102 How to manage Bees in Winter. 
ferve in general, that long confinement 1s pre- 
judicial to the health of the bees ; and that, as 
they do eat a little during their confinement, 
it is neceflary that they fhould get out to void 
their ordure; for, I have even feen bees, in 
fome hives that have been long confined, {well- 
ed to fuch a fize, for want of fuch opportuni- 
ties, that they feemed larger than a Queen bee; 
and, when they did at laft get liberty to Zo. 
out of their hives, being unable to fly, they 
would fall over the edge of their ftool, and 
creep about on the ground, till they died in 
great numbers; fo that fcarce one of a dozen 
of them ever recovered. But when they are 
permitted to go out occafionally, in fine win- 
ter days, they get fo much benefit by the free 
air, and by eafing their bodies in flying, that, 
when they return to their hives, they are able 
to turn out the dead bees, and they conclude 
the day with a /ong ;—a fure fign that they are 
healthy and happy. In fhort, I find by expe- 
rience, that bees thrive beft, when the hives 
are allowed to ftand out, and when the bees 
are at liberty to go out and in at pleafure in 
fine days, even in winter; for they are wife 
enough to know when they may venture out 
with fafety ; and they will come to the door 
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