in March, April, and May. 125 
dy prejudicial to them, and ought therefore to 
be prevented with all poflible care. By this 
fimple practice, the bees are kept warm and 
healthy, which is greatly beneficial to them in 
breeding. But in following this plan, great 
caution muft be obferved, that the bees have 
no other vent to get out at, as the confequen- 
- ces would be fatal. (See pages 100 and 101.) 
In the beginning of March, if the weather 
be good, the becs will begin to carry home 
loads of honey and wax. I nave feldom feen 
them carry fu early as February, excepting in | 
the year 1793, when I obferved feveral bees go 
into one of my hives, heavy loaden, fo early as 
the term of Candlemas; but I believe they 
hardly carried any more for a full month there- 
after. 
At this feafon, every hive ought to be again 
Jifted, and the {tool cleaned ; on. which. occa- 
fion, the ftate of the hivé, both with regard to 
its provifions, and the number of its inhabi- 
tants, will. be difcovered. Hives of twenty 
pounds weight ftand in no need of any fupply 
of food, and may therefore be immediately re- 
placed upon their ftools, and covered, and their 
fkirts plaiftered as tormerly; but, fuch as 
weigh only fourteen or fixteen pounds fhould 
be 
