This section is from the book "The Gardener V3", by William Thomson. Also available from Amazon: The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener.
Our weather has not been agreeable; either rainy or dreadfully warm. Thunderstorms have been very frequent, and severe in their consequences; in one village the damage done is 50,000 thalers. Fruit has been greatly injured; Strawberries scarce and small; Cherries are nasty little hard things, not nice at all; Gooseberries are not ripe. Formerly some sorts of fruit have failed, but this year every kind has suffered. There is no abundance of any kind, and it is believed that there will be no better for next winter.
 
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