[ 39 ] 
in at the Mouth of the Hive, and the Bees being 
torpid and numbed with the Cold, lic above 5 and 
then they do much mifchief by gnawing the fealed 
Combs: It hath been an ufual Cuftom to leave the 
Door of the Straw-Hive too large and high, but the 
Hoop before recommended,and the Grates, will keep 
them pretty fecure from Mice entring by this Paflage, 
but if you have a Bee-houfe, you are pretty fate 
from Mice breaking in at the Crown of the Hive: 
If the Hives be upon fingle Stools, and covered with 
Heckles, they fhould be looked at once in three 
Weeks, or a Month at leaft, and if any Mice are got 
in, they muft be deftroyed ; it 1s proper to have 
‘Traps in the Bee-houfe, and to take care there be 
not any long Grafs, or other Harbour for Mice near 
the Bees. 
Moths and Earwigs are very troublefome to Bees, 
they get under the Combs, and lay their Eggs there, 
to the hatching of which the Heat of the Bees con- 
tribute : If Care’ be taken that the skirts of the Hive 
be plaiftered clofe to the Stool, or Feet, and that 
in March or September the Hives be gently lifted 
up, and the Board cleaned with a Wing or Brufh, a 
great deal of this kind of Mifchief may be pre- 
vented. | 
Watps, if not timely deftroyed, do great Mifchief 
to Bees; in May and part of “fune they content 
themfelves with eating dead Bees; but in Fue and 
Fuly, as they grow older and bolder, they will at- 
tempt to get into the Hives, and if they can make | 
their Party good, will rob and plunder, and often 
joinrobbing Bees, and deftroy whole Stocks; their 
Netts fhould be carefully fought after, and either 
drowned with fcalding Water, or dug in: if you ob- 
ferve Water-Troughs about May, you fhall fee ve- 
ry large Wafps, thefe are Breeders, and will ik 
ave 
