November

Nov. 3.

Men sow wheat: but the land-springs break out in some of the Hartley malm-fields. [Upper Greensand rock.]

Nov. 5.

Gossamer abounds. Vast dew lies on the grass all day, even in the sun.

Nov. 8.

Planted 3 quarters of an hundred more of cabbages to stand the winter: dug-up potatoes; those in the garden large, & fine, those in the meadow small, & rotting.

Nov. 10.

On this day Brother Benjamin quitted South Lambeth, & came to reside at His House at Mareland.

Nov. 12.

Planted in the garden 2 codling-trees, 2 damson-trees, & 22 goose-berry trees, sent me by Bror T. W.

Nov. 13.

Mr Ed. White & man brought a good fine young white poplar from his out-let at Newton, & planted it at ye top of Parsons’s, slip behind the bench; where it will be ornamental.

Nov. 15.

Timothy comes out.

Nov. 17.

Baker’s hill is planted all over with horse-beans, which are grown four or five inches high. They were probably sown by jays; & spring up thro’ the grass, or moss. Many were planted there last year, but not in such abundance as now.

Nov. 19.

Water-cresses come in.

Nov. 21.

Sent 3 bantam fowls to Miss Reb. White at Mare-land, a cock & two pullets.

Nov. 22.

Timothy comes forth.

Nov. 24.

Saw a squirrel in Baker’s Hill: it was very tame. This was probably what Thomas called a pole-cat [See 28 Oct. supra.]

Nov. 26.

Timothy hides.

Nov. 29.

This dry weather enables men to bring in loads of turf, not much damaged: while scores of loads of peat lie rotting in the Forest.

Dec. 1.

Thomas started a hare, which lay in her form under a cabbage, in the midst of my garden. It has begun to eat the tops of my pinks in many places. The landsprings, which began to appear, are much abated.

Dec. 2.

This dry fit has proved of vast advantage to the kingdom, & by drying & draining the fallows, will occasion the growing of wheat on many hundred of acres of wet, & flooded land, that were deemed to be in a desperate state, & incapable of being seeded this season.

Dec. 4.

Timothy is gone under a tuft of long grass, but is not yet buried in the ground.

Dec. 5

Timothy appears, & flies come-out.

Dec. 7.

Took down the urns, & shut up the alcove.

Reverend Gilbert White, The Naturalist’s Journal, 1792

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