HONEY BEE. 259 
Lucy, Does not cold weather some- 
times kill whole hives of bees, mamma ? 
Mother, Very severe cold does ; for 
which reason some people keep their hives 
in cellars, or in bee houses ; however^ in 
general, they live through the winter 
very well, especially if the hive be plas- 
tered round the bottom, as a defence 
against both cold and vermin ; but a little 
door must be left, just large enough to 
let a bee walk out, which they often do 
on fine days. It is useful to put a cap of 
straw over each hive, to throw off the 
rain and snow; and the bees ought also 
to be fed now and then, in order to pre- 
vent them from consuming all their own 
stores, as in that case they would de- 
prive themselves of food in the begin- 
ning of summer, before they were able 
to collect a fresh supply. 
Lucy. How can they be fed ? Can you 
give them honey ? 
Mother, Honey is not thought to be 
the best food ; some people give them soft 
