122 Directions how to manage Bees 
vain, the cold benumbed them fo much, that 
they could not return to their brethren again, 
and thus death enfued. Now, fuppofing only 
three dozen of bees fer day to have come down 
upon this errand, and perhaps not a third of 
them to have been able to return, it is evident, 
that fuch hives muft of courfe be foon greatly 
reduced in the number of their inhabitants. | 
This made me anxious for good weather, that 
my difeafed and diftreffed fervants might get 
out, and recover their health, by flying about 
and getting rid of their fuperfluous matter. 
The long wifhed for period at laft arrived. 
The ftorm broke, and the weather became 
mild ; and, upon examining my hives, I found, 
that out of fourteen, which I had in one 
aplary, there were twelve whofe bees were in 
a healthy ftate ; and that thofe of the remain- 
ing two were partly difeafed. The day being 
very fine, and the doors of my hives opened, 
the bees flew about as thick as hail, making a 
great noife with their ufual mufic. My wife 
being prefent, we obferved, that the two difeaf- 
ed hives gradually diminifhed in the number 
of their bees, -whereupon I faid, that I fup- 
_ pofed ithe bees would foon defert thefe hives 
altogether ; to which fhe replied, that fhe wifh- 
a se 
