434 FEBRUARY. 



which is here given. In the fickle climate of England, the 

 temperature of the day in the month of February may be 

 warm and genial, and the following morning may see the 

 earth covered with snow: in this case, the skilful bee-master 

 will lose no time in confining his bees altogether, by letting 

 down the perforated sliders ; but how is this to be effected 

 with either mortar or clay ? The entrance must be either 

 completely closed, which is highly detrimental to the bees, 

 or so much of it must be left open as to permit the egress 

 of the bees, in which case the death of hundreds will be the 

 consequence. 



It is towards the latter end of this month that the dysen- 

 tery in general shows itself, and the vigilance of the bee- 

 master is now required either to prevent or to cure it. Let 

 them, however, not mistake the excrement of the bee for 

 the dysentery ; for there are some bee-masters who are so 

 strongly riveted to the opinion, that the bees void no 

 fasces, that in the spring, when the bees take their perio- 

 dical flight, and little yellowish globules of a fetid odour are 

 seen on the stool of the hive, as well as on the clothes of 

 the person who stands near it, they immediately declare 

 their hives in an infected state, and would, if possible, place 

 every bee under quarantine. For the best method of pre- 

 venting or curing this disease, see Chapter XVI. 



This is a good season for the purchase of hives ; they 

 have surmounted the dangers of winter, and, with the 

 judicious administration of some food, even the weakest 

 hive will prosper. 



It is the practice, though a very bad one, of some apiarians 

 to keep their bees confined during the winter ; when such 

 has been the case, it is now the proper season to move them 

 into the garden ; but let it be understood, that this opera- 

 tion must be performed when the weather is mild and 

 serene ; for the bees, feeling the exhilarating influence of 

 the air, will make every exertion to taste the sweets of 



