90 
benches, because during this process the air is introduced 
more freely into the hives, than through the grates 
bottom of the boxes. 1 oe ve: 
To perform this operation, a dry time should be chos 
and never attempted in a moist season. It is important in — 
winter, to keep up a free circulation of air, through the " 
small grates. If snow falls in, the night, it must be removed ~ 
in the morning; and, if it falls during the day, the grates 
must be cleared of it before night. By these little cares, 
more minute than troublesome, the integrity of the colonies 
is preserved. It may be observed, perhaps, that in the wil- 
derness, in our forests and rocks, the wild bees receive none 
of these cares from the hands of man, and yet they succeed ! 
This is doubtless true, but I know that it is the hatching of 
the couvain, on the return of warm weather, which perpe- 
tuates the colonies, and renews them every year. 
FEBRUARY.. ! 
‘In addition to the cares of visiting the hives, purifying 
and ventilating them, and renewing the supply of food 
and cordial, recommended in the preceding months, 
the projected plantations should be continued, for the em- 
bellishment of the apiary, and the preservation of spring 
swarms. ‘The ground should be dry, and prepared for for- 
ward flowers, many varieties of which should now be sowed. 
‘The bees from whose hives we remove the grates, immedi- 
ately essay their strength on the wild almond, and lay the 
buds of the saffron and violet under contribution, which 
require only a few good days to blossom, and expose tlieir 
treasures to the diligent bee. 
 _‘The attentive pees still keeps the bee grates under 
his command. He does not permit these first little indis- 
cretions of the bees, only in the driest and most serene days, 
and then only from eleven o’clock in the morning till about 
two afternoon. This is the time in which they return to the 
hives. And the wisdom of their instinct recalls them thi- 
ther, with more certainty and regularity, than strict reason 
recalls our frisky youth from the trivolous pleasures of a ball. 
MARCH, (OR MARS.) 
March is come, the god of battles and of glory. Our 
armies have heard his voice, and rallied under his stand- 
ards. Already are they on their march to the inspiring, — 
thundering sound of martial music. Soon will they have 
