274 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



dislodge the snow from the boughs, since the naked 

 foliage will shift much better for itself, than where the 

 snow is partly melted and frozen again. 



It may perhaps appear at first like a paradox ; but 

 doubtless the more tender trees and shrubs should never 

 be planted in hot aspects ; not only for the reason 

 assigned above, but also because, thus circumstanced, 

 they are disposed to shoot earlier in the spring, and grow 

 on later in the autumn than they would otherwise do, 

 and so are sufferers by lagging or early frosts. For this 

 reason also plants from Siberia will hardly endure our 

 climate : because, on the very first advances of spring, 

 they shoot away, and so are cut off by the severe nights 

 of March or April. 



Dr. Fothergill and others have experienced the same 

 inconvenience with respect to the more tender shrubs 

 from North America ; which they therefore plant under 

 north walls. There should also perhaps be a wall to the 

 east to defend them from the piercing blasts from that 

 quarter. 



This observation might without any impropriety be 

 carried into animal life ; for discerning beemasters now 

 find that their hives should not in the winter be exposed 

 to the hot sun, because such unseasonable warmth 

 awakens the inhabitants too early from their slumbers ; 

 and, by putting their juices into motion too soon, subjects 

 them afterwards to inconveniences when rigorous weather 

 returns. 



The coincidents attending this short but intense frost 

 "were, that the horses fell sick with an epidemic distemper, 

 which injured the winds of many, and killed some ; that 

 colds and coughs were general among the human species ; 

 that it froze under people's beds for several nights ; that 

 meat was so hard frozen that it could not be spitted, and 

 could not be secured but in cellars ; that several redwings 



