ringmer.

All my stocks were kill'd last winter.

Sowed 18 more Cantaleupe-seeds : the last now come-
up pretty well.

The Succades extend their fibres a second time without
their hills ; & have runners four or five inches long.
Delicate soft dry weather. The ground works well.

April 2. — Sowed a bed of Sweet- Williams.

Earth'd Succades the second time.

Beautiful soft grey weather.

Sowed a few more Bentworth-Cantaleupes, & a few
Succades.

Put a bottle of brandy at the time of tunning to the
raisin-wine ; & now an other to prevent it's working too
long.

4. — Planted several sorts of curious Asters, & Golden-
rods sent me by Mr- Gibson in the borders, & field-
basons.

Potted the first-sown Cantaleupes, ten good plants.

5. — Cut the first Cucumber, a good fruit, to carry to
London. The rest, several brace, are swelling-away ; but
are yet of no size.1

The Hyacinths are blowing-out apace.

7. — Sowed second crop of marrow-fats.

8. — Carted-in 17 loads of hot dung for the Cantaleupe-
bed.

9. — Made the Cantaleupe bed.

1 During Gilbert White's absence from home, as happened on the present
occasion till the 2ist of April, his " Kalendar" must have been kept by some one
else, probably by his faithful servant Thomas. It is evident, however, that he
re- wrote the items on his return home, as the whole of the MS. of the " Kalendar "
for 1763 is in Gilbert White's handwriting.— [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 337

ii. — Sowed a plot of white helebore-seed : & potted
the Succades.

13. — Made i hand-glass bed, & sowed it with white-
cucumbers.

13. — Cut 13 large, well-grown Cucumbers, which were
sent me to London by the coach when they were two shill :
apiece in town.

16. — Planted half hund : of Cabbage-plants.

1 8. — Sowed more savoys.

21. — Earthed the Cantaleupe, & annual beds.

22. — At my return from London found the Cucumber-
bed full of fine fruit ; & the Succade-plants well-grown ;
but not yet in bloom.

The Hyacinths are now in high beauty : there are many
curious ones in the nursery that must be mark'd for trans-
planting.

25. — Earth'd-up the Succades for the last time : the
plants are very stout ; but do not shew any bloom or
fruit.

April 25. — Sowed the annual-bed with Alton ; & London-
Balsoms, China Asters, African & French-Marrigolds, Pen-
dulous-Amaranths, Marvel of Peru, & dwarf Sunn1 :

26. — Stak'd and tack'd the espalier-pears, & plums ; &
eased, & disbudded the fruit-wall trees. Dry cold weather.

27. — Planted five hills with Cantaleupe-plants from Seed
of my own : & in two hills where there were only two
plants to a pot I put-in one more from Mr- Acton's seed.
Planted the first Hill with Succades to keep-up a Succes-
sion. The bed has been made 18 days ; but yet is hot, &
must be tilted when covered ; & well-watched in very hot
sunshine. Mr- Acton's plants (from his seed which I gave
him first) are in the first & second hills.

The Cucumbers bear wonderfully, & large well-grown
fruit.

30. — There have been cut this month from four lights
only above 40 well-grown Cucumbers.

Sowed some of Gordon's Celeriac (much commended)
between the Cantaleupe boxes.

2 U

338 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The Cantaleupe-hills by tilting a nights, & frequent
waterings go-on very well.

Tyed those Hyacinths that are white with a pink-eye
with a piece of scarlet worsted as a mark to save ofsets
from. Mark'd the blue Hyacinths with a blue piece of
worsted tyed to the sticks that stand before them.

May 2. — Sowed six rows (about three fourths of a quart)
of white dwarf french beans in Turner's Garden. The
Ground is very mellow. Extreme sharp wind with hail for
these two days past.

Stopp'd-down the Cantaleupes, which are settled in
their Hills, & seem past all danger of burning.

Layed-down several branches of the fine bloody wall-
flowers. Many of the wallflowers were kill'd last winter :
as the Artichokes seem all to be.

May 4. — Several smart claps of thunder, which appeared
extraordinary in the midst of such cold weather.

Very white frosts every night.

6. — Made a row of Hand glass-beds, with one barrow
of dung to each, for the white cucumb"-

White frosts, & sunny days.

The succades begin to shew fruit.

7. — Planted the Hand-glasses with white-Cucumber-
plants.

Weeded the brick walks in the Garden.

The Cantaleupe-plants take well to their Hills, & begin
to shew runners.

8. — A strange tempestuous day, with violent thunder,
storms of hail, & gluts of rain. Very cold weather before,
& since.

10. — Observing that some of the Cantaleupes were a
little of a yellowish hue, I examined the hills, & found that
notwithstanding the cold black weather, & that the bed
had been made a month, yet the mould began to be a little
burnt. Upon which I gave them a good watering, & a
second earthing, which will soon bring them right. The
fibres were run thro' the hills ; & most of them shew good
runners.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 339

One imperfect male-blossom of the Succades is blown-
out.

ii. — Added a pint more of brandy, in all five pints, to
the last raisin-wine, which still hisses pretty much.1

13. — Lined & earth'd-out the Succade bed, which seem'd
to be declining in it's heat.

Several male-blossoms are open.

Hot summer. The grass grows apace in the meadows.

14. — The Succades have now a fruit in bloom. The
Cantaleupes, which seem'd a little injured by too much
heat, by watering are pretty well restored to a good Colour.

15. — Planted about 40 late Cabbages in the new Garden.

Prick'd about 200 fine Savoy-plants from Mr- Etty's in
the Garden near the tub.

25. — The Succades blow pretty well ; but no fruit is
set yet.

One Cantaleupe has a male bloom, & a weak fruit
blown : the rest are in good healthy order.

One of the Newington-Nectarines has three fruit that
seem likely to stand.

The vines on the House shew well for fruit : the Mus-
cadine-vine (which was planted a cutting April was three
years) promises to have 31 bunches of Grapes.

Continual cold N : E : Winds.

26. — Observing that the Succades were backward in
setting, & went-off soon after blowing ; I examined into
the mould that lay on the lining, & found that it was so
over-heated by a thick coat of mowed Grass as to be
scalding hot, and quite unfit for vegetation. Took-off the
grass, & trod-down the earth close to the bed, where it was
sunk away, watered it very stoutly, & fill'd it up to the
frames with good fresh earth.

1 This raisin-wine was much in vogue in Selborne and the neighbourhood
within my memory. The farmers and their friends would meet occasionally
at each other's houses in the winter for a game of cards about six o'clock, and
play till supper-time, raisin-wine being then taken. After supper the custom
was to sit round the fire with a glass of gin-toddy, when each one sung a song
or recited in turn. — [H. M.]

340 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

27. — Planted six rows of dwarf white french-beans in
the new garden. The first crop are come-up pretty well.

27. — Earthed the Cantaleupes quite out, & raised the
frames.

Cold, black, dry weather : no rain for a fortnight.

28.— Prick'd-out the first Celeri.

Added about half a pint more of brandy, in all five pints
& an half, to the last made-wine, which hisses still pretty
much.

Cold, bright weather.

June 4. — The weather has been dry, except one trifling
shower, for these three weeks to day.

No Succades set yet.

The Cantaleupes thrive, & show fruit.

Water'd the Succades well at their stems.

Sunny, dry weather : rain is much wanted.

5. — The Succades now begin to set. The Cantaleupes
have some fruit that promise for setting. The Succades
this very dry Season wanted more water at their hills.

The fields & gardens begin to suffer by the long dry
season.

Cold, dry weather with a high Barometer.

June 6. — Tack'd-up the vine-shoots.

ii. — It is exactly a month to day since there has been
any rain except a trifling shower or two that did not half
lay ye dust. The fields & Gardens begin to suffer ; & there
is but a poor prospect of a Crop of hay ; & most people's
old stock is quite spent. There have been great showers
about for this week past ; but we have had none of them
yet.

The Succades have now many brace set ; & there are a
brace or two of Cantaleupes secure.

The Succades have lost a fortnight for want of more
water this severe dry season. Widen'd-out the Cantal :
Bed before & behind, & laid-on a good depth of earth.

Heavy showers now about.

13. — Only a few showers that did not lay the dust.

14. — Hot burning weather again.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 341

14. — Potted two curious Pyram : Camp : one has 23
stalks, the other 17. They were so large that no garden-
pot would hold them ; so were planted in large butter-pots
with Holes bored in the bottom.

Several large roots were broken-off in the removal ; but
possibly that loss may not affect the blowing.

15. — Vast rain at Alton ; but only a small sprinkling
here.

The Cantaleupes set apace.

1 6. — Small showers that refresh the fields & Gardens a
little.

The Cantaleupes set all their first fruit, & promise for a
good Crop.

Some of the Succades are pretty well grown ; but they
are all on second & third wood.

Planted-out the annuals, which are backward & weak.

Sowed Endive, & Coss-lettuce.

The vines are beginning to blow.

Today compleats the fifth week since there was any rain
here except a few small showers lately, which never laid
the dust. The grass-walks look rusty. There have been
fine rains round the Country.

20. — Raised & earthed the melon-frames for the last
time : the boxes are now even with the tops of the hills,
& the beds are earth'd-down with a great depth of mould.

The Cantaleupes continue to set well ; & the single Hill
of Succades : hardly any of the first fruit has been lost.
But they have had a deal of water this burning season.
Prick'd-out some of Gordon's Celeriac, & some Common
Celeri in the shady end of the melon-border.

Planted the bank in the new-garden, & part of the back
of the melon-screen with annuals.

China-asters run very scanty this Year.

Some of the Succades seem to be full grown.

Trod-down the mould on the melon-bed, & spread
some loose earth over it.

June 25. — This is now the sixth week of the dry weather.
A small shower this evening that has not laid the dust.

342 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Watered the Cantaleupes well, round the frames, & laid
some short hay over the mould to keep it moist.

The Cabbages begin to look blue.

27. — Gather'd first marrow-fat pease.

The Corn begins to suffer by the long dry weather.

I Continue to water the melon-beds often.

The Grass-walks look exceeding rusty.

28. — Cut the grass in the meadow, & slip.

29. — Just as all the grass was spread-about came a great
rain all day from the east : the only rain to do any good
for six weeks, & three days.

30. — Vast showers with Thunder & hail.

Planted a plot of very forward Savoys ; & a plot of
later-sown ones.

The thunder-shower damaged the zigzag a good deal.
The rain has thoro'ly soak'd the ground down to the
roots.

July 4. — Tyled the Succades that are but a middling
Crop. There is a second Crop coming on.

Took-off the frames from the early cucumbers, which
bear still vastly.

Half the hay is housed on waggons in barns : the rest
is in Cock.

Soft, showery, growing weather.

The Cantaleupes come-on unequally ; some scarce swell
at all, & some are full-grown.

5. — Rick'd the hay in very moderate order : the load
that stood in Kelsey's barn was strangely damp, & heated ;
& was spread & dry'd over again.

6. — Finish'd stopping-down, & tacking ye vines : they
are in full bloom.

Planted a good plot of leeks in Turner's.

Showery, growing weather.

8. — Put a quarter of a pound of hops to the strong-
brewed in Feb : which promises to be good.

9. — Showery weather still.

Putty'd the melon frames to keep-out the wet : housed
the cucumber-frames. The plants that were in full bearing

A GARDEN KALENDAR 343

are much check'd by being exposed at once to the open
air : but their fruit is not much wanted, now the hand-
glass-hills are in full bearing.

14. — Trenched-out four rows of stocky Celeri in one of
the lower quarters of the new garden.

Showery weather.

13.— Mr Tho : Mulso, & Lady, & Mr- Edw : Mulso &
Miss Harriot Baker came to visit me.

19. — Finished planting-out 6 trenches of Celeri, & a
second plot of Endive.

Cut the first Succade.

Very wet weather.

26. — Succades come very fast. Cut some tollerable
Cauliflowers. Succades weigh 24 ounces, & are very dry.
Continual showers, & a quantity of hay damaged.

Planted two rows of Gordon's Celeliac.

27. — Divided-out, & planted round the new garden Mre-
Snooke's fine double Pheasant-ey'd-pinks.

28. — Drank tea 20 of us at the Hermitage : the Miss
Batties, & the Mulso family contributed much to our
pleasure by their singing, & being dress'd as shepherds,
& shepherdesses. It was a most elegant evening ; & all
parties appear'd highly satisfyed. The Hermit appeared to
great advantage.

July 29. — A vast rain. The hay lies about in a miserable
way.

30. — Cut the first Cantaleupe, which, considering the
wet season, proved a good one.

Aug : i. — Wet weather still.

2. — Took-up my Hyacinths under the fruit-wall : they
have many offsets, & seem not to be damaged with the wet
season.

3. — Terrible rain, & my neighbour's hay in a de-
plorable way. The rainy season has lasted just five weeks
today.

Cut a fine-looking Cantaleupe, & sent it by the Ladies
(who left Selborne this day) to Dr- Battie.

Cut several Succades : they want sun & dry weather.

344 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

4. — Vast rains still. The wet has lasted five weeks
yesterday.

5. — Eat an extraordinary fine Cantaleupe notwithstand-
ing the rains.

9 : 10. — Two fine days : during which my Neighbours
got-in their Hay rather better than was expected.

ii. — Sowed a crop of spinage. Dry weather for three
days ; but distant thunder.

Aug : 15. — Sowed a plot of turneps.

Dry weather for some days.

1 6. — Showers again. Cut some fine Cantaleupes.

People are just entering on wheat-harvest.

22 : 23. — Showery weather, & very little wheat housed :
it begins to grow under the hedges.

Finished cutting my Cantaleupes, & Succades.

The grapes are very backward & small, having seen
nothing but black showery weather for these eight weeks.

25. — Mr- Mulso's family left me.

26. — Now a long rain after two fine days. The wheat
grows pretty much.

Septemr- 4. — Now frequent showers after some fine days.
There is a good deal of wheat still abroad.

7. — Now wet weather after some fine days. Much
wheat abroad still.

10. — Tyed up endive. Showery, bad weather.

13. — Many days black wet weather.

The Grapes begin to change Colour.

Planted a row of stocks on the fruit-wall border, & under
the dining-room window.

18. — Black wet weather.

The rainy season continued 12 weeks; since which
there has been some delicate weather in the latter end of
Septemr & Octobr- that has made the grapes better than
could be expected.

Ocr- 18. — Planted an hundred of Cabbages to stand the
winter.

24. — Dug up the potatoes which are large & fine.
Trimm'd & tack'd the fruit-wall trees : the wet summer

A GARDEN KALENDAR 345

had forced most of them into too much large willow-
like wood, which will not blow so well next year as
smaller.

The vines against the wall have got well-ripen'd shoots,
& promise for plenty of fruit next year.

The garden abounds with good Celeri, & spinage, & a
very fine sort of Savoys. Tolerable grapes in plenty. Hares
or some vermin have gnawed almost all the fine Pheasant-
eyed pinks, & the new-planted cabbages.1

30. — Now rain, & stormy wind after just three weeks
soft, still, dry, summer like weather.

Nov : 4 : 9. — Vast rains, & floods.

Very fine grapes still : there have been no frosts to any
degree.

1 6. — Serene, beautiful weather for several days, with
the Mercury within half a degree of settled fair. Planted
my Hyacinths in two rows all along the border opposite
the fruit-border : dug-in first some well-rotted dung. Put
the blue and best pink-eyed intermixed in front. Planted
my Tulips, Narcissuss, & Jonquils in the border opposite
the bank. Dug & cleared the banks, & dining-room-
shubbery this fine season.

18 : 19 : 20. — Most severe frost indeed with thick bear-
ing Ice, & a very cutting wind : a small snow. There has
been a very mild season 'till now.

Decenf- 19. — Planted some Hepticas, fritillarias, & winter
aconites from Ringmer, & some fine Persian Jasmines, &
cob-nuts. Vast rains & floods of late.

21. — Brewed half Hogsh : of strong beer with 6 bush :
of coal-dry'd malt, & 2 pds- & an half of hops ; the water all
from the well.

Continual wet weather.

1 I have known Hares to do this. — [H. M.]

2 X

346 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

DUNG BORROWED IN 1763.

Kelsey p^ Car. Dung pd- . . . i load.

Brought-in of my own i load.

Jan : 17. — Kelsey pd- Car. Dung pd* . 5 loads.

my own 3 loads.

Parsons Dung pd- . . 2 loads.

Jan: 18. — Pd- Kelsey his last five loads of dung by

allowing him to take three loads from the dung-hill in
the orchard.

March 5. — Kelsey Car. pd- Dung pd- . 5 loads.

my own 2 loads.

Parsons Dung pd- . . 3 loads.

Apr: 8. — Kelsey Car. pd- Dung pd- . 10 loads.

my own 2 loads.

Parsons Dung pd- 5 loads.

Garden Kalendar for the Year 1764

This year begins as the former concluded with continual
heavy rains, & vast floods. There has indeed been little else
but wet weather (a few short intervals excepted) ever since
the 29th of June.

Jan : 5. — Made a seedling Cucumber-bed with dung that
had been very much wash'd.

9. — Finding the bed come to a pretty good heat I sowed
about 20 seeds.

13. — A most violent storm all night, that must have in
all appearance done great damage : vast rains at the same
time.

The Cucumbers are come-up and look well.

The wind blew-down the hot-bed screen.

23. — The second sowing of Cucumbers are come-up
very well.

28. — Very stormy weather still, with great showers.

The Crocuss begin to blow.

31. — Vast rains, & storms of wind. Prodigious inun-
dations all over England, Holland, & Germany. Lined the
Cucumber-bed with many barrows of hot dung.

Feb : 7. — Brewed 45 Gallons of strong-beer with eight

347

348 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

bushels of malt dryed with Welch-coal ; & three pounds &
three quarters of good hops.

The strong-beer was closely covered down with sacks,
while infusing in the mash-vat : & the yeast was beat into
the beer several times, 'till it was put into the barrel. Made
with the same malt Half an hogsh : of ale, & an Hogsh : of
small. The strong-beer was made entirely with rain-water.
Tunn'd the strong beer the third day.1

10. — Made a bearing Cucumber-bed with between eight
& nine loads of good hot dung for two two-light frames.

Vast rains, & high winds still.

Sowed the great mead all over with about 30 bushels of
my own ashes; & the little mead with 12 bushels bought
of Mr- Etty.

13. — Bottled-out half an Hogsh : of Mre- Atherley's port-
wine. It had not, I think, quite so good a smell & flavour
as usuall ; & seem'd always to shew a disposition to mantle
in the glass.

Feb : 17. — Put the Hills of earth on the Cucumr- Bed :
the earth by means of the long wet season was not in
curious order.

18. — Planted the Cucumber-plants on their Hills. The
plants are grown to two Joints, & are stopped down. The
bed seems to be in good order.

20. — It has been now pretty dry ever since the fifteenth
day. There have not been so many dry days for some
months. The weather glass is very high, & the wind N : E.

21. — Sowed ten Succade-seeds in the Cucr- bed.

A very white-frost & bright sunshine.

The snails after so mild a winter are very numerous, &
get into the bed & eat the plants.

26. — This is now the eleventh day of the dry weather :
the roads are finely dry'd. A strong North E : wind, & a
sinking Glass.

1 Those of us who brew our own beer in these days use about I Ib. of hops to
a bushel of malt. In olden times the bitter flavour of beer was not appreciated
as it is now, and their strong beer used to be very sour and intoxicating. The old
farmers of fifty years ago used to be very proud of their strong beer. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 349

27. — A considerable snow on the ground. A severe
frost this evening. The snails continue to annoy the
Cucr- bed ; & have destroy'd all the plants in one hill,
& damaged several others.

Feb : 29. — Very hard frost, & snow on the ground.

The hot-bed goes-on but poorly : the plants don't grow,
the snails damage them every night, & the succades don't
come-up.

March I. — Gave the hot-bed a good lining of hot dung.
In general the plants don't grow but one begins to shew a
runner. Blowing black weather, & snow on the ground.

5. — The frost has been so bad for a day or two past
that the plants in the bed seemed in a very poor way, & the
bed almost cold : but now the lining begins to take effect,
& there is some warm sunshine that will set ym- to growing
again. The snails continue to gnaw the plants tho' we
kill numbers.

Sowed 12 Succade-seeds. A mouse devoured the first :
indeed the bed would not bring them up. The frost has
been now a week last Saturday. The rose-trees, Crocuss,
Hyacinths, & polyanths are much pinch'd by the severe
weather.

10. — Very severe, black, cutting weather for a fortnight
past, with several pretty large falls of snow, that do not lie
long at a time. The hot bed succeeds very poorly.

March 12. — Sowed five rows of marrowfat pease, the
first crop ; & some radishes & Coss-lettuce under the fruit-
wall : the border is very mellow.

Planted a row of laurels against Parsons's behind the
filbert hedge. There has been now no rain for these three
weeks : the landsprings are much abated.

15. — Gave the hot-bed a strong lining.

Planted six rows of broad beans.

Planted a row of Laurustines before the laurels against
the street.

16. — Sunny, summer-like weather, & the ground in good
dry order. The Hot-bed comes into good Condition again,
& the Cucr- plants throw out runners.

350 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Mossed the bed round the hills. The second sowing of
Succades come-up well at last : there are only four plants
of the first sowing.

Dress'd the border next Parsons's, & new-planted the
perennials ; & planted a row of sweet Williams in the front.
Dress'd the Rasp bed.

The Crocuss, that seem'd to be so much coddled with
frost, now make a great shew again.

March 17. — Planted half hund : of Cabbadge plants ;
the second planting.

18. — Very bright sunny weather with a vast white frost
after several grey days. During this late dry weather the
Garden has been cleaned & put in pretty neat order.

19. — Now rain after a fit of dry weather that would have
lasted five weeks, had it held out 'till tomorrow. The long
fit of wet that occasioned such floods & devastations all
Europe over, lasted, with very few Intervals of dry between
from June 29 : 1763 : to Feb : 15 : 1764.

One of the Cucr- plants has got a male-bloom full
blown. The Cucumrs- now thrive, & the melon-plants
come-up well. Potted all the first-sown Succades, which
were a little drawn, in three pots. The last-sown come-up
very well. Soft, showery weather.

20. — Made the Succade-bed (the dung brought-in the
same day) with eight loads of dung : it proves full stout
enough, but is made rather too narrow, & longer than
needs be. Blowing March-weather. Mowed part of the
grass-plot for the first time : there was a great swarth of
grass, that made a good lining for the Cucr- bed, which now
works well : Several plants have male-bloom.

March 22. — Planted five rows of potatoes in a mellow
rich part of the garden with pieces from very large sound
roots that had been very well-preserved. The ground had
been well dunged, but no thatch was used.

Sowed a deep, well-dug plot with a Crop of Carrots,
Coss lettuce, & parsneps together.

Planted a row of pine, & Nova Scotia strawberry-
plants : the bed is run to ruin & must be destroy'd.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 351

Raked-down the Asparagus-beds.

Planted some basons in the field with Sweet-Williams.
The garden is now mowed all round.

Blowing cold weather with some showers in the evening.

The Cucr- bed heats well ; & the plants keep throwing-
out male-bloom.

Made a hill with one good barrow of dung for an hand
glass, & sowed it with Celeri-seed.

24. — Earth'd the Cucumber-bed : the plants extend their
fibres very fast.

Sowed four pots with fraxinella-seeds.

March 28. — Sowed a Crop of Onions, & a plot of leeks.
Planted Horse chestnuts in the nursery.

29. — Earth'd the Succade-bed : & sowed some white
Cucumbers.

April 3rd- — Lined the Cucumber bed again.

5. — Planted-out the Succades. Two Cucumbers in
bloom. Sowed sixteen Cantaleupe seeds, & 6 succade
seeds.

7. — Planted the second Crop of pease.

13. — Potted the Cantaleupes : they are fine plants.

The Succades come-up poorly. The Succades in the
hills are fine stocky plants, & full of runners. There are
two Cucumbers of some size ; & more setting.

16. — Sowed about 18 basons in the best garden with
larkspurs, one ounce of seed.

17. — Rain & snow.

19. — Sudden transitions from hard rains to fierce frost,
& ice.

21. — Cut a brace of Cucumbers, large fruit, the first this
season.

Made the Cantaleupe-bed for six lights with sixteen
loads of dung.

Many Cucumbers are now set, & coming on.

All the wall-trees had each a little bloom.

Planted about three doz : of wall-flower cuttings.

27. — Made the annual bed, & sowed it with African,
& French-marrigolds, marvel of Peru, Iroquois-Gourds,

352 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Pendulous Amaranths. Sowed Dwarf-sunflowers in the
cold ground.

Sowed a crop of Savoys : & a little plot of burnet.

30. — Earthed the Cantaleupe-bed, & made the hills for
the plants.

May 2. — Sowed four rows of white-dwarf-french-beans.

Planted-out the Cantaleupes in the Hills.

May 5. — On my return from Ox5n I found the Succades
in great vigour, with third wood of some length, that shewed
the rudiments of bloom.

The Succades take well to their Hills, & look very green.
The Cucumbers are full of fruit.

Many of the blue, & white Hyacinths are very beautiful
indeed.

Bright summer-like weather ; & all things in a very
growing Condition.

May 7. — Earth'd-out the Succades.

Disbudded the wall-fruit trees, that were grown very
rude. In all appearance they will have no fruit this Year.

Open'd, & painted the Alcove.

Cut the Laurustine-hedge in the Yard down to the
Ground.

12. — One Succade-fruit is blown before any male-bloom.

15. — Great showers for several days with a S : W : Wind
that damages the flowers & trees.

The Ground is well soak'd. The grass grows very fast,
& the spring-corn comes-up well.

Many of the double-stocks are very beautiful.

The Cantaleupes throw-out good runners.

17. — Hot weather : things grow very fast after such fine
showers.

Planted out 4 Iroquois-Gourds against the fruit-wall.
The Cucumbers bear well.

Finished weeding the brick-walks.

The Succades are full of male-bloom, & begin to shew
pretty good-looking fruit.

21. — Lined the Succade-bed with two loads of hot dung,
one before, & one behind. The plants now throw-out

A GARDEN KALENDAR 353

plenty of promising fruit ; some of it is in bloom. Tacked
the vine-shoots against the wall for the first time. The vines
round the House shew for fruit ; but not in such Quantities
as for some years past.

May 26. — The weather for some days very sultry : to
day was thunder & rain ; & in some places very heavy
showers ; but not at Selborne.

June 2. — On my return from Fifield I found an abun-
dance of Succades set ; & some as large as Goose-eggs.
The Cantaleupes (tho' the Haulm has not half-filled the
boxes) are setting very fast. The very hot weather has
drawn the stalks of the fruit pretty long.

4. — Earth' d-out the Cantaleupes & Succades to the full ;
& brought the mould in front quite down to the Ground :
raised all the melon frames quite above the mould.

Planted 100 of Savoy-plants from Ludgershal in a
nursery-bed : but was forced to water the ground very
much before it would plant. The ground by means of the
wet winter & late drying winds is as hard as a stone ; so
that there is no sowing or planting any quantity 'till rains
come. On account of the hardness of the Ground the
Lent-corn begins to want rain very much. The fine double
stocks are still in full bloom.

Very cold, black, drying weather for these ten days
past.

June 6. — Sowed a Crop of Endive : watered the Ground
to make it rake.

7. — Prick' d-out a plot of Celeri.

8 : 9. — Now fine rains, after the Ground had been bound-
up like so much stone for some time.

Thinn'd-out, & tack'd the peaches & nectarines in a
very regular manner ; so that the shoots will have the
benefit of the sun & air to ripen them. There was not one
fruit to be found.

The trees are kept open in the middle, but make a very
regular appearance on the sides.

12. — Sowed second crop, a pint of white dwarf-french-
beans in five rows. The ground is still very hard, & dry ;

2 Y

354 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

the late rains were not plentiful enough to make it work
well. The first sowing of french beans are tolerable.

Some few of the Burnet-plants have escaped the fly, &
are got pretty large.

June 13. — Very hot summer weather.

15. — The vine against the fruit-wall from M1"5- Snooke's
black sort is now in bloom before any of my black Grapes
against the House ; which confirms me in my suspicions
that her sort was earlier than mine.

Turn'd out the white Cucumbers from under the Hand-
glasses : they are full of fruit.

Hot weather ; & the garden requires a deal of water.
Finish'd tacking the vines.

1 8. — Mowed the greatest part of the great mead : but
was deterr'd from finishing the whole by a vast tempest of
thunder & lightening that lay along to the N.W.N. &
E. all the afternoon. It thundered loudly for hours
together ; but not one drop fell with us. The heat, being
reflected from white thunder-clouds, was unusually severe.
The weather-cock stood all day plumb S., but the storm
came up from the N.W. There is a very fine crop of
Grass in the meadow. This day has burnt & scalded things
in the Garden in a strange manner. Gave the Cantaleupes
a good watering within the frames : but gave no water to
the Succades, as many brace of them, at least ten, are full
grown, & near ripening.

June 19. — The thunder-storm, which threat'ned so hard,
sunk quite away in the night. A fine sunny day with a
brisk wind at E.

20. — The same weather ; & the hay makes at a vast rate.
Carry'd four Jobbs to the rick.

21. — A Continuance of hot sunshine with brisk air.
Carry'd four more Jobbs, all my hay in most curious order
without one drop of rain.

This is now the ninth day of hot sunshine : so that the
ground is greatly burnt ; & the grass walks look very
rusty. Nothing can be done in the Garden, which is like
an heap of stones. Laid pease-haulm, & straw round

A GARDEN KALENDAR 355

the outsides of the melon-beds to keep out the fierce
heat. Water'd the Cantaleupes well round the extremities
on the straw. They have several fruit about half grown ;
& several that never moved at all after setting : they now
begin to throw-out fresh shoots, & fair fruit. The succades
have had no water all this fierce sunny weather. The
Cucumber-frames are beat-out of bearing by the Heat.

The hand-glass Cucumbers are shaded all day, & yet
are injured by the intense sunshine.

There has been no weather to plant-out annuals : they
are damaged by the hot season.

The selfsown Larkspurs all turn out single : the basons
of double seed never came-up.

22. — Thunder in the morning ; & a little shattering of
rain, being the skirts of the storm : clear burning weather
the rest of the day.

23 : 24. — Little soft showers : but heavy rains at Faring-
don, & all round us. Such gluts of rain near Odiham as
did great damage to the Corn & hay. Vast damage in
London, & round Reading.

25. — The grapes of Mrs- Snooke's black-Cluster fairly
set. The black Hambro', Sweet-water, & Muscadine but
Just coming into bloom. My own black-Cluster on the
House but just blowing. Prick'd-out more Celeri : the
ground is very little moistened. Stopped-down the vines
against the wall. Began planting-out the annuals : & tyled
the Succades ; which are a fine plentiful Crop.

26. — Finished planting-out the annuals ; & sowed a
Crop of turneps mixed with Coss-lettuce. Frequent soft
showers : but the Ground yet but little moistened.

June 28. — A good lasting rain that moisten'd things well
down to the roots.

Rak'd-down the rough ground, & planted-out a large
plot of Endives, & a plot of savoys ; & a plot of leeks.

Potted-out two Pyramidal Campanulas, one with 14
stalks, & one with two.

The Martagons make a vast figure.

Cut the first white Cucumbers.

356 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Sowed a row of curled-parsley.

The Grapes of M1*- Snooke's sort quite large : some of
my own just set: the other sorts just coming into bloom.

29. — Several showers. Planted more Savoys.

30. — Planted half hundred of common cabbages.

Cut the laurel-hedge against the necessary very neatly
with a knife.

July 2. — Hot, burning weather for two days.

Cut the first Succade ; but a small fruit.

Housed my Cucumber-frames, & Glasses.

3. — Cut the second Succade. Very hot weather.

4. — Cut a brace more Succades. Stopped-down, &
tacked all the vines against the House : they are now in
full bloom, & smell very sweetly.

Fine soft showers. Dug up the tulip-bed ; & several
Hyacinths from an old nursery.

July 5. — Planted some stocks from Mr- Budd's in a
nursery bed. Stopped-down, & trimmed the Laurels
against Parsons's Yard, & the street.

The Cantaleupes run vastly to bine, but do not fruit
well. Some few Cantaleupes in every light are almost full-
grown, & look very black, & rough.

6. — The first stout shower, that soaked the Ground
well.

7. — Cut a Succade that was crack'd very deeply at the
eye. The Cantaleupes usually crack so ; the Succades never
before. Sunny weather.

Cut two brace more, the most choice fruit of the whole
Crop.

9. — Cut all the crop of Succades, three brace & an
half, tho' they were not crack'd at the tail, to carry them
to Fifield. Hot sunny weather.

Ordered the bed to be well-watered for a second Crop.
Saved the seeds of a very delicate Succade, that grew close
to the stem.

The Succades proved good at Fyfield.
21. — At my return from Fyfield I found the Cantaleupes
greatly over-run with haulm, but no more fruit set. There

A GARDEN KALENDAR 357

will be a slender crop ; not more than a brace to a light, &
those but small. The Grapes on the fruit-wall are large
(especially those on Mrs- Snooke's black Cluster) & much
forwarder than those on the walls of the house. The
peaches, & nectarine-trees grow too much, & run into
willow-like wood.

Showery, hot weather for a fortnight past.

22. — Cut the first Cantaleupe : it proved a very good
one, tho' under-sized.

Put some hops, & sand into the strong-beer brewed in
Decemr- to fine it down.

The Iroquois-Gourds are very peculiar in their growth :
they are short stocky plants without any runners. Some
of them have variegated leaves.

The Pyram : Camp : are drawn by standing in the
brew-house : put them in the Alcove. The white Cucum-
bers bear plentifully.

27. — Trenched three good long rows of Celeri in
Turner's Garden. The Ground is in good order.

Showery weather. Planted a plot of Savoys from
Hartley.

28. — Cut two fine Cantaleupes, that crack at the eye ;
but they are undersized.

Aug. i. — Cut a fine black Cantaleupe : it was crack'd
at the eye. Sowed a large plot of Ground with prickly
spinage, & Coss lettuce.

Showery weather with a strong wind that damages the
Garden. Cleaned the vines of their side shoots.

Aug. 2. — Planted three more rows of Celeri in Turner's
garden : the six rows make a large stock. Black, windy,
showery weather.

The black Cantaleupe proved a curious one.

Thinn'd the leeks in the seedling-bed, & left the largest
to stand as part of a Crop.

Dresh'd the bank, and borders. The Iroquois-Gourds
shew pretty large fruit ; but have no runners.

The grapes on the fruit-wall are much larger & for-
warder than those on the House. Saved a little Polyanth-

358 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

seed. Trimmed the side-wood from the shoots of the
wall-trees, & tacked them down close as they grow.

There will be a small second Crop of Succades : 2 brace
of small succades of the single hill are not yet come.

Many people have just began Harvest.

7 : 8. — Two dismal wet days : vast quantities of water
fell.

ii. — Tyed-up 25 Endives ; the first tying.

12 : 13 : 14. — Showery, bad harvest- weather.

Aug. 15. — Put a pint of brandy to the Half hogsh : of
raisin wine made Jan : I763.1 In the spring it was got fine,
& in good order : but now it is in a great ferment. I have
beat-up the bung, and left it open.

Very wet weather still.

17. — A pretty fine day with a brisk drying wind. Many
people were housing wheat all day, which went-in in better
condition that (sic) could be expected.

1 8. — Vast heavy drowning rains. The white Cucumbers
were in full bearing ; but are damaged by the rains, & long,
cold black weather.

The annuals are injured by the wet. The Grapes on the
House are small, & backward ; those on the wall are much
before them.

The first sown french beans bear vastly : the latter don't
come on.

24. — No rain since the 18 : & this is the fourth most
beautiful harvest-day that ever was seen ; during which the
farmers in these parts have quite finish'd their wheat-
harvest. Those that had the most patience will have by
much the best corn.

Planted two ofsets of a fine sort of Lychnidea, given me
by Mr. Gibson, in my flower-border ; & a sucker of a fine
purple lilac in the nursery.

Planted half a doz. of my fine bloody wallflowers on
the fruit-border : they are fine plants.

Cut a Cantaleupe-melon that is much crack'd at the eye.
Figs are large & good.

1 This made 6£ pints of brandy ! See entry of May 28, 1763.— [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 359

The grapes on Mrs. Snooke's black cluster- vine just
begin to turn : those on the house are small, & backward.

The vine Murdoch Middleton sent for Warner's black
Hambro', seems, as it approaches towards ripening, to be
some ordinary sort of white Grape.1 The barometer is very
high.

25. — Beautiful weather still ; but the Glass falls. The
Canteleupe, tho' it had but little smell, was very fine.

Put a bottle more of brandy to the raisin-wine, which
works much.2

Made & housed the second cutting of the shrubbery,
& orchard in fine order, without a drop of rain. Housed
two of the melon-frames, and put a few fruit under the
hand-glasses. Tyed-up the second Crop of Endive : they
are very large.

26. — Cut a brace of very fine-flavoured Cantaleupes,
the last of the season : they were not large. Housed the
last frame. The wasps were got to be very troublesome
at the melon-bed, knawing great holes in ye fruit. Set
bottles of treacle, & beer.

27. — Very hot, summer-like weather : the glass after sink-
ing a day or two, is now going up again. M1*- Snooke's
black Clusters change Colour apace ; & the white sorts
begin to grow transparent. The wood of the vines ripens
apace. The wood of the peaches & Nectarines ripens
well, & begins to shew it's blowing budds surrounded with
three leaves.

There are two braces of pretty good Succades under
the hand-glasses.

29. — Sowed some more Coss-lettuce : those among the
spinage, as well as the spinage, come-up but poorly. The
grapes against the yard just begin to turn. A soft rain
after ten hot, dry days.

Aug. 31. — Very hot sunny weather. Cut the first-tyed
endives, they are delicately blanched.

The barometer is now very high.

1 Again some negligence on Middleton's part ! — [R. B. S.]

2 See note on p. 358.— [R. B. S.]

360 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Septemr- i. — Got a stone-mason to fix the stone with
my name & the date of the wall in the middle of the fruit-
wall.1 When the mason came to chizzel a hole for the
stone he found the wall perfectly sound, dry, & hard.

9. — Returned the raisin-wine (which had been drawn
into a tun-tub two days) into the barrel again, & put-in one
more pint of brandy : 2 there is left behind near three Gallons
of grout.

Hot sunny weather still. The wine frets a little still.

7. — Tyed-up more endives : the third tying : the endives
are very large, & fine. Earthed-up two rows of Celeri for
the first time.

Beautiful weather still ; it has now lasted three weeks.
Harvest is finished in general ; except some vetches, &
barley that are not yet ripe. The Grapes on the fruit- wall
ripen very fast. During this sunny weather fresh Canta-
leupes, & succades set very fast since the frames have been
taken away.

Sepr- 12. — Now a great rain after three weeks, & three
days delicate weather.

1 6. — Cold, windy weather still. The annuals are much
damaged.

1 8. — Gathered the sweet- water grapes on the fruit-wall
which are ripe ; & some of Mrs- Snooke's black-cluster-
grapes, which are very eatable ; but not highly flavoured.

In the night between the 16 : & 17 : my melons &
Cucumbers were pulled all to pieces ; & the horse-block,
three hand glasses, & many other things were destroy 'd
by persons unknown.3

1 This stone still remains. — [R. B. S.]

2 This made 8£ pints of brandy 1— {R. B. S.]

3 It seems difficult to imagine that Gilbert White could become an object of
spite to any of the villagers, but he seems to have taken the outrage very calmly,
as we read no more about it. Mr. Maxwell writes to me : " This sort of thing
was of common occurrence even within my memory — say fifty years ago. Any
person or persons you might have offended would damage your property in re-
venge, or set fire to your ricks if you had any ; but after the police were estab-
lished as an institution in the village, and the officers had settled down to their
work, this kind of outrage ceased."— [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 361

22. — Fine settled weather : the Grapes are now good,
but not delicate. The wasps are not very numerous ;
but have damaged some bunches.

24. — A very white frost, & Ice in some places.

Gather'd a plate of Grapes from the wall of ye House
next the yard ; these are the first that have been perfectly
fine.

25. — A second very white frost. Beautiful sunny still
weather with a very high barometer.

The annuals are much cut-down. Took in three of
the Iroquois Gourd, which are very peculiar fruit : those
from the variegated plants are of a yellowish Cast ; those
from the green-leaved of a dark-green Colour.

The succades that were taken-in before they were ripe,
& hung to the beam over the Kitchen-fire, have ripen 'd
well ; & proved of a good Colour & flavour ; but are
somewhat moist and flabby.

Dug the border of the fruit-wall, & took-away all the
gourds, & annuals. Tyed-up more endives : they are
vastly large ; but somewhat damaged by the frost. There
have been a few good mulberries ; but they ripen too late.
Earthed-up all the rows of Celeri ; & two rows for the
second time. The Mich : Daiseys covered with butter-
flies, and other gaudy insects make a very gallant appear-
ance in the sunshine.

We have continued to catch the wasps, & hornets,
which are not very numerous, with bird-lime. The late
Cabbages, & savoys are in great perfection : the french-
beans are quite cut-down, & destroy'd. The potatoes are
good, but not very large.

Sep. 30. — A very sharp March-like wind from the N.
many days with frosts and Ice. The ground is very dry ;
& the Clays have a fine season for wheat.

Sep. 30. — Wind & rain, & a low glass.

Octbr- i. — Now a brisk wind, & sunshine.

Planted-out several double-bloody-wall-flowers under
the fruit- wall, & melon-screen.

Planted several ofsets from the potted Campanulas.

2 z

362 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Sent a basket of Grapes, & Cadillac pears to Lady
Stuart.

6. — Gather'd in a moderate quantity of all the keeping
apples : they are well-coloured, but small, being vastly
thick on the trees.

The Grapes are now delicate, both white & red.
Fine, serene, summer-like weather : except now and
then a small shower : the dry season has lasted seven
weeks to-day.

7. — Beautiful clear weather.

20. — Fine soft weather intermixed with some gentle
showers. This delicate weather makes most curious
Grapes. The farmers put their wheat into the ground in
fine order.

23. — Dry sunny weather with an high barometer.
Earth'd-up the Celeri for the last time : made use of
some, which was well-blanched, & well-grown.

Ocf- 24. — Bright, cold weather. Grapes in the greatest
perfection.

26. — Planted 100 of Cabbages to stand the winter.
Planted my Coss-lettuces, some very large, some very
small, against the fruit-wall to stand the winter. The
farmers carried out their dung from the melon-bed in a
fine dry season. The weather very dry & cold. Gather'd
6 medlars, the first fruit that ever the tree produced.

28. — Very bright, cold, sharp weather with consider-
able Ice. Gather'd in a considerable part of the grapes,
which are very curious. The dry fit has lasted ten weeks
to day.

Noif- i. — Planted out some stocks from Mr. Budds & a
few from Ringmer. Dry still weather ; but thick Ice in
the morning. The ground is dry like summer. The
ponds, & wells are exceeding low : many wells are quite
dry.

Novr- 5 : 6. — Put the tulips, taken-up in Summer, into
the ground ; & made a nursery of the best offsets. Dug
up the Polyanth-Narcissus, & Daffodils, that had stood two
years, & transplanted them : they were greatly encreased.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 363

M1"5- Snooke's tulips are planted in the border where the
two Cherry-trees stand. My own filled out the Border
towards the alcove, & made a bed near the tub for water.
Planted a row of Jonquils on the fruit-border near the
Haha.

The rain that has fallen yet is very trifling, only just
enough to make the ground slippery. To-day, the 6, a
stormy wind, & sinking glass.

6. — Now a very heavy rain with a violent stormy
wind.

7. — Gather'd in a large basket of Grapes, the last of the
season : they are in fine order.

8. — A very great rain : so that the dry season might
be said to last just eleven weeks from the 19 of
August.

8. — Bottled half an hogsh : of elder-raisin wine, made
in Feb : 1763 : it took a second fermentation last spring ;
but is now very good except a little snatch of the brandy l
which I put in to stop the working.

Naif- 6:8: 10. — A great deal of rain.

14. — Trimm'd & tack'd all the trees against the fruit-wall.
The peaches, & nectarines all promise to produce bloom :
some have made shoots too gross & willow-like. Dug
and laid down the border in curious order. Tack'd the
vines some perpendicularly, some horizontaly. A smart
frost in the morning.

Novr- 22. — Eat my last Grapes.

23. — Planted a Golden-pippin, & a Queen-Claud-plum,
both standards, in the orchard : & a Portugal-laurel in the
shrubbery. The golden-pippins planted in the orchard
two or three years ago are both much annoy'd with the
Canker, tho' they were planted on Hillocks to avoid the
wet.

1 See note on p. 358.— [R. B. S.]

364 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

DUNG BORROWED IN 1764.

Feb. 8. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- Car : pd- .5 loads.

Of Parsons Dung pd- Car : pd- 2 D°-
March i. — Of Kelsey (no Car : to pay for this) i load.
19. — Of Kelsey Dung p4 Car : pd- .5 loads.
20. — Of Parsons Dung pd- Car : pd- .3 loads.
Apr. ii. — Of Parsons Dung pd- Car : pd- . 3 loads.
Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd- . 4 loads.

Car : out two of my own car pd-
Of Berriman Dung pd- waggon-loads 2 car. pd-

19. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd' . 3 loads.
May 21. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd- . i load,

car : of my own one. car pd-

- I i

I

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1765

Jan. 4. — Made half an Hogsh : of raisin-wine with one
Hund : of Malagas, & half an hund : of Smyrnas : one of
the half hund : of Malagas was very indifferent, the rest
were fine.

Put to the raisins eleven buckets of water containing
three Gallons each. The Smyrnas cost 325 : pr- Hund :
the Malagas 303.

From the eve of last Xmass-day to the eve of New-year's
day was a very dry, severe frost : it went-off with a very
mild thaw.

5. — Received a ten gallon barrel of mountain-wine from
my Bro : Thomas.

12. — Great rains, & strong winds for several Days.

8. — Made an hot -bed for the one -light Cucumber
seedling frame.

14. — The Cucumrs- come-up very well ; but the bed is
full hot. Moist, foggy weather.

Jan. 19. — Tunn'd the half Hogsh : of wine : it ran the
barrel full, all save about one Gallon that was squeezed.
Put to it 14 bottles of elder-syrop for colouring. Put-up
on the raisins four buckets of water to make vinegar, &
raisin-wine. Put one pint of brandy to the wine.

22. — Wet mild weather since new year's day.

The snow-drops are in bloom ; & the Crocuss swelling.

24. — Press'd-out the second run of raisin-wine, four
buckets of water having been put-up after the first wine was
drawn-off. Fill'd the vinegar barrel about three parts full :

& there remained about 8 gallons for present drinking.

365

366 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

30. — A high barometer, & N : E : wind, with some dry
days : but frequent fogs, & some sunshine.

The first-sown Cucum"- have now a rough leaf. There
is now a good Quantity in the earth-house of mould for the
bearing-cucumr- bed, consisting of some old melon-mould,
some from the bottom of the faggot-stack, & some earth
cast-up by the moles on the Common ; all well turned &
blended together. The Hepticas are well-blown : & some
Crocuss are blown-out.

31. — Sowed my own ashes, which were sufficient for
what used to be called the great mead. Bought ten bushels
of Mr- Etty, which sowed the slip.

Feb. i. — Sowed a box with Polyanth-seed from Bp's
Waltham said to be good. Dry but dark weather.

4. — Carry'd into the melon-ground 8 loads of hot dung
for the bearing Cucumr- bed.

A very severe frost all day with a great rime. The
ground was so very hard that the carting all day made not
the least Impression. There has been some frost for
several days.

Empty'd the dung hole.

7. — Very hard frost still, with great white dews. Things
begin to freeze within. The sun shines hot & strong all
day. The glass fell much some days agone ; but rises
again. It is most probable snow fell farther north:
here was a little scattering one morning. The sun now,
just before setting, shines plumb into the Dining-room-
Chimney.

9. — A very swift thaw.

10. — Rain all day : this second frost lasted just a week.

Feb. 12. — Made the bearing Cucumr- bed for two two-
light frames of ye 8 loads of dung.

The dung has never shewed any great Heat. The bed
is of a good thickness, & is well made.

The Cucumre- have one broad rough leaf ; & shew a
second.

13. — Sent-down a large portmanteau full of all sorts
of perennials to my Brother Harry at Fifield. Gave the

A GARDEN KALENDAR 367

flower-bank a large dressing of rotten dung. Dug-up the
bank at the end of the barn, to prepare it for planting.

1 6. — Hard black frosts for many mornings. Today
frequent flights of snow. The Cucumrs- have a joint, &
two rough leaves. The bearing-bed begins to heat well.

17. — A very severe frost with a scattering of snow.

There has never yet been snow enough at one time to
cover the Ground.

18. — A very severe frost. Laid the Hills of earth on the
Cucumr- bed. The bed seems in fine temper.

It froze hard all day in the shade. Stopped down the
Cucumr- plants.

19. — A very severe frost ; & the ground as hard as Iron ;
strong sunshine, & a freezing air all day.

Turned-out the Cucumrs- into their Hills : they were well
rooted in their pots.

20. — A most severe frost, which came in a doors, & froze
under my bed. Strong clear sunshine.

The ice that was broken Yesterday, could not be broke
to day without great violence. It is difficult to cover the
Hot-beds enough.

Cut-down two beechen-stocks at Lawn-acre for boards,
& planks. They yielded 593 feet of sawn stuff ; out of
which there were three planks for a manger; the rest
were all boards. The stock out of which the planks were
cut proved faulty : so that they were not so good as could
be wished.

Plunged the planks Yesterday in James Knight's pond.1

Hung an Ham of my own making in a paper-bag in the
Chimney.

Destroyed 24 bullfinches, which lay very hard on the
Cherry-trees, & plum-trees, & had done a great deal of
Mischief.

21. — Hard frost & bright sunshine ; but nothing near so
severe as it was. The wind from full E : is turned full W :

Feb. 22. — Sowed about a doz : Succade seeds.

A thaw with a very sharp wind at S : E : the ground is

1 See note to p. 261.

368 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

still very hard under the surface, & the Ice very thick on
the waters.

23. — The mercury, which was very low yesterday, now
rises again very fast; & the frost seems likely to go off
without any fall at all. The ground would dig well, if the
frost was out.

26. — The Succades are come-up extraordinarily well
every seed. The frost went-off on the 24* with some rain.
The Cucum1"5- seem to be settled in their hills, & begin to
shew runners.

27. — Potted the succades in four pots. A good deal of
rain & wet melting snow.

28. — A great snow with a fierce driving wind from the
West, which forced it into every cranny & opening ; so
that the peat & mould in the houses were covered. It lies
in very unequal depths on the Ground, being drifted by the
strong wind : but would have been about ten inches in
general had the air been still.

The ever-greens were so loaded that they were weigh'd-
down to the Ground. The wind was so strong, & the
snow so searching, that the Hotbeds were not uncovered
above two Hours all day.

The sun broke out in the evening : but ye Horizon looked
very threatening, being of a very livid Colour, & promising
more fall. The Mercury fell very low indeed in the night ;
& was quite concave at the top when I went to bed.

March Ist- — A pretty smart frost in the night ; but a
swift thaw all day with some rain. The snow lies very
thick still ; so deep that I could not get-out on Horse-back
at the Northfield-lane end. The Glass very low still. The
Cucum15- look well, & the bed is not injured by the bad
weather. Sowed twelve more Succade-seeds : those in the
pots look well.

2. A frost in the morning, & strong sunshine all day.
The snow is still very deep, & melts only by the Heat of
the sun. Newton-lane has been quite stopp'd-up, & im-
passable. The Glass keeps rising but is still very low.
The lane towards Rood is not passable.

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 Cucumr- 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 Richd- Knight's malt, & two pounds & three quarters of
good Hops of the second year. When Hops were new
2 pds- & | 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 Mr- 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

370 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

loud Claps of thunder. The farmers are much behind in
their season.

18. — Vast rains ; & nothing done in the Garden.

The Cucum15- have got male-bloom.

Sowed 12 more Succade seeds: those sowed last die
in the pots : the first sowing thrives, & has a rough leaf.
Turn'd the Succade-dung in the Yard : it was very hot.

19. — Farmer Parsons brought 60 bush : of tan from
Alton for the Cantaleupe-bed. Vast hail storms with some
thunder.

21 : 22. — Continual heavy showers. The floods are
much out. Cucum*5- thrive.

March 23. — The Cucumrs- are full of male-bloom. No
fruit shows yet.

24 : 25. — Vast showers. Gave the Cucumr- bed a lining
in front for the first time. Moss'd the bed.

The Apricot-tree has two blossoms blown-out; which
seem to be the only promising ones it is likely to
have.

Some Peach-blossoms are just ready to open.

26. — Made the succade-bed with the 8 loads of Dung
which has been brought-in ever since the eighth of this
month, & turn'd-once. As it seem'd to make but a shallow,
weak bed, I laid about twenty bushels of tan on it.

A very great rain. The Country is in a sad, wet
Condition.

27. — One of the Cucr- plants shews a fruit. A vast
storm from the west, which blow'd one of the melon-
lights quite off the frame against the espalier-plum-tree,
but without breaking any panes. The Cucr- lights were
in danger of being blown-off, & were secured by heavy
slabs.

28. — Mowed the grass-plot the first time. A great rain.
The succades decay in their leaves thro' the dampness &
shadiness of the weather.

March 29. — i. Planted five fann'd Elmes to screen
Will : Carpenter's necessary House ; & five large Laurels
in a curve to screen my own, which I propose to move to

A GARDEN KALENDAR 371

the Corner next Parsons's Yard : & three elms in the
corner of Parsons's Yard to conceal my own from the
street.

Continual rains still.

30. — Put a little mould in the Succade-bed, & sowed
sixteen Cantaleupe-seeds in it. The bed is yet full hot to
lay-on the hills of earth.

Raked-down the asparagus-beds, & sowed five rows of
pease ; the first Crop of any kind put into the Ground
this year. A stormy wind all day, & frequent Showers.

31. & first of April. — Stormy Winds, & great rains.

2. — Earthed the Succade-bed, & put-on the Hills.

The mould in a cold, clammy Condition. Planted
three Dutch-Honey-suckles in the new-Garden.

Sowed 16 basons of double-upright-larks-spurs.

A very wet afternoon. A vast rain at night.

4. Planted three pots of Succades in their Hills : those
that were forward were so damaged in their leaves by the
long continuance of bad weather, that the second sowing
were preferable, which shew only seedling-leaves.

Sowed more Cantaleupe-seeds in the Succade-bed : the
first-sown are just coming-up. Sowed more Succade-
seeds. Lined the back of the Cucumr--bed with one load
of Dung. Planted seven rows of Rasps in one of the
upper quarters of the new Garden ; three of white, &
four of red. Planted five rows of beans, the first
planting.

Made a Celeri-bed for an Hand-glass with two barrows
of dung.

The peaches & Nectarines begin to blow-out.

Frequent showers still ; & the Ground sadly wet.

Berriman brought 20 bushels of tan ; in all 80.

The Cantaleupe-dung brought in is 12 loads.

Set some boards a nights against the fruit trees in
bloom. Sowed some spots of Persicarias ; & a drill of
parsley.

April 6. — The Cucumr- is blown-out to-day. A vast
rain last night, & great wind to-day. A very great flood

372 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

at Gracious-street The springs are vastly high ; & the
Lavants l broke-out at Chawton.

Turn'd the Cantaleupe-dung.

7. — Tempestuous winds, with vast rains, hail, & thunder.

8 : 9. — Stormy wind, & showers. The farmers are
vastly backward in their season. Very little lent-corn
sown.

Frequent Claps of thunder, & a very cold air.

April 12. — The first fine spring-like day, & no wet the
whole day long.

Potted the Cantaleupes. Sowed a Crop of Carrots,
parsneps, Coss-lettuce, radishes, onions, leeks, & savoys ;
& sowed one long row of finochia in a drill with a little
rotten dung mixed with the mould. The ground worked
as well as could be expected. The Mercury is shot up
very tall ; but the skie threatens again for wet.

Lined the Cucumber-bed with some grass-mowings :
fruit blows every day.

The Nightingales begin to sing. The Hyacinths begin
to blow.

Planted five rows of potatoes in Turner's Garden, & put
old-thatch in four of the trenches, & peat-dust in one for
experiment sake. Exchang'd roots with Mr- Etty, as his
ground is so different : his sort came originally from me.

13. — Made the Cantaleupe-bed for two frames in the
new Garden with 12 loads of dung that had been brought-in
just a fortnight, & cast once, & 60 bushels of tan on the
top of it.

It is a stout bed ; & the tan lies at least six Inches thick.
There have been three pretty fine days together, without
any wind, & with very little rain. Some peaches & Nect :
blow finely : some have little bloom.

Farmer Knight is to fallow, & plow Baker's Hill in an
Husband-like manner, this summer, & to sow it with wheat
at Mich : & to allow me the straw of the Crop for the use
of the Ground.

The Year following he is to sow it with oats, & allow

1 t.e. water-springs. — [H. M.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 373

me the straw : & I am to sow a Crop of Sl- foin along with
his Corn.

April 17. — Layed-down about 100 Laurustines ; &
grafted 6 crab-stocks with Cuttings from ye Lunning tree.
Made a new bed for aromatic Herbs.

Little rain for a week past ; but shady mild weather.

18. — Bright, spring weather. Cut the first Cucumr- a
small one : there are many swelling away.

19. — Laid-on the Hills on the Cantaleupe-bed.

The earth is all prepared in the earth-house ; because
the mould will not work at all in the new Garden. Now
heavy showers after several fine days.

23. — No Sun at all for several days ; but black weather
& frequent showers. It rains from all Quarters of the
Compass. To-day several Claps of thunder. The Ground
is in a wet Condition. Some thing bites-off the Cucr- bloom,
& gnaws the fruit. The grass grows very fast.

April 24. — Turn'd-out the Cantaleupes into their Hills ;
they are fine plants, & well rooted.

The Succades succeed but poorly.

A soft, spring-like day, & some sunshine.

Caught the mouse that eat the Cucrs-

25. — A very heavy rain.

26. — Extraordinary foggs, & moist air without any
Sun.

27. — Cucumb"- come every day. Hot growing weather.

29. — Made an annual-bed, & sowed it with China-asters,
Fr : Marrigolds, Dwarf-sunflowers, Chrysanthemums, &
pendulous Amaranths.

Sowed some large white Cucumre> for the Hand-glasses.
There have been two beautiful summer-like days together.

There are 99 considerable trees in Sparrow's hanger ; x
94 beeches, 3 ashes, & two oaks : there are also three large
oaks in the pasture-field adjoining.

May 3. — Sowed a second Crop of Pease in the ground
where the turneps stood ; sowed four rows of dwarf white

1 This was apparently Gilbert White's property. It now belongs to Mr.
Henry Maxwell. The trees have long since been felled. — [R. B. S.]

374 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

french-beans. Harsh, cold winds from the N : E : with
an high barometer.

6. — Cut-down an Head of the Burnet, & gave it the
Mare. The Heads are very large, & just offering for
Bloom. Very fine dry weather.

May 7. — Planted half Hund : of Cabbage-plants for a
succession. Planted some slips of the double wall-flower.
The melon-plants grow but poorly.

Very dry weather ; & the ground very much bound.
The fleas eat the Savoys.

Cut some Heads of Burnet, & gave it the Horses,
intending to observe how long it will be before they spring
again. Each root has a vast head.

8. — Made four Hills for hand-glass Cucumrs- with two
barrows of dung to each Hill. Very sultry weather ; &
showers about.

13. — Hot burning weather : the ground is bound very
hard. There has been hardly any rain for 18 days. The
peaches & Nect: by being sprinkled with water now &
then this dry time, swell away. One Nect : tho' treated
with the same care with the rest, is quite over run with
blistered leaves & shoots ; & must, in all appearance, be
taken away.

The Succades in one Hill have long runners that have
been stopped down. The Cantaleupes seem not to take
well to their Hills.

All the tulips seem to have run from their original
beauty.

May 14. — Rack'd-off half an hogsh : of raisin-elder
made last January, which was not quite free from fretting.
Let it stand one night in the Kiver, & return'd it into the
same barrel well wash'd ; with half a pint of brandy. The
wine is strong & sweet enough at present. There came-
out about a Gallon of Grout ; so that the barrel is not full.

No rain yet, but a sinking Glass.

The melons grow now.

Stopp'd-down some of the most vigourous of the peach,
& Nect: shoots, which seem to threaten to run to Willow-

A GARDEN KALENDAR 375

like-wood. There is some fruit on each tree. All the trees
save one look healthy. The vines promise a great deal
of bloom.

15. — A very moderate rain, that just moistened things.

18. — Burning sunshine with a strong drying E. wind.
I have sprinkled the peach, & Nect : trees twice a week
during this drying weather. Most things want watering.
The melons, which have been earthed and watered fre-
quently, grow away. There has been rain but once for
these three weeks.

21. — No rain yet ; but strong sunshine, & a very drying
East wind. The Ground is much parch'd on the surface.
The Succades begin to shew the rudiments of bloom.

•May 24. — Very harsh winds with some flights of Hail.
No rain now, save one little shower, for a month past.
The ground bound like Iron.

Earth'd-out the melons to the full in their frames.

Put 10 field-crickets in the bank of the terrass : made
the Holes with a spit.

26. — Several small showers from the N.

27. — Now dry weather again with a very high Glass.
The Succades begin to blow, & to shew some fruit. The
Country is in great want of rain.

June i. — No rain yet ; but drying scorching weather.
The corn, & Gardens suffer greatly. I do not remember
my Garden to be so totally overcome with heat & dryness
so soon in the Year. The walks are burnt-up past mowing.

2. — Thunder was heard at a distance.

3. — Drying winds, & fierce sunshine.

The succades have fruit blown.

4. — No rain yet : scorching, sunny weather. A sinking
glass, & some tokens of showers.

6. — Thunder in the evening, & very black clouds to the
E. & S.E. a fine rain at Petersfield, but not one drop here.1

1 One might think from this that Selborne had a less rain-fall than the
surrounding localities, but, owing doubtless to the proximity of the Hanger,
we get an average of 32^ inches in the year, while Alton gets 31^ inches.
Gilbert White's average for 1780 to 1788 was 36 inches, but the woods were
more extensive then than they are now. — [H. M.]

376 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

7. — Lined the succade-bed : as the dung was very stale
& dry we intermixed some layers of new-mown grass, &
some weeds. The horses have been all so long at Grass
that there will be no getting any fresh Dung.

8. — The Succade-fruit begins to set. We water the
melon-beds a good deal this scorching weather. The
drought has continued six weeks from the 6th- & is now
entered on the seventh week. The succade-lining heats
furiously.

10. — The weather continuing very burning, we water
the melons largely. The Succades set apace, & the bines
are of a good strength : the Cantaleupe-vines run rather
weakly.

ii. — Earthed-out the Succades to their full depth, &
extent ; raised the frame, & found the roots were got-out
very strong. Planted the basons in the field with annuals
which are weak & drawn : there was no planting but by
dint of great waterings : & no making melon-earth but by
the same expedient. The stones & bricks are so extreamly
dry, that the mason, who is facing my stable, is obliged
to dip them all in water. The grass in the walks breaks &
crumbles under peoples feet as they tread.

The lining of the succade-bed is very hot, & throws a
good heat into the bed.

12. — I set about five brace of promising Cantaleupes in
the first frame : there are a few succades about as big as
pidgeons eggs.

Finish'd tacking the vines, which have an unusual
quantity of budds for bloom. Some shattering showers ;
& some large ones about.

June 13. — Sowed four long rows, one pint of white
kindney-beans ; & prick'd-out a large plot of Celeri. The
ground was well-watered before anything could be done.
Planted annuals in the borders of the Garden. Several
very soft showers many times in the day ; but not moisture
enough to lay the dust, or make the eaves drop.

14. — Soft showers for four Hours this morning ; &
showers again in the evening. So that Yesterday the dry

A GARDEN KALENDAR 377

weather might be said to last exactly 8 weeks, beginning
the day after Sl- Mark.

Turn'd-out the white cucumbers from under ye Hand-
glasses : they are very strong, & shew fruit.

15. — Sowed a Crop of Endive ; two rows of fenochia,
& some vast white kidney-beans from Lima.

Hot, sunny weather.

17. — Trimm'd-out the Succades, which were grown very
rude & wild : the fruit keeps setting here & there, but not
very fast. The bed is very warm, & has been pretty fre-
quently water'd. The Cantaleupes seem to be setting ; the
bines are still but weak.

Some little shattering showers, which refresh the leaves
of things : but the ground is still as hard as ever. Mrs-
Snooke's black-cluster Grape is beginning to blow before
any of the other vines, even the white-sweetwater.

June 19. — Hot dry weather with an high Glass.

Cut my Grass : four mowers cut the great mead, ye slip,
& the shrubbery by dinner-time. Some of the Succades are
almost grown, some setting, & some plants have no fruit
swelling yet. Watered the outsides of the Succade-bed
this very dry weather. Tack'd & thinn'd the Peach, &
Nect : trees : there is but little fruit. Some of the trees
run to too vigorous wood. The ground is strangely dry'd,
& burnt. My Crop of Grass is very well for so burning
an Year.

21. — Pick'd-up my Hay without one drop of rain; tho'
the Clouds, a sinking Glass, & an hollow wind threatned
very hard : there were five jobbs.

Water'd the Crops very much.

22. — A N. Wind, a rising Glass, & all tokens of rain over
for the present. Water'd the Cantaleupes : there are a
good many fruit set in ye first frame ; but a poor promise
in the second.

Water'd the things again.

24. — Gave the Cantaleupe-bed a good lining with two
waggon loads of dung ; & some layers of Grass from the
orchard to set it in a ferment. The Cantaleupes now shew

3B

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.

Pd Will Dewey for 8 Doz : of young sparrows.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 379

The drought has lasted 10 weeks last Thursday.

The peaches, and Nect : have cast most of their fruit.

July 8. — A gentle rain most part of the day : & in the
evening a great shower for about half an Hour that
moistened things well. The cart way ran with water,
which is more than it has done before since the 25th of
April. This rain did not reach Faringdon or Empshot ;
so that it was of small extent.

9. — Planted-out a bed of leeks ; and sowed a little spot
with Batavian-Endive ; & a quarter with turneps.

IQ. — Finished stopping-down, & tacking the vines.

The Grapes on Mrs- Snooke's tree as big as small pease.
Harsh drying winds. The garden quarters not moistened
enough to plant. Dug-up the Hyacinth-roots, which seem
very moist considering the very dry time.

12. — Tiled 8 of the forwardest Succades. Hot dry
weather, with cold dews at Night. My Cherries are now
in high perfection. Large showers about yesterday ; but
a few drops only fell here. Some of the Cantaleupes swell
very fast. It appears by the trial sticks that the bed has
now as good a ground heat as most beds when made only
five or six weeks; this must be owing to the lasting heat
of tan. The Swallows & martins are bringing-out their
young. Young partridges that were flyers seen.

July 13. — Farmer Knight, having plowed Bakers Hill
twice before, stirr'd it across to-day. The weeds are all
kill'd, & the soil is baked as hard as a stone ; & is as rough
as the sea in an hard Gale : the Clods stand on end as high
as one's knees.

14. — Saw Pheasants that were flyers.

16. — A good rain for about three Hours. A great rain
at Haslemere, where I was then. Several fern-owls or
Goat-suckers flying about in the evening at Black-down
House.

18. — Cut the first Succade-melon, a very delicate one ; &
deeply crack'd at the Eye : it had not one drop of moisture
in it. Dry hot weather ever since the rain.

19. — Rains about, but none here. Hot ripening weather.

380 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The dry fit has lasted 12 weeks yesterday. The wheat turns
colour very fast. Added some earth to the melon-bed,
where the lining was crack'd away from the main bed.

20. — Gather'd a good quantity of Burnet-seed from my
plants. This plant sheds it's seed as soon as ripe ; & there-
fore whenever it becomes a field plant, it must be cut as
soon as it shews any tendency to ripeness.

The melon-bed has still a moderate Heat.

Some shoots of the Laurustine are blowing, others
budded for bloom.

July 21. — The Glow-worms no longer shine on the
Common : in June they were very frequent. I once saw
them twinkle in the South hams of Devon as late as the
middle of Septemr-

The Redbreast just essays to sing.

Dry dark weather with an high glass. The garden
dry'd-up as hard as a stone : the Crops come to nothing ;
& no opportunity of planting out the Autumn, & winter
Crops. Cherries still very fine.

The haulm of the Cantaleupes (notwithstanding the
continual drought) shews some disposition for rotting : in
many parts it splits longitudinally, & heals up again. There
will be a very fine Crop of Succades.

23. — Cut the second Succade, a small one. The field-
crickets cry yet faintly. Hot dry weather still. No rain
coming we were forced to put-out more Annuals in the
dusty border ; to shade 'em well, & to give them a vast
quantity of water. The garden looks quite destitute of
crops : no turneps will come-up ; no Celeri can be trench'd,
nor endives, nor Savoys planted-out. The ponds in most
parishes are quite dry'd-up.

July 24. — Succades come apace.

25. — Some people have hack'd pease. Two most sultry
days. Succades come by Heaps. The wells in the street
begin to fail. Turn'd all the large Cantaleupes.

This day the dry weather has lasted just 13 weeks.

Some of the Succades crack very deeply at the eye :
those are always delicate.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 381

26. — Gathered a good basket of french beans ; the first
of the season. Put some tall sticks to the Lima-beans.
Gave the Garden a good watering.

27. — Housed my billet in curious order.

Abraham Low has got above 50 bunches of grapes on
a vine of my Sort, which is but three years growth from a
Cutting.

Many samples of new wheat were shown this day at
Alton market : the Corn was said to be very fine.

28. — The Martins begin to assemble round the weather-
cock ; & the swallows on the wallnut-trees.

Dry hot weather still, with a N. wind.

The Goldfinch, Yellow-hammer, & sky-lark are the
only birds that continue to sing. The red-breast is
just beginning. The field-crickets in the Lythe cry no
longer.

29. — Eat a most curious Succade ; & saved it's seed.

The beetles begin to hum about at the Close of day.

Trench'd one row of Celeri to try if it can be saved.

July 31. — Berriman began to reap in ye Ewel-close.
The best of the Succades being cut, I gave the bed a good
watering within & without : water'd the Cantaleupe-bed on
the outside. Sultry-weather. Wind S. for two days.

Aug. i. — This day the drought has lasted 14 weeks.
Sultry, cloudless weather. Planted-out four rows of loaf-
cabbages, & two of Savoys between the Rasps in the
midst of this burning weather, as there is no prospect of
rain. The well sinks apace ; we have watered-away 26
well-buckets in a day. No Endives can be planted-out
yet. No rain at all since the 16 of July.

3. — A plentiful rain for five hours & an half with a great
deal of thunder & lightening. It soaked things thoro'ly to
the roots, & filled many ponds.

4. — Cut the first & the largest Cantaleupe, it weighed
three pounds. The Succades keep coming. The swifts
have disappeared for several days. Newton-pond was just
got empty ; & yet there was a pretty good share of water
in the pond on the Common.

382 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The Cantaleupe-bed by the trial-stick shews still a
considerable Heat : it is owing no doubt to the tan.

Laurustines cast their old leaves.

Aug. 5. — Did a great stroke of Gardening after the
rain : sowed a quarter with turnep seed, & planted it with
savoys, the rows wide apart. Planted-out five more rows
of Celeri ; in all six long rows : & planted a plot of endives.
The endives seem to be planted too late to come to any
size ; & the Celeri & savoys probably will not be large.
The ground falls to pieces, & works as well as can be
expected.

Gather'd the only & first Apricot the tree ever bore, it
was a fair fruit, but not the sort sent for ; being an Orange
& not a Breda. Scarce any of Murdoch Middleton's trees
turn-out the sorts sent-for.1

7. — Dripping warm weather since the thunder-storm.

8. — The first Cantaleupe, growing on a faulty stem, was
not curious. Very showery weather.

Cut the second Cantaleupe : it is cVack'd at the eye.
Great showers with distant thunder.

Mr- Yalden saw a single swift. Glow-worms appear'd
again pretty frequent ; but more in the Hedges, & bushes
than in June, when they were out on ye turf.

9. — Melons keep coming. Saw two swallows feeding
five Young ones that had just left their nest : they usually
bring them out the beginning of July.

Aug. 9. — Planted a double row of Polyanths all along
the great bank in the garden : they are all very small, being
much stunted by the dry weather. Planted also some slips
of the double Pheasant-ey'd pinks, which have very near
blowed themselves to death.

Some hard rain, and distant thunder.

10. — A beautiful dry day. Many people are housing
their wheat. The dripping week past has done a world of
service.

Planted a large plot with savoys, & sowed it with turnep
seed. The last-sown turneps come-up by hundreds.

1 Once more a disappointment. — [R. B. S.]

'.'3 Life size.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 383

Cut a large Cantaleupe that was crack'd neither at eye
nor tail.

ii. — Cut an other not crack'd.

12. — Vast showers : very little wheat carry'd.

The rains have restored a fine verdure, to the grass-
walks that seemed to be burnt to death for many
weeks.

14. — Great showers. The Cantaleupes come very fast,
but do not crack well in general. Ten showery days
restore a verdure.

Aug. 14. — Sent a brace & an half of Cantaleupes & a
Succade-melon to Bro : Benjn- at London.

Some small Cantaleupes, that were not at all crack'd
are delicate. A very rising Glass. Penny royal, baum,
sage, mint, thyme, rue, marjoram, & lavender in high
bloom.

Baker's-hill is harrowed-down after these great rains :
it was no easy matter to subdue the clods at all. Some
of the old elders round the garden are almost leafless.
Wallnuts are this year innumerable. The white-apples
are fit to make pies. Grapes, peaches, Nect : are very
backward.

The Ground is now well-soaked.

The yellow-hammer continues to sing.

Wheat grows in the gripes.

Tremella abounds now on the walks ; & the lichens
encrease in size. The french-beans are still lousy in some
degree.

14. — Sowed a Quarter of a pound of prickly-seeded
spinage, & some Coss-lettuce to stand the winter.

The ground was in good order, & fell well to pieces.

A cold north wind.

Planted several slips of red pinks round ye borders, &
some stocks, & bloody wall-flowers.

The burnet-seed, where it shatters on the Ground,
comes-up very thick.

The catkins for next year are formed on the Hasels.

Aug. 16. — A cold N.E. wind, & rising glass.

384 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Much wheat has been housed to-day. Some Canta-
leupes, & Succades crack well at ye eye.

The stone-curlews clamour. The mornings, & evenings
are chilly. Plums, and figgs are very back-ward. The
large Aster with yellow thrums, supposed to be Virgil's
Amello, begins to flower.

Trimm'd the vines of second wood for ye last time :
the grapes are very backward.

The Yellow-hammer continues to sing.

The uncommon Aster with a black thrum blowing.

The variegated Epilobium in bloom.

17. — Very cold weather for the season, with a N. Wind.
People house their wheat very briskly.

A very high barometer.

Melons continue in plenty.

The flea eats-up the Young turneps at a vast rate.

The weather so cold & dry, that nothing grows well in
the Garden.

Aug. 19. — Cut all the Cantaleupes : they are not in
general so well-grown, & so thick-flesh'd as in former
Years, owing perhaps to the burning summer, which all
the while was attended with N. drying winds not at all
kindly to any kind of fruit, or Crops in the Garden.

The bed maintains still a sensible heat.

20. — Most beautiful harvest-weather for several days :
the wheat will soon be all housed : that that was not
carry'd-in too hastily will be in curious order.

The wren whistles. A nest of young water-wagtails is
just come forth. Tack'd the wall-trees : their tops are
shrivell' d, & their fruit advances but poorly.

21. — Took-in all the melon-frames in very dry order.
The bed has still some sensible heat in it.

Very dry sultry weather with a falling glass. The night-
moths, & earwigs, I find, feed on the flowers by night, as
the bees & butterflies do by day : this I found by going-out
with a candle.

22. — Upon digging into the melon-bed down to the tan
after the frames were taken away, I found that the tan

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 Quartr- 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

386 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

in high bloom : Ladies bed-straw just out. Yellow-hammer
seems to have done singing.

28. — Still, hot, gloomy days. Rain begins to be much
wanted by the farmer, & Gardener.

30. — A moderate shower with a brisk Gale. The melons
left under hand-glasses keep coming.

Full moon.

Yellow toad-flax, (linaria) great purple snap-dragon,
(Antirrhinum) (found in a lane at Empshot, & supposed to
be thrown-out from some Garden) Eye-bright, betony ;
small spear-worth, (Ranunculus flammeus) vervain-leaved-
mallow, the common - reed, many sorts of Epilobium ;
Scabious, purple, & deep blue ; wild basil, now in bloom.
Wild Basil is a pretty flower, & a common weed.1

Swallows feed flying, & water-wagtails running round
Horses in a meadow. The gentle motions of the Horse
stir-up a succession of flies from the grass.

The water-wagtail seems to be the smallest english bird
that walks with one leg at a time : the rest of that size &
under all hop two legs together.2

The Alders have form'd their young catkins against next
spring.

The Grapes change pretty fast.

Septenf- 5. — Brisk winds, & showers for several days.

The apples are pretty much blown-down in some places ;
& the hops received some Injury.

The winds beat-down many of my figs, & baking pears.
Since my melon-frames have been taken-in, & before the
rains fell to moisten ye mould on the bed, there grew up at
once a very singular appearance of the fungus kind, that
seemed rather to be poured over the ground than to
vegetate : it was soft & pappy, & about the consistence of
thick milk, & of a very ill savour. Where I wounded it
with a stick it sent out a sort of bloody Ichor ; & soon

1 It will be noticed that about this time Gilbert White began to pay great
attention to Botany. — [R. B. S.]

2 This is an excellent observation, calling attention to the walking and
hopping sections of English Passerine Birds. — [R. B. S.]

dl&cis S%ia<£zL/.

'/» Life size

A GARDEN KALENDAR 387

hardened into a dark substance ; & is now turn'd into a fine
Impalpable dust like that of the Lupi Crepitus. I have had
them on beds before the frames have been taken-off ; when
they have crept in part up the side of the frame. To the
best of my remembrance they have never appeared on any
beds that have not been covered with tan. On consulting
Ray's methodus I find no traces of any such kind of fungus.

On the Lythe I found a few days since in full bloom the
Dentaria aphyllos, seu Anblatum ; a peculiar plant, of the
same Class with the Orobanche. Hill says it begins
flowering in May. This was ladies traces.

Sep. 7. — Fine ripening weather. Grass, & garden-plants
grow apace. Howed and thinned my two plots of turneps.
Earwigs eat the nect : by night, but not the peaches.

9. — Beautiful Autumnal weather : most of the Corn
housed. Gathered my only Nect : it was not ripe ; but
the earwigs had gnawed it so that it could not come to
anything. Gathered my first peach : it's flesh was thick,
tender, white, & juicy ; & parted from the stone. It was
a good fruit ; but not so high-flavoured as some I have
met- with.

Gather'd some of my forward white grapes : they were
very agreeable tho' not quite ripe : the black Grapes in
general are backward.

On the steep chalky end of Whetham-hill I discovered
a large plant of the deadly Nightshade [belladona] full of
ripe fruit: & on the bogs of Beans-pond in Wullmere
forest the same day that peculiar plant the sun-dew
[rorella] in plenty. There are it seems on the same bog
plenty of cranberry-plants : but I could not venture on the
moss to look after them. Cranberries, [vitis Idaea]. I
thought I discovered a small Parnassia but was not sure.
Found also southern wood [abrotanum] in a lane ; &
dyer's weed [luteola] very vigorous, & full of seed in a
farm yard at Faringdon.

Owls hiss round the Church in a fierce threat'ning
manner: I suppose they are old ones that have Young.
There are young martins still in some nests. About five

388 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

days ago S>-- Sim : Stuart's game-keeper kill'd an wood-cock
in the moors. Not true.

ii. — Gathered my second & last peach: it was from
a different tree from ye first, but seems to be the same
sort.

13. — Bagg'd-up between 40, & 50 bunches of black
Grapes in Crape. Ty'd-up all the best endives for blanch-
ing : they are but small.

Procured several Cranberry-plants from bean's pond
with berries on them.

15. — Fine Autumn weather for many days.

Septr- 16. — Gathered some good white Grapes.

Took-in the Hand-glasses, & cut the two last melons ;
not ripe.

17 : 1 8. — Went down to Ringmer. The second day
there was a moderate rain for eight Hours, during which
I lay-by at Brighthelmstone.

In a lane towards the sea near a village call'd Whiting
not far from ye above-named town I discovered a shrub
of the rose kind, that had heps of a jet-black Colour, &
very beautiful small pinnated leaves. As the leaves re-
sembled those of Burnet, quae : if this was not the Burnet-
rose, which I think is said to grow wild. As it was quite
out of bloom. I had not ye satisfaction of seeing the
flower.

I saw a flower afterwards, & it was white & single.

On the poorer parts of ye Sussex-downs I saw the
smaller Burnet in plenty ; but it had shed it's seeds. I
find the rich pasture-grounds at Ringmer very bare of
Grass : they seem to have suffered by the drought this
summer as much as in any parts of the Country.

Ladies-bedstraw frequently in flower on the downs ;
& a thistle with an echinated head, & little down to y6
seeds.

Sepr- 20. — Discovered plenty of the prickly rest-harrow
(Anonis) & dier's broom, both in bloom & pod, in the
pasture-fields at Ringmer.

M"- Snooke's grapes are very good ; especially the

A GARDEN KALENDAR 389

black. Her crop of apple's fail. Blue Scabiuss in plenty
still. The rooks frequent ye nest-trees great part of ye day.
I saw a few wheatears (birds) on the Sussex down as I
came along. Vast quantities are caught by the shepherds
in the season ; (about tye beginning of Harvest) & yet no
numbers are ever seen together, they not being gregarious.
Showers, & some brisk winds.

Hawkweeds all ye Country over from the highest downs
to ye lowest pasture-field.

Wasps seem at present to be very much check'd : they
have gnaw'd the Grapes pretty much.

This very dry summer has damaged Mrs- Snooke's
buildings by occasioning such vast chops in the clay-soil,
that they loosen the walls, & make settlements. Since I
came, there were cracks in the ground deeper than ye
length of a walking stick.

24. — Made a visit to Mr- John Woods at his new mill.
On the downs near Bpstone I found the downs covered
with Burnet : & in one place, where the Ground had been
devonshired the beginning of the summer, the ground was
cloath'd-over with Burnet & filipendula, whose crowns had
been severed with the turf. Found French - mercury
(Mercurialis) the smallest sort of Cudweed ; & saw
abundance of sea-plants on ye shore which I had not
time to examine.

Sepr- 26 : 27 : 28. — Returned from Ringmer. Fine dry
soft weather ; & the roads quite dusty. Very little rain
has fallen yet : the deep pasture-Grounds round Ringmer
are bare of Grass, & in great want of water. Many ponds
on ye road are quite dry.

Saw plenty of the whorttle-berry plants on Rogate
heath. I found my grapes in general very backward,
notwithstanding the dry sunny weather.

The wasps seem to have done very little damage ; they
seem to be quite gone.

30. — Made 10 quarts of elder-juice; to which when I
had put ioPds- of sugar, & boiled them up together, there
came 13 bottles of syrop.

390 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Ivy in full flower. Scabius, some mulleins, throat-
worts, bugloss, hawkweeds, wild basil, marjoram, eye-
bright, mallows, knapweeds, &c : still in bloom.

Found the Woodruffe (asperula) in plenty in my
beechen Hanger. The beeches begin to be tinged with
Yellow. A great rain.

Septr- 30. — The men are weeding the garden, which
is very much over-run with groundsel.

Octr- i. — A very cold, blustering day. Began fires.
Began gathering the white apples, & golden pippins.
Earthed-up the Celeri, some rows to ye top. Used ye
first Endive : it is too small to blanch well.

Planted a row of Burnet-plants brought from ye
Sussex-downs. The caterpillars have been pick'd off
the savoys several times : those that have not used that
precaution have lost every plant. The Cucumbers, &
kidney-beans are cut-down with the Cold. The ashes, &
maples in some places look yellow. The wood-lark sings,
& the wood-pidgeon coos in ye Hanger. John took
his bees.

3. — Vast showers with frequent claps of thunder.

Discovered the Enchanter's nightshade (Circaea) it
grows in great plenty in the hollow lanes.

4. — Gather'd-in my baking-pears, about three bushels.

The wood ruffe, when a little dryed, has a most
fragrant smell.

5. — Examined the wild black Hellebore (Helleboraster
niger flore albo) an uncommon plant in general, but very
common in Selborne-wood. Vast heavy showers with a
tempestuous wind.

Octr- 6. — Vast showers : the Ground is well-drench'd.

8. — Planted a row of coss-lettuce along against ye fruit-
wall to stand the winter.

Gather'd some very good grapes, both black & white,
from the fruit- wall : l but there are an abundance on the
House, that seem as if they never could be ripe.

1 The fruit-wall faced due south, and the grapes thus got more sun than
those on the house. — [H. M.]

"^m

&>

/

A GARDEN KALENDAR 391

10. — Discovered the small creeping tormentil (tormen-
tilla) the gromwel (lithospermum) & the small Centaury
(centaurium minus).

The wren sings. Martins are plenty flying about under
the shelter of the Hanger.

8. — A great light seen, & a vast explosion from ye S.
about a quarter past nine in the evening : the Cause
unknown. It shook peoples houses very much. It seems
to be meteorous.

10. — Discovered common fumitory. Ray classes it
under his anomalous plants.

ii. — Discovered the Common-figwort (scrophularia) in
bloom, & in pod ; & the Common dog's mercury (cyno-
crambe).

12. — Discovered in Mrs- Etty's garden the silvery Alpine
Crane's-bill (Geranium argenteum Alpinum), & the red
Valerian (Valeriana floribus rubris caudatis). Snakes are
still abroad, & wood ants creeping about.

A great rain again last night.

Octobr- 12. — The black Hellebores are budded for bloom
on the Hill. The small creeping tormentil pretty frequent
on Selborne-common.

15. — Set out for Oxon. Saw ye first field-fare, martins
still flying about. Saw none of the swallow-kind after-
wards.

Farmer Knight sowed Baker's hill with wheat.

1 6. — Discovered on the banks of the Thames as I
walked from Streatly to Wallingford —

The water hoar- hound (marrubium aquaticum) the
yellow willow-herb, or loose-strife (lysimachia) the purple
spiked D°- (lysimachia purpurea) & the Comfrey (symphy-
tum magum) in bloom, being one of the Herbae asperifoliae :
water figwort (scrop : aquat :).

I also saw in Oxford dry specimens of the less stitch-
wort (Caryophyllus holosteus arvensis glaber flore minore)
& the Cross wort (cruciata).

I saw at the Physic garden Madder (rubia tinctorum)
the Cymbalaria (tinaria) hederaceo folio glabro : the stink-

392 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

ing Gladwin (Iris sylvestris) stinking hoar-hound (marru-
bium nigrum) white hoar-hound (marrubium album) a
large sort of Burnet : moth mullein (blattaria) Bugle
(bugula).

Water-scorpion-Grass (myosotis scorpioides palustris)
the hawkweed called Hieracium echioides capitulis cardui
benedicti ; al : lang de beuf.

Octobr- 21. — Weather uncommonly mild: grass &
garden-plants grow very fast.

26. — Returned from Oxon to Selborne. A very white
frost in the morning. I have seen no Swallows since the
15th- Planted in my Garden nine large plants of small
burnet, which I gathered in a Chalkey lane on my Journey.

John planted in my absence a plot of cabbages to
stand y6 winter. The garden-burnet still continues very
vigorous ; & the Celeri is grown very gross.

28. — A very smart frost that made the ground crisp, &
has stripp'd the mulberry-tree & some ashes.

The Hanger looks very much faded, & the leaves begin
to fall. In general the new-sown wheat comes-up well.

Plants still in bloom are the wild-basil, white behn,
common mallow, several Hawkweeds, bugloss, the hoar-
hounds, Hedge - nettles, dead-nettles, dandelion, wild
succory, Ivy, furze, blue-bottles, thistle, sow-thistle, mullein,
fumitory, Yarrow, wild Marjoram, (ariganum) tufted Basil,
(clinopodium) small Centaury, honeysuckle, wild ; Arbutus,
Bramble, clover, charlock, throat-worts, crane's-bill, Scabi-
ous, Knapweed, — Mother of thyme, wild red Champion,
butter-cups, stinking May weed, the common daisey, the
great daisey, rag wort, broad-leaved Allheal, fluellins.

Octobr- 29. — Discovered in the lane leading to the North-
field base-hoar-hound with a white blossom, but just going
out of bloom (stachys) common Selfheal out of bloom
(prunella) Nettle-leaved throat-wort or Canterbury-bells
(Trachelium) Cluster-flower'd, or little throat-wort (Cam-
panula pratensis flore conglomerate) Dwarfspurge (tithy-
malus pumilus angustifolius) creeping mouse-ear (pilosella
repens) Crow's foot Crane's bill (Geranium batrachoides).

A GARDEN KALENDAR 393

30. — Discovered in my Ewel-close, a wheat -stubble,
Sharp-pointed fluellin just coming into bloom (Linaria,
Elatine dicta, folio acuminato) & round-leaved female
fluellin (Linaria, D°- dicta, folio subrotundo) in plenty :
also Mouse-ear scorpion-grass (Myosotis scorpioides hir-
suta) : & broad-leaved little Allheal (Sideritis humilis lato
obtuso folio.

The skie, & wood-lark sing in fine weather : rooks
frequent their nest-trees. The ground is now full wet
for a wheat-season. The wren sings.

31. — Discovered the Ivy-leaved Southistle, or wild
lettuce (Lactuca sylvestris Murorum flore lutco) in a most
shady part of the hollow lane under the cove of the rock
as you first enter the lane in great plenty, on the right
hand before you come to the nine-acre-lane : there was
also male fern, (filix mas) & hart's tongue, (Phyllitis) dis-
covered also common nipplewort (Lampsana) it is distin-
guished from Hawkweeds by having no down to it's seeds.

Novr- 2. — Gromel, figwort, viper's bugloss, & mouse-
ear-scorpion-Grass still in bloom. I suspected I saw the
leaves of the parnassia, on a bog.

Examined the viper's bugloss, (echium vulgare) & the
small wild bugloss (buglossum sylvestre minus) the wild
tanzy (tanacetum) great water horsetail, (equisetum palustre
majus) Sun spurge (tithymalus helios-copius) wood-spurge
(Tithymalus characias Amygdaloides) common Sl- John-
wort (Hypericum vulgare) dwarf-hawkweed with sinuated
very narrow leaves (Hierachium parvum inarenosis nascens,
seminum pappis densicus radiatis) Knawel, Clown's all-
heal (Sideritis fcetida) small procumbent Sl> John wort
(Hypericum procumbens minus) Herb Gerard, Gout-weed,
or ashweed (angelica sylvestris minor seu erratica).

Novr- 4. — Racked-off my half Hogsh : of raisin- wine,
which began to ferment again : there was a great deal of
sediment at bottom.

5. — A Considerable snow for many Hours : but it
melted pretty much as it fell. Gathered-in a great quantity
of Grapes, which are still very good.

3D

394 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

fth. — A hard frost, & ice. Gathered-in all the grapes,
about a bushel, the weather threatning for more frost.
Spread the best bunches on a sheet in the dining-room.

12. — Replaced the rasp-plants that dyed in the summer.

The leaves of ye Butcher's limes but just begin to fall.

The leaves in general hold-on well this year, thro' the
mildness of the season.

17. — I planted the border by the wallnut-tree in ye best
Garden with two rows of my fine white, & blue Hyacinths :
the blue are altogether at the end next the House. The
border was well-dunged ; & planted in good dry order. I
planted also a good large spot with smaller roots, &
offsets to make a nursery. The blue at the end next the
House.

Dark still weather for many days, with some small rain
sometimes, & a very high barometer. The water is much
sunk away in the roads, & lakes.

Novr- 1 8. — Discovered the common polypody (poly-
podium vulgare) in the hollow lane ; & the stinking flag-
flower, called Gladdon or Gladwin, (Iris foetida, Hyris
dicta) in the hollow lane between Norton-yard, & French-
meer just without the gate : it was thrown, in all probability,
out of the garden which was formerly just on the other
side of the Hedge. In general it is esteemed a bad blower;
but this parcel of plants has produced many flowers this
summer ; & have several pods, which open in three parts,
& turn-out yir scarlet berries much in the manner of the
male piony. There is but one seed in each berry.

Discovered the common Spurrey (alsine, spergula dicta
major) in pod, & bloom in a ploughed field : most exactly
described by Ray.

22. — A very fierce frost for two nights : it froze within
the second. Discovered little field-madder (rubeola arvensis
repens coerulea) & the small flowered pansy (viola bicolor
arvensis) in a wheat-stubble in great abundance.

The potatoes turned-out well beyond expectation after
such a burning summer : those planted on peat-dust were
superior to those on old thatch.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 395

The distinction between ye Scirpi, & the Junci.

Scirpus, a bull-rush : this kind of plant bears stamineous
flowers, & naked seeds gathered into a squamose Head ;
each scale holding a flatish triangular seed ; the stalk is
without any knots, round, & has a spongy pith.

Juncus, a rush, differs from ye bull-rush in having an
hexapetalous Calix, & as many stamina as ye Calix has
leaves ; & many seeds contained in a seed-vessel.

Novr' 25. — Discovered the Joy-leaved speed well, or
small Henbit (veronica flosculis singularibus, hederulae
folio, Morsus Gallinae minor dicta) plenty in every garden
& field.

Discovered on a bank at Faringdon Filex elegans,
Adianto nigro accedens, segmentis rotundioribus ; a beauti-
ful fern about six inches high : Pilewort, or ye less Celan-
dine (Chelidonium minus) in it's first leaves ; it blows in
March, & April : The greater Celandine in it's first leaves
(Chelidonium majus vulgare) & chervil in it's first leaves
(Cicutaria vulgaris ; sive Myrrhis sylvestris seminibus
loevibus) called also wild Cicely, & cow-weed.

Detf- 6. — Finish'd tacking, & trimming my fruit-wall
trees : the peaches, & Nect : lie well to the wall, but seem
not to be well-ripened in their wood this Year. The vines,
(which were contracted to make room for ye Peach : &
nectarines) have large well-ripened shoots.

12. — Found in a stubble in bloom, & pod the oval-leaved
Turritis (Turritis foliis ovatis).

The flowers now in bloom are Yarrow, Turritis, spurrey,
butter-cups, viola bicolor, dandelion, dead nettle, hedge D°-

Put a finishing hand to my new stable by making my
saddle cup-board, shelves, &c.

Discovered in shrub : wood l Rough spleen-wort. (Con-
chitis aspera) it is known from poly pody by the tapering
leaves reaching down to ye bottom of ye stem.

14. — An hard frost.

31. — A severe frost with an harsh E. wind, & cloudy

1 Shrub Wood, a copse near by. — [H. M.]

396 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

skie : the Ground does not thaw in the middle of the day
Dug-up melon-earth, & turn'd it up to the frost. Put some
mellow earth in ye border under the melon-skreen.

DUNG BORROWED IN 1765.

Feb. 4. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- Car : pd- 5 loads.

D°- Of Parsons Dung pd- Car : pd- 3 loads.

March 8. — Of Parsons Dung pd- Car pd- 5 loads.

D°- Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd- 3 loads.

March 29. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd- 3 loads.

„ Of Parsons Dung pd- Car : pd- 5 loads.

„ Of Berriman Dung pd- Cr- pd- 4 loads.

April 4. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd- i load.
June 24. — Of Kelsey Dung pd- car pd-

waggon 2 loads.

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1766

/0«. Ist- — The last Year concluded, & this began with a
very dry, still frost.

Wheeled into the melon-ground a parcel of my own
dung that had never taken any wet ; there having been no
rain worth mentioning for many weeks.

4. — Made the seedling cucumber-bed.

10. — Sowed about 30 cucumr- seeds.

13. — The bed heats well, & the plants begin to appear.
Severe, still frost yet. The ground has never thawed at
all in the middle of the day, since this weather began ; but
is covered with dust. There have been several small flights
of snow ; but never enough quite to cover the ground :
& yet several red-breasts, & some red-wings have been
found frozen to death. It froze within very much to-night.

17. — The same still, dry weather continues, with a dark
sky, & high barometer. The snow is quite gone ; & the
ground all dust. To-day the frost has lasted just three
weeks. The cucumrs- come-up well : sowed more.

Jan. 1 8. — Somewhat of a thaw.

19. — A thaw still with an high barometer & a fog : the
first Cucumrs- are potted, the second -sown are come-up
well.

397

398 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

21. — A dry thaw with a N. wind, & high barometer.
There has been no rain now for seven or eight weeks.
The ponds are very low, & the wells sinking. The wind
has been remarkably still since it has been so dry.

25. — A gentle thaw still, with vast fogs, but no rain.
The ground that was so dusty, is now very dirty without
any fall. The soil is strangely puffed-up, & lightened.
Sowed a box of Mr- Gibsons polyanth-seed : & five rows of
marrow-fat-pease in a very mellow, well-dunged quarter.

Some of the Cucumr- plants keep dying for want of sun,
being rotted by the reek of the bed.

28. — The same still, dark, dry weather with the glass
higher than ever.

Jan. 29. — A vast white dew ; & fog in the day.

The barometer is higher than ever.

The Cucum"- hang their leaves, & want Sun.

30. — Sowed half the border under the melon-skreen
with lettuce, & radishes. All the stiff soil is taken-out of
that border, & laid-up to the frost to make melon-earth ;
& mould that has been in the frames is laid in it's place.
Very fierce frost, & partial fogs.

Feb. i. — A thaw : rain & wind with a sinking glass.

The first rain for many weeks.

3. — Severe frost returns.

8. — Severe frost.

10 : ii. — Rain, soft weather, & a thoro' thaw.

13 : 14 : 15. — Continued Rains from the East, which
occasioned vast floods in some places.

This fall was in several parts of the Kingdom a very
great snow; & in others a rain which froze as it fell,
loading the trees with ice to such a degree, that many
parks, & forests were miserably defaced, & mangled. A
strong E. wind contributed much to this damage.

Feb. 1 8. — Made a fruiting-bed for Cucum"- with 8 loads
of dung.

19. — Planted six rows of Winsor-beans.

25. — Planted the Cucumr- bed with plants that have two
joints, are stopp'd down, stocky, & well-coloured.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 399

Mild, grey weather, with a tall barometer.

Land is in excellent mellow, dry order : people are
sowing pease in the fields.

March i. — Dry weather still with a sinking glass.

Brewed half an Hogsh : of strong-beer with 6 Bushels
of Rich : Knight's malt, & two pounds & three quarters of
good Hops. The water was from the well.

Sent a large flitch of bacon to be dryed to Mr- Etty's
chimney : it lay seven weeks & three days in salt on
account of the frost, during which it did not seem to take
salt. The sun broke-out after many shady days.

2. — A white frost, & very wet afternoon.

3. — Sun-shine morning, the first for a long time.

Put some fresh Cucumr- plants into some of ye Hills :
the first-removed were coddled in their own steam for want
of Sun. Sowed the first Succades.

March 6. — The succades appear : the bed is full hot
this mild weather.

7. — Potted the succades : sowed more.

Finished a low rod-hedge between ye garden, & the
orchard. Soft delicate weather.

Planted some wood-straw-berries along at ye back of
ye new hedge.

8. — Transplanted some burnet, self-sown last summer :
sowed carrots, coss lettuce, radishes in ye border under the
melon-skreen. Brought-in 10 loads of dung for the
succade-bed ; & one load to line the Cucr- seed-bed.
Cucum1"5- begin to shew runners.

10. — Planted one Chaumontelle-espalier-pear at the
S.W. side of the second middle quarter ; & one Crasan-
burgamot-pear opposite across the alley ; & one D°- near
the standard nonpareil tree. These trees are from
Armstrong at N. Warnboro ; & are to supply the place of
those that failed. Planted two more fan-elms at the back
of the necessary-house.

Hot, sunny weather. The Cucumr- bed is full warm.

March 12. — Sowed five rows of pease in the orchard the
first crop begins to appear.

4oo NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

No rain for ten days. Sunny, hot days, with an E.
wind, & frosty nights.

Made half an hogsh. of raisin-wine with one hund : of
Malagas, & half an Hund : of Smyrnas. Put to the raisins
ten buckets and an half of water. The raisins were new, &
fine : the former cost 245. : the latter 175.

13. — Racked-off my last-made wine the third time. It
is very good ; but will not be quite fine, as it moves a
little still. Took-away about two quarts of very thick
Grout.

Planted some stinking gladwins in the garden, a sweet
bryar, and a black hellebore from ye wood.

Raked-down my asparagus-beds : the mould everywhere
falls in a dust.

March 14. — Turned the melon-dung, which is very hot.

15. — Earth'd, & moss'd the seed-cucumber bed, which
has the forwardest plants.

Hot sun-shine, & cold E. wind.

17. — Pegg*d-down the Cucum"- which were grown up to
the Glasses.

The succades are very fine, & have two rough leaves.

Hot sunshine with frosts. There has been now no rains
for fifteen days.

18. — Turn'd the melon-dung a second time. It is very
hot. Black, windy weather, with some small flights of
snow.

20. — Thick Ice. Made a Celeri-bed for an hand-glass.

Sheltered the wall-trees (which are too much blown)
with boards, and doors.

22. — Sowed Celeri. Some rain after 19 very dry days.
Sowed rows of parsley.

23. — Snow with thick ice, & a severe North-wind.

24. — More snow, & fierce frost.

Covered the fruit-trees against the wall with boards, &
mats during these frosty nights.

Made the succade-bed with ten loads of dung that had
been twice turn'd, & had heated much. It is a very stout
bed, & seems in good order.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 401

The fruit-trees against the wall are much blown-out, &
in danger from this severe weather.

25. — Snow in the night, & Ice.

26. — Rain in the morning from the S. 'till twelve ; then
the wind turned N. & there came a violent snow for six
hours, which lies very deep on the ground ; & is but a bad
sight so late in the Year. The wall-trees have been boarded,
& matted all day ; & the hot-beds have scarce been opened
at all.

27. — A very heavy snow all day ; which by night lay a
vast thickness on the Ground ; in many places three feet.
All the shrubbs were weighed flat to ye earth. The hot-bed
was never uncovered all day ; but the plants lived in dark-
ness. The boards & mats were kept before ye wall-trees.

28. — The snow melted in part with a strong sunshine :
but it is still as deep as an horse's belly in many places.

The Cucr> plants look very well to-day.

March 29. — Warm air, & a swift thaw : yet ye snow is
very deep in some places : all along ye N. field it is deeper
than an Horse's belly.

Stopped-down the Succades : they are fine plants.

30. — Snow goes away with a gentle rain.

April i : 2. — Great rain.

Female bloom of a Cucumber blows-out.1

3. — Black moist weather : the Hot-beds want sun.

4. — Put the hills on the succade-bed : the earth is rather
too moist, not being housed before ye snow. The dung
has been brought-in ever since the eight of March : the
bed seems now to be mild.

5. — Turned-out the Succades into the Hills : the plants
are stout, & well-rooted ; but look rather pale for want of
sunshine.

Sowed some Romagnia melon-seeds from Mr- Humphry;
& some Cantaleupe-seeds.

5. — Tunn'd the raisin-wine after I had let it settle a day
& a night : I kept back a great quantity of grout. There

1 i.e. expands. — [H. M.]

3E

402 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

was a gallon or two over for filling-up. Coloured it with
15 bottles of elder syrop.

April 7. — Mowed the grass-plot for the first time.

9. — Planted five rows of large fine potatoes, with a
layer of peat-dust in every trench.

Sowed a crop of Carrots, parsneps, coss-lettuce, &
onions : a plot of leeks ; double-stocks, dwarf-Sunflowers,
& savoys.

Sowed twelve basons more of Selborne-saved lark-
spurs.

The ground in curious, mellow order.

10. — The last-sown melons are coming-up.

Dry, March-like weather.

The succades push-out runners.

12. — Potted the Cantaleupes, & Romagnias.

Cucum1"5- throw out fruit very fast.

Beautiful weather.

19. — Cut the first Cucumber.

Small showers.

22. — Cut ye second cucumber.

Soft showers.

Cucumbers show a great succession of fruit.

April 26. — The succades have runners with three joints,
are stopped, & shew third wood.

Cut three Cucumbers. Cucumbers grow very fast.
Soft, showery, growing weather.

26. — Finished moving my barn, which I set at the upper
end of the orchard. It began to move on Thursday the
17, & went with great ease by the assistance of about 8
men for that little way that it went in a straight line : but
in general it moved in a curve, & was turned once quite
round, & half way round again. When it came to the
pitch of the Hill it required 20 hands ; & particularly when
it wanted to be shoved into it's place sideways, parallel
with Collins's hedge.

Near one day of the time was taken-up in making new
sills, one of which was broken in two by skrewing it round
sideways. No accident happened to the workmen, or

A GARDEN KALENDAR 403

labourers ; & no part of the frame-work was broken or
dislocated, so as to do any material damage.

The Workmen were three days in pulling down ye
skillings, & blocking & removing obstructions, previous to
ye removal. The barn is 40 feet long.

April 28. — Made some holes for the hand-glasses, fill'd
them with the mowings of the walks, & sowed some large
white Cucumbers.

Summer-like growing weather.

Cut 4 large Cucumbers.

Put the sticks to the pease. Weeded & thinn'd the
lettuce.

29. — Sowed a pot of lucern-seed to transplant.

Earth'd the succade bed pretty near to ye full ; &
moss'd it all over.

Most beautiful, shady, growing weather.

May 5. — Made the second melon-bed with eight loads
of hot dung, & some grass mowings. The dung is full
hot still. There will be dung this year only for two
frames.

The succade plants show fruit, & grow, & look well.

Black wet weather of late.

6. — Sowed seven rows, one pint, of dwarf-white-kidney-
beans : the Ground has been dug three times this spring,
& is very mellow.

8. — Made an annual-bed with grass mowings, & sowed
it with African, & French Marigolds, pendulous amaranths,
& China Asters.

8. — Sowed some snap-dragon seeds, and some dwarf-
sun-flowers.

Planted five short rows of globe-artichokes, sent me by
Mr- Fort of Salisbury.

Black, showery, growing weather for many days.

12. — Turned-out two pots of Romagnia-melons, & one
of Cantaleupes into the new bed. Bored holes in ye bed,
which is still full hot.

Succades shew male, & female bloom.

Thunder, & heavy cold showers.

404 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The wheat, & barley turns somewhat yellow.

13. — Vast heavy showers, with Hail, & frosts at
night.

14. — Covered the mould all over under the succades
with whole wheaten straw : beat down the earth first.

Moss'd the hills of the new bed : the bed is very hot,
& requires Care.

18. — Began mowing grass for ye Horses.

Hot, summer-weather.

20. — Black, wet weather with a fierce N. wind, that
tears-off the leaves from the trees.

May 27. — Thinn'd-out, & tack'd the peaches, & Nect :
& laid some of the gross wood of last Year bare of their
willow-like shoots, in order to make room for more moderate
wood.

The Nect : that was blistered last year, is blistered
again : & the first Nect : from the house is curled, & lousy,
& wants good shoots. Yet in the whole there will be fruit
on each tree which grows well : the apricot abounds with
fruit.

The succades abound in strong healthy haulm, & begin
to shew promising bloom. The last bed begins to be more
moderate : the plants are just not burnt, and have not very
weak runners, which are stopped-down.

28. — Succades begin to set.

Planted 50 cabbages.

Prick' d-out a plot of Celeri.

Black, cold, showery weather.

31. — Lined the succade-bed ; but did not put any mould
on the lining.

June 2. — The succades keep blowing with good fruit.
The frame is crowded with vigorous vines : but the plants
want some sunny weather.

Earthed the second frame the second time.

The mould is somewhat burnt under the Hills : but the
plants look pretty well, & send-out second wood.

June 3. — Prick'd-out more Celeri. Black wet weather.

4. — Very wet night, and morning.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 405

Thinn'd-out the succade-vines, which quite choak the
frame ; & begin to rot for want of air & sun.

Plenty of melons are sett, & setting.

Every thing is strangely wet; & grass & corn begin
to lodge.

5. — Mended-out the rows of french beans, which are
come-up very poorly.

7. — Succades as big as pidgeon's eggs.

Earth'd-out the second melon-bed, where there is pretty
good Haulm.

Sowed a few Indian-turnep-seeds, given me by Sr
Simeon Stuart.

Prick' d-out a large Quantity of Savoys.

Hot, summer weather.

10. — Fine weather.

Plenty of Succades, which are as large as a goose-egg.

13. — Sowed six rows, a second Crop of dwarf-white-
french-beans. The first Crop is in a poor Condition.

Earth'd-out the lining of the Succade-melon-bed, &
raised the frame. Thinn'd-out the haulm, which is full
of fruit.

June 13. — Set several Cantaleupe, & Romagna melons.
The succades are half grown.

The frame now raised stands too high.

Very windy weather.

16. — Sowed a crop of curled, & Batavia Endive, & a
crop of Coss lettuce ; & planted-out a bed of Leeks.

21. — A week of most uncommon weather; nothing but
wet, & cold winds. Planted-out annuals.

23. — Summer-like weather. The Succade-bed has plenty
of fruit well grown : the Cantaleupes & Romagnas have
fruit set ; but the Haulm, & stems of the fruit are too
much drawn.

The shoots of the peaches, and Nect : are very curled,
& lousy.

24 : 25. — Cut my Hay, a good Crop.

26. — A vast rain all night.

27. — Showers.

4o6 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

28. — Showers.

Lined the Romagna-bed with hot dung.

Some of the Romagnas are large fruit : the Cantaleupes
are only just setting.

The hay in a poor Condition.

June 18. — Received a Hogsh. of port from Southton
between Mr- Yalden, & myself.

29. — A very wet day.

July i. — The hay toss'd about a little.

2. — Vast rains from the N.

5. — Ricked my hay on the 12th day from cutting : it was
as well as could be expected, but has but little smell. The
Crop was great.

6. — A storm of thunder, & lightening.

Cut a brace of melons. They come very quick from
the time of setting ; but are not curious this wet shady
summer.

8. — Cut a brace of melons. .

ii. — More melons.

Vast showers.

15. — Melons come in heaps.

19. — Planted-out a plot of curled endive, & a plot of
savoys : put sticks to the large french beans.

Finished cutting the hedges.

Sultry weather, & showers.

22. — Planted-out more curled endive, & some Batavian
Endive ; & planted-out some rows of German turneps.

July 26. — Planted more rows of German turneps.

Shady, showery weather still. All the succades come;
but none good.

Aug. 4. — Bottled-off the hogsh : of port between Mr-
Yalden, & myself.

5. — Hot, summer weather, with an high glass.

6. — Trimm'd, and tack'd the fruit-trees.

Romagna melons are come ; but not good.

8. — Sowed three ounces of prickly-seeded spinage ; &
some Coss-lettuce : planted-out more savoys.

Severe heat, & fine ripening weather.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 407

15. — Trenched three rows more of Celeri in Turner's
Garden.

Septemr- 13. — Found the rows of Celeri backward, & not
thriving.

The Crop of spinage fails.

Peaches & Nect : begin to ripen well : they are both
large, & fair.

Grapes do but just begin to turn.

13. — Tyed-up endives both curled, & Batavian, they are
curled well, & well-grown.

One crop of Savoys was well nigh destroyed by ye dry
weather.

All the Nect : trees this Year produce fine fair fruit ; but
the first tree is distempered, & shrivelled.

The Apricot-tree produced a decent crop of fine fair
fruit.

There are filberts, & nuts without end.

Potatoes are large, & good.

Peaches, & nectarines were fine in Septem'- being
brought-on by the delicate autumnal weather.

Octobr- 4. — Black grapes are very good.

The first great rain with much distant thunder and
lightening.

5. — Planted-out two long rows of polyanths from the
seed-box : the seed came from Mr- Gibson's. Planted-out
some stock-july-flowers.

The endives by the heat of the weather run much
to seed.

25. — Planted 100 of Cabbages to stand the winter.

Planted Coss-lettuces to stand the winter against the
fruit wall.

Octobr- 25. — Grapes, black-cluster, are very delicate.
Autumnal rains come on.

Novr- 10 : & ii. — Trimmed the vines against the House.

Those at the end of the dining-room are weakly
towards the top.

13. — Dug-up all the potatoes, a good crop, & large
bulbs.

4o8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

The Celeri arrives at no Growth, & is cropp'd by
the Hogs.

Novr- 17 : 1766. — Planted a new Nectarine-tree against
the fruit-wall, which the Nurseryman, Armstrong, calls
a Violet.

Planted a standard golden pippin in the orchard.

DUNG BORROWED IN 1766.

Feb. 7. — Of Kelsey dung pd- car pd- . 4 loads.

Car : of my own i load car p4

Feb. 7. — Of Parsons Dung pd- Cr- p4 . 4 loads.

March 8. — Of Parsons Dung pd- O pd- . 5 loads.

Of Kelsey dung pd- car p4 . 4 loads.
Car : of my own 2 loads.

April 17. — Of Parsons. Dung pd- Cr- p4 . 4 loads.

18. — Of Kelsey dung pd- car pd- . i load.

26. — Of I : Hale Dung pd- car : pd . 3 loads.

Garden- Kalendar for the Year 1767

Jan. i. — Hard frost begins to set in.

10. — Intense frost.

ii. — Very deep snow.

14. — Very hard rain on the snow for many hours.

17, & 1 8. — Most severe frost, & the Country covered
with ice.

19. — Made an hot-bed.

21. 22. — Regular thaw.

Feb. 6. — Cucumr- plants shew a rough leaf.

14. — A very wet season.

House-pidgeons begin to lay.

Cast dung in the farm yards.

25. — Made half an Hogsh : of raisin wine with one
hund : of Malagas, & half an hund : of Smyrnas. The
former cost 253. pr- hund : & the latter the same. Put to
the raisins ten buckets, & an half of water.

Vast rains still, with wind & lightening.

March 4. — Great rains.

March 5. — Sowed some Succade-seeds.

Stopped-down the Cucumr- plants that have got several
joints.

A fine spring day.

10. — Sowed a crop of pease, the first. Sowed a small
crop of Carrots, lettuce, & radishes.

Began planting the bank by the stable.

12. — Made the Cucumber-bed with 8 loads of dung.
Some plants in the seed-bed show male-bloom. Beautiful
sunny weather.

409 p

4io NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

17. — Turned-out the Cucumber-plants into the Hills
of the bearing-bed ; they are fine plants, but full tall. The
bed is hot & requires care. The plants for fruiting in the
seedling-bed have good side shoots, & shew the rudiments
of fruit.

Made a Celeri-bed with an Hand-glass.

18. — Sowed Cantaleupe-seeds.

23. — Tunned the raisin-wine which filled the half hogsh :
there was about one gallon over. The wine, after drawn
from ye raisins, stood two days in a tub to settle, by which
means a large quantity of grout was kept back.

Put to the wine ten bottles & one pint of elder syrop.

Mem: the syrop by being made with only one pound
of sugar to a bottle of juice, fermented, & broke one
bottle, & blowed-out some corks. Put one p^ of sugar
to the wine to make amends for the bottle of syrop which
was lost. The wine is very sweet now.

March 25. — Brewed an half Hogsh : of strong-beer
with six bushels of Rich : Knight's malt,1 and three pounds
of hops : well water.

28. — Cucumber-fruit blows out.

Planted some strong cuttings of my sweet-water grape
against the fruit-wall, & against the wall of the House near
the fig-tree, & brew-house door.

30. — Many Cucumber -fruit blown. Lined-out the
seedling bed for the last time.

31. — Swallow appears.

April 2. — Put three Gallons of wine, half of which was
of the strongest sort, into ye vinegar-barrel.

3. — Rain, gentle & warm constantly for four whole
days to this time. Grass grows wonderfully.

Earth'd-out ye seedling-cucumr- bed : fruit swells.

April 4. — Motacilla trochilus Lin : Regulus non cristatus
Raii ; & Parus ater Lin : & Raii, Angl : colemouse, sing.

6. — Saw more than twenty swallows & bank-martins »
at Mrs- Cole's at Liss over the Canals.

10. — The nightingale, motacilla luscinia, sings.

1 This was James Knight's brother.— [R. B. S.]

A GARDEN KALENDAR 411

The black-cap, motacilla atricapilla, sings.

The red-start, motacilla Phoenicurus appears.

Raised, & earth'd-out the large Cucumr- bed to the
full ; & mossed it.

ii. — Cut a very large Cucumber.

12. — Cut five large ones, & sent them to London.

13. — Miller's thumb, Cottus gobio, spawns.

14. — Planted three rows of potatoes in a mellow quarter
near the fruit-wall.

15. — Made the melon-bed, for two frames only, with
16 loads of hot dung, which had been cast, & turned over
twice. The bed is stout, & consists of short, solid dung.

Put a good layer of cold dung at the top to keep down
the steam.

Cold dry weather ; & the fruit-trees are matted every
night.

April 15. — Sowed carrots, parsneps, radishes, onions,
leeks, lettuces, savoys, German turneps.

16. — Sowed Baker's hill (which is about an acre & an
half of ground, walks, & melon-ground excluded) with
seven bushels of Saintfoin along with a crop of barley of
dame Knight's.1

The field was winter-fallowed, & has had two plowings
besides : but by reason of the wet spring is sown in a
very rough Condition.

It has been hand-pick'd of the weeds by women, & is
got clean ; & is to be rolled, & harrowed again.

Made an hand-glass bed for large white Dutch-
Cucumbers.

Cold winds, & sleet.

The brambling, fringilla montifringilla, appears.2 The
cock is a fine gay bird.

17. — Some snow, with Ice & a fierce cutting wind.

1 Fifty years ago the old women used to be called Dames.

2 This is a curious note of Gilbert White's, as it reads as if he looked upon the
appearance of the Brambling in the same light as that of the Redstart on the loth.
In reality, in such a beech-country as Selborne, the Brambling would be found
throughout the winter, and on the i6th of April would be on the point of departing
for its Scandinavian breeding-haunts. See note, p. 51. — [R. B. S.]

4i2 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

18. — Went to London.

June 12. — Returned to Selborne.

Cold black weather ; & the fruit of all kinds cut-off in
general.

June 1 6. — Lined the melon-bed with four loads of
dung : the succades are full of haulm, & the fruit begin-
ning to blow ; the Cantaleupes look poor, and distempered.

18. — Succades begin to set.

Sowed a plot of endive.

9. — Planted-out annuals on a showery day.

29 : 30. — Cut my hay, a good Crop.

July 2. — Ricked five jobbs in excellent order : one jobb
in large cock catched in the rain.

3. — Pricked out savoys, & German turneps.

Some succades are large : Cantaleupes begin to blow.

Alauda minima locustae voce, the titlark that sings like a
Grass-hopper x seems to have finished his song.

The stoparola builds in the vine.

Spipola prima Aldrov : the white throat, sings.

The titlark sings.

Great showers about.

Planted-out Cucumbers for pickling.

July 5. — Rain & a tempestuous wind that damaged the
garden much, & blowed down a green-gage plum-tree.

7. — Housed the last load of Hay.

8 : 9. — Strong winds, & heavy showers unfavourable to
the wheat.

n. — Vast showers still. Slip'd & planted out pinks, &
wall-flowers.

The titlark still.

Young swallows appear.

The Stoparola brings out it's Young.

18. — Vines begin to blow.

20. — Ananas are in cutting at Hartley.

Trenched-out some Celeri.

Planted-out some endive.

Hot, summer-like weather.

1 The Grasshopper Warbler.— (R. B. S.]

•

•rrr <^M^ «r •

f ;. -JEftfc

'

•* i-^u^ - . •»•' «,>
x ^,-S^ y

' 7r~S-, >

^ ; Vt ., |

' • ••"^•- ./

v tN - ; - W

m.

A GARDEN KALENDAR 413

The titlark sings still.

The Nect : trees put-out some young shoots, & look
better ; the peach-trees shrivel-up, & get worse, & worse.

29 : 30. — Vast rains, & wind.

Aug. i. — The first crop of Succades were all cut : they
are not good for want of sun, & dry weather.

Parus ater, the cole-mouse, sings.

10. — Hot, dry weather for some time.

Sejf- ii. — Much wheat abroad, & some standing.

Second crop of Succades good. Cantaleupes good, but
small.

Regulus non cristatus chirps.1

Peaches begin to ripen.

Peach, & Nect: trees a little recovered from yir dis-
tempered condition.

17. — Discovered the yellow centory, Centaurium luteum
perfoliatum of Ray, in plenty up the sides of the steep cart-
way in the King's field beyond Tull's. This is a very vague
plant for ascertaining according to the sexual system.

Linn : makes it a gentian, & places it among the
pentandrias : but it has commonly seven stamina. Hodson
makes a new Genus of it (Blackstonia) unknown to Linn :
placing it as an 8 andria digynia. It is best known by it's
boat-like, very perfoliated leaves.

Moist black weather, which much retards harvest.

19. — Sultry weather, with a very high barometer.

Peaches are good, & Nectarines delicate, & large.
Black grapes begin to turn colour.

Wheat in general is housed, & housing.

The black-cap, red-start, & white throat still appear.

Cantaleupes small with me, but good.

Succades good.

24. — Tyed-up many large endives.

Sweet Autumnal weather.

Ear-wigs, when small, fly about with ease : but, when
full-grown do not attempt to rise ; as if their wings were

1 The Chiff-chaff (Phylloscopus minor) is the only one of the Willow Warblers
which utters a lively note in autumn as well as in spring. — [R. B. S. ]

4i4 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

not then adequate to their weight. This is a mistake ;
there are two species.

Melons over.

18. — Musca meridiana of Linn : & Scopoli appears.

Octobr- 5. — Great hail-storms, & cold weather.

Martins appear still.

Very few wasps.

Missle-thrushes come to the Yew-trees.

Endives are very fine.

8. — Celeri is blanched.

Gathered my apple, & pear-crop, which consisted
literally of one Golden-pippin, & one Cadillac.

Octobr' 20. — Being on a visit at the house of my good
friend Mr- John Mulso Rector of Witney, I rode-out on
purpose to look after the base hore hound, the Stachys
Fuchsii of Ray, which, that Gent : says, grows near Witney
park : I found but one plant under the wall : but farther
on near the turnpike that leads to Burford, in an hedge
opposite to Minster Lovel, it grows most plentifully.

It was still blowing, & abounded with seed ; a good
parcel of which I brought away with me to sow in the dry
banks round the village of Selborne. It is not known to
grow in any Country save that of Oxon, & Lincoln.

29. — Saw four or five swallows flying round & settling
on the County-hospital at Oxon.

Novr- 4. — Bees & flies still continue to gather food from
ye blossoms of Ivy.

5. — Gathered the first grapes ; they are very sweet, &
delicate ; tho' the buches, & berries are smaller than usual.
There is not one fifth part of the usual crop.

12. Continual wet, & high winds. People are much
hindred in their wheat-season.

Noif- 12. — Bro Benjn- saw a Marten flying in Fleet
street.

1 6. — Vast rains.

1 8. — The first considerable frost.

23. — Put the Hyacinths in rows in part of a Quarter
near the fruit wall. Many of the roots were decayed ; &

A GARDEN KALENDAR 415

the rest would have been better, had not the rains prevented
their being put-out for several weeks.

Earthed-up all the Celeri. Some of it begins to pipe.

Grey still weather with an high Glass.

De<f- i. — Dug-up the potatoes, a good Crop.

4. — A very hard frost with a little snow.

Car : away the melon-bed.

Sent two field-mice, a species very common in these
parts (tho' unknown to the zoologists) to Thomas Pennant
Esq. of Downing in Flintshire. They resemble much in
colour ye Mus domesticus medius of Ray ; but are smaller
than the Mus domesticus vulg : seu minor of the same
great Naturalist. They never enter houses ; are carryed
into ricks, & barns with ye sheaves ; abound in harvest ;
& build their nests, composed of the blades of corn, up
from the ground among the standing wheat ; & sometimes
in thistles. They breed as many as eight Young at
one time.1

Decemr- 6. — Planted one golden-rennet, & six curious
sorts of Goose-berries from Armstrong.

10. — The nut-hatch, sitta, sive picus cinereus, chirps.
It runs about on trees, & hangs with it's back down-
ward like the titmouse.

It builds in hollow trees, stopping-up great part of the
hole with clay, so as to leave barely room to go in & out.
There have been several nests in an hole in the yew-tree
in Selborne church-yard. Some of the clay remains still
at the top of the Crevice.

15. — Planted one Roman Nectarine, & one melting
peach from Armstrong.

Decemr- 16. — Mild, pleasant weather.

Daiseys, Herb Robert, ragwort, hepaticas, primroses,
in bloom. Crocuss, & snow-drops spring.

22. — Strong frost after a long dry fit without any.

24. — Strong, bearing Ice, & a severe N.E. wind.

Covered the Celeri, & put straw to the roots of the new
planted trees.

1 See Letter XII to Pennant, of November 4, 1767 : antea, p. 45.— [R. B. S.]

416 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

26, & 28. — Frequent flights of snow, & severe frost
within doors.

30. — Severe frost, & still sunny fine days. It freezes
even in the Kitchen.

31. — It froze under people's beds. Great rimes, &
beautiful sunny days.1

DUNG BORROWED IN 1767.

March 6. — Of Parsons dung pd- O pd- . 3 loads.
Of I : Hale little cart car : pd-

dung pd- . . . . 3 loads.

Of Kelsey car : pd- dung pd- . 2 loads.

April 2. — Of Parsons dung pd- Cr : pd . 4 loads.

2. — Of Kelsey car : pd- dung pd- . 4 loads.

3. — Of Berriman car : pd- at three

times 4 loads.

3. — Of I : Hale a little cart car : pd-

dung pd- . . . . 4 loads.

June 15. — Of I : Hale D°- car pd: dung pd- 2 loads.

Of F : Parsons dung pd- Cr : p4 2 loads.

1 It will be noticed that for some time Gilbert White's " Garden Kalendar "
has been getting less and less minutely kept. After his correspondence began
with Pennant and Daines Harrington, he seems to have transferred his energies
to the " Naturalists' Kalendar," and his notes in the " Garden Kalendar " are
confined to the record of his wine-making and beer-brewing. — [R. B. S.]

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1768

Feb. 16, 1768. — Made then 20 gallons of raisin-wine in a
new barrel with one hund : of Malaga-raisins.

The raisins were good, & cost 253. pr- hund : l Put 6
buckets, & two thirds of water.

March 8. — Tunned the raisin-wine, & put to it 10
bottles of elder syrop. It just held out.

March g. — Brewed half an Hogsh : of strong beer with
six bushels of Richd- Knight's malt, & three pounds of
Turner's hops.

Well-water. The beer work'd well.

May 19. — Rack'd-off the elder-wine, which worked too
much : took from it two quarts of grout, & put to it one
pint of brandy. It is sweet, & well flavoured.

Sep. 12. — Bottled-off the elder- wine made Feb. 16: it
was fine, & well flavoured. The cask ran seven doz : of
bottles : some bottles were very large.

Sepr- 22. — Bottled-off the Hogsh : of port : it was very
bright : my share ran n doz : & 10 Bottles.

Septemr- 23. — Made 12 bottles of elder-syrop : put to it
10 pounds of coarse sugar.

DUNG BORROWED IN 1768.

March 5'*- — Of Kelsey dung pd- car : pd- . 4 loads.

Of Parsons car pd- dung pd- . 2 loads.

7. — Of Hale dung paid car pd- . 2 loads.

25. — Of Hale dung paid car pd- . 4 loads.

Of Kelsey dung pd- car pd- . 8 loads.

Of Parsons car pd- dung pd- . 4 loads.

Ap. 19. — Of Parsons car pd- dung pd- . 2 loads.

June 10. — Of Parsons car pd- dung pd- . i load.

1 Raisins used to be about 235. per cwt. fifty years ago, when all middle-
class families made their own wine. — [H. M.]

417 3G

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1769

Feb. 8, 1769. — Brewed half an hogsh : of strong beer, with
six bushels of Rich : Knight's malt, & three pds- & an half
of John Berriman's hops.

The water was about three parts rain-water.1

Feb. 27, 1769. — Mashed an hundred of Malaga raisins
in order to make twenty gallons of wine.

The raisins were good & cost 235. per hund.

Put 6 buckets & two thirds of a bucket of water.

March 21. — Tunned the raisin- wine, & added to it ten
bottles of elder syrop.

DUNG BORROWED IN 1769.

March 6. — Of Hale dung pd car pA . 4 loads.

Of Benham car pd- dung pd- . 3 loads.

Apr. 13**- — Of Hale dung pd- car pd- . . 4 loads.

Of Benham car pd- dung pd- . 4 loads.

May 12. — Of Benham car pd- dung pd' . i load.

June 12. — Of Benham car pd- dung pd- . 2 loads.

1 Gilbert White, as will be seen, used rain-water for making his beer. The
water from Well-head would be too hard for the purpose. — [H. M.]

4i8

Garden- Kalendar for the Year 1770

March 2, 1770. — Brewed half an hogsh : of strong beer
with six bush : of Rich : Knight's malt, & 3 pds- & an half
of Berriman's hops.

Mem : put one bush : of brown malt to the second
mashing.

March 12, 1770. — Mashed an hundred of Malaga-raisins
in order to make twenty gallons of wine.

The raisins were good, & cost 235. pr- hund.

Put 6 buckets & f of water to the raisins.

April 6. — Tunned the wine and put to it eleven bottles
of elder syrop. There was barely liquor enough to fill the
barrel.

June i, 1770. — Racked-off the raisin-wine made in March,
& put to it one pint of brandy.

Took out a gallon of grout.

DUNG BORROWED IN 1770.

Feb. 22. — Of Hale car pd- dung pd- . 5 loads.

23. — Of Benham car : pd- dung pd- . 3 loads.

Dung pd- of Benham car : pd- . . 6 loads.

Of Hale car pd- dung pd- . 5 loads.

June 8. — Of Hale dung pd- car: pd- . 4 loads.

Aug. 2. — pd-

Master Hale brought me in one load of Hay.

419

Garden-Kalendar for the Year 1771

March 6, 1771. — Brewed half an hogshead of strong
beer with 6 bushels of Rich : Knight's malt, & 3 pds- & half
of Berriman's hops. Kept it in the tun-tub, & laded in
the yeast til the 8th-

Severe frost at the time. All rain-water save one
bucket.

Novr- 29, 1771. — Brewed half an hogshead of strong
beer with 6 bush : of Richd- Knight's malt, & 3 pds- & an
half of Berriman's hops of the year 1770. The water was
all from ye well, but it was drawn some days before, &
stood in the open air.

March 24, 1772. — Brewed half an hogshead of strong
beer with 6 bush : of Rich : Knight's malt, & near 4
pounds of Berriman's hops of the year 1770. All rain
water. Put one bush : of brown malt to the second mash-
ing. The beer works well.

March 5, 1773. — Brewed half an hogshead of strong
beer with 6 bushels of Rich : Knight's malt, & three
pounds & an half of Berriman's hops. All rain water.
Put one bush : of brown malt to the second mashing.
Beer works well.

Novr- i, 1773. — Brewed half an hogshead of strong
beer with six bushels of Rich : Knight's malt, & three
pounds & an half of Berriman's new hops. All rain
water. Put one bushel of brown malt to the second
mashing.

A GARDEN KALENDAR

421

DUNG BORROWED IN 1771.

March 8. — Of Hale Dung pd- car pd- . 5 loads,

ii. — Of Benham Car p 3 loads.
April i. — Of Hale one load dung pd-

car pd- .... i load.

APPENDIX I

DURING the progress of this first volume through the press I have
received some notes from my friends Mr. W. E. de Winton and Mr.
R. I. Pocock, which are of considerable interest : —

Page 113. Water Shrew. White had evidently never found
this Shrew. It is easily overlooked, and in his time it had only
been recorded from the eastern and midland counties. It is,
however, much more widely distributed throughout England than
is generally supposed, and may sometimes be found a long way
from water, though the sides of brooks and ponds are its favourite
haunt. When lying on a plank across a small brook, I have
often watched it diving and searching the bottom for shrimps and
larvae, when the air-bubbles on its fur made it look like a bar of
silver.— [W. E. de W.]

Page 113. With regard to the Eagle Owl, there is always some
doubt felt as to whether the individuals of this species, which are
now and again met with in the British Islands, are not escaped
birds. Some of the occurrences on the east coast and north of
Scotland may be those of genuinely wild birds. — [W. E. de W.]

Page 113. Water Rat (Micro/us amphibius). The potatoes
were, no doubt, the attraction in this case, and similar instances
are not rare, but this animal does not usually wander far from the
sides of brooks or ponds, even in winter. — [W. E. de W.]

Page 114. The Large Great Bat (Vesperugo noctula). It is
highly probable that Gilbert White has hit the mark as to the reason
of the high flight and short summer activity of this species. Like
the Swift, it feeds solely on small insects which are abroad only
in the middle of summer. This Bat sleeps and hibernates almost
invariably in hollow trees, and of course does not leave this country
in winter. It may be seen before sundown flying over our London
parks, especially over St. James's Park and Kensington Gardens. —
[W. E. de W.]

422

APPENDIX I 423

Page 146. Harvest Bug. This notorious little pest is not an
insect at all, but the young of several species of the mite, Trotn-
bidium. It is a minute red creature, scarcely discernible by the naked
eye, and infests plants and animals of various kinds. In the case of
human beings it burrows under the skin, causing a swelling, accom-
panied by much irritation. It usually collects in numbers behind
the knee or on other parts of the body where clothing fits tightly.

Page 146. Long shining fly. This insect is nearly related to
the fly Piophila caset, which is the parent of the well-known
maggots, commonly called cheese-hoppers. — [R. I. P.]

Page 146. Turnip-flies. Also from their powers of hopping
called turnip-yfoas. As White says, however, this little insect is
neither a fly nor a flea, but a beetle (Phyllotreta nemorum). Both
in its larval and adult forms it does much damage to turnip crops
by devouring the leaves of the plant. — [R. I. P.]

Page 147. Oestrus curvicauda. This insect, the horse bot-fly
or horse gad-fly, the Gastrophilis equi of modern naturalists, much
resembles a honey-bee in size and colour. It lays its eggs on the
skin of horses, asses, and mules, instinctively selecting a spot well
within reach of the quadruped's mouth. The maggot after emerging
from the egg sets up irritation. The horse thereupon licks the
infested spot, and swallows the maggot. But the maggot, instead
of perishing, attaches itself to the walls of its host's stomach and
there stays in perfect security for about a year, when, being nearly
full grown, it makes its way to the outer air by way of the
intestines, and completes its development on the ground. Linnaeus
confounded this species with the ox warble-fly (Hypoderma bovis),
which lives in the larval stage beneath the skin of oxen, and gives
rise to the disease referred to later on by White as the puckeridge.
-[R. I. P.]

Page 147. THE STAR-TAILED MAGGOT is, as White states, the
larva of a large broad, somewhat bee-like fly, now called Stratiomys
chamceleon, which may be seen on the wing in the neighbourhood
of marshes, ponds, or ditches. The larva is a large, evil-looking
aquatic grub, covered with a tough blackish skin, provided with a
small pointed head in front and at the opposite end with a breathing
orifice surrounded by a circlet of barbed hairs. Hence the epithet
" Star-tailed," which White applies to it. By means of the barbed
hairs the larva is enabled to suspend itself from the surface of the

424 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

water, hanging vertically downwards with the orifice just above the
water's level, and also by the folding in of the hairs to carry a
bubble of air to the bottom of the water for purpose of respiration.
-[R. I. P.]

Page 154. Scarabceus solstitialis. This is the Rhizotrogus
solstitialis of modern entomologists. This Cock-chafer or Summer-
chafer is abundant in the South of England : it is considerably
smaller than the Common Cock-chafer (Melolontha vulgaris), and
may be further distinguished from it by having only three, instead
of seven, plates on the feelers. — [R. I. P.]

APPENDIX II

Note on the Geology of the Selborne District
By C. W. ANDREWS, F.G.S.

THE neighbourhood of Selborne offers a most excellent example
of the close relation which exists between the geological structure
and the scenery of a district. All the salient features of the land-
scape are at once explained by the nature and disposition of the
underlying rocks, to the great variety of which, moreover, the rich-
ness of the flora and fauna is directly due. The village stands
close to the foot of the bold chalk escarpment forming the extreme
western boundary of the Weald, and the steep, beech-clad slopes of
the Hanger and Nore Hill are formed by the denuded edges of beds
of the Lower Chalk. The summit of Nore Hill is 696 feet above
the sea, and that of the Hanger a little lower. Between the foot of
the Hanger, which is about on the contour line of 400 feet, and the
main street of the village is a narrow belt of the Chalk Marl, at the
base of which lies a thin band (less than 10 feet) of Chloride Marl.
It is on the junction of these beds with the underlying Upper
Greensand that the village stands. In Letter I, Gilbert White refers
to the soil derived from the Chalk Marl as a " stiff clay (good wheat
land)," while it is to the Chloritic Marl that the darker soil, de-
scribed by him as " Black Malm," owes its origin.

The gently-sloping land to the east and north of the village is
composed of beds of the Upper Greensand, which to the north-east
terminate in a small escarpment or steep slope overlooking a valley
in the softer Gault Clay. Along this escarpment, to which, like that
of the Chalk, the name " Hanger " is locally given, landslips are not
infrequent, and are sometimes of considerable extent, as in the case
described by White in Letter XLV to Daines Barrington. These
slips occur after heavy rains, and are caused by the beds of the

425 3 H

426 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE

Upper Greensand, saturated with water, held up by the under-
lying Gault Clay, sliding forward over the slippery surface of that
deposit. Even where extensive slips have not occurred, the ground
near the edge of the Greensand area is often broken owing to
slight displacements due to the same cause.

The upper part of the Upper Greensand (the " White Malm "
of White), in this neighbourhood consists of alternations of blue
ragstone, which is a hard argillaceous rock, and " firestone," which
is a sandstone much used for hearthstones and oven-beds, as
described in Letter IV to Pennant, where also the ragstone is
mentioned as being used for a variety of purposes. These upper
beds are well exposed in the side of some of the " hollow lanes "
so characteristic of the neighbourhood. These are sometimes 15 to
20 feet deep, and seem to have been produced originally by the
wear of traffic, but afterwards this has been assisted in deepening
them by the water which runs along them after heavy rains.

The thickness of the Upper Greensand must be rather over
60 feet, for White mentions that the wells at Selborne are on the
average about 63 feet deep, and the water is no doubt held up by
the underlying Gault Clay. This latter deposit is exposed along a
belt from half a mile to about a mile in width to the east of the
Upper Greensand escarpment. It also appears along the lower
part of the valley of the Oakhanger stream, which has cut down to
it through the Upper Greensand beds as far as a point about a
quarter of a mile east of Selborne Church. To the east of the
Gault again we meet with the sandy beds of the Lower Greensand,
which form the open furze and fir-clad heaths of Wolmer Forest
and the neighbourhood. These sands seems to contain much water,
which, in the lower ground, forms pools, of which Wolmer and
Oakhanger Ponds are good examples.

White makes several references to the occurrence of fossils in
the rocks of the neighbourhood. The shell which he figured and
describes under the name Mytilus crista-galli is the Alectryonia
ricordeana, Coquand (Ostrcea carinaia, Lamarck), from the Chalk
Marl. The Cornua Ammonis, which he speaks of as being found
in making the path up the Hanger, must consist of Ammonites
from the Lower Chalk; while the Nautili from the north-west
of the Hanger are probably the Nautilus elegans of the Chalk
Marl. Other species from this last-named deposit are Schlcenbachia

APPENDIX II 427

(Ammonites) varians, Turrilites costatus, and T. tuberculatus. In
the sandy Chloritic Marl are found Sponges, Pectens, and other
Lamellibranchs, as well as Ammonites. From the Upper Green-
sand Sea-urchins, Pectens (Pectcn orbicularis), Actinocamax, Nautilus
pseudo-elegans and various Ammonites, including Acanthoceras
rhotomagense, Schlcenbachia varians and S. rostratus, and Hoplites
catillus.

From the above description it will be gathered that Selborne is
from a naturalist's point of view singularly fortunately situated, since
the alternation of hill 'and plain, with their varying soils resulting from
the decomposition of the different underlying rocks, is favourable
for the support of a great variety of plants, and, as a necessary
consequence, of animals.

END OF VOL. I

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON 6* Co.
Edinburgh 6* London

WHITE, GILBERT, 1720-1793

The natural history and
antiquities of Selborne &
garden kalendar.
Volume I

m

3765
W2

N2