two or three days of severe weather attended with frost have killed all most ofthe fruit in the neighborhood. here it is safe as yet, and I observed today that it is safe as low down as the old orchardat the where the 4. fields corner together. about half the almonds however are killed.
it is safe to the river, but not at Tufton.
in clearing the road between along belfield and Slatefield, where there was no digging, but every thing was grubbed up which could be grubbed, & the larger trees were cut down to a width of 1. pole, 4 men did 220. yds a day which was 10. square poles each.
I notice tried on that line the step of my horse, as a rough way of estimating distances, without getting down to stride them off. when pushed into a brisk walk he stepped the 220. yds at 112 steps descending & 116. steps ascending. 110 steps would have been 2.yds at a step. 114 (the medium) is 5 f 9 1/2 I. the step.
planted grape vines recieved from Legaux in the S.W. vineyard. in vacant space of rows in the upper or 1st. row very large white eating grapes.
30 plants of vines from Burgundy and Champagne with roots.
30 plants of vines of Bordeaux with roots.
10. plants of vines from Cape of good hope with roots.
6th. row 10. plants of vines from Cape of good hope with roots.
planted in the upper row of the Nursery beginning at the N.E. end the following peach stones, sent me by Mazzei from Pisa. see his letter.
4. stones of the Maddelena peach. then 4. of the poppe de Venere. then 12 melon peaches. then 40. Vaga loggia.
also planted a great number of Paccan nuts, in the same rows of those planted the two last years.
the well was observed about a month ago to have a plenty of water in it after having been dry about 18. months. my ice house here has taken 62.waggon loads of ice to fill it, have 1. foot thickness of shavings between it and the wall all around. the whole cost including labour, feeding, drink &c., has been 70. D.
peach trees begin to blossom.
a considerable snow on the blue ridge
