i> 
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 237 
such emergencies; and if his plantations are small, to avail 
himself of mats, cloths, pease-haum, straw, reeds, or any such 
covering, for a short time; or, if his shrubberies are extensive, 
to see that his people go about with prongs and forks, and 
carefully dislodge the snow from the boughs; since the naked 
foliage will shift much better for itself, than where the snow is 
partly melted and frozen again. 
It may perhaps appear at first like a paradox ; but doubtless 
the more tender trees and shrubs should never be planted in 
hot aspects; not only for the reason assigned above, but also 
because, thus circumstanced, they are disposed to shoot earlier 
in the spring, and to grow on later in the autumn than they 
would otherwise do, and so are sufferers by lagging or early 
frosts. For this reason also plants from Siberia will hardly 
endure our climate; because, on the very first advances of 
’ spring, they shoot away, and so are cut off by the severe nights 
of March or April. 
Dr. Fothergill and others have experienced the same incon- 
venience with respect to the more tender shrubs from North 
America, which they therefore plant under north walls. There 
should also perhaps be a wall to the east to defend them from 
the piercing blasts from that quarter. 
This observation might without any impropriety be carried 
into animal life ; for discerning bee-masters now find that their 
hives should not in the winter be exposed to the hot sun, 
because such unseasonable warmth awakens the inhabitants too 
early from their slumbers; and, by putting their juices into 
‘motion too soon, subjects them afterwards to inconveniences 
when rigorous weather returns. 
The coincidents attending this short but intense frost were, 
that the horses fell sick with an epidemic distemper, which 
injured the winds of many, and killed some; that colds and 
coughs were general among the human species; that meat was 
so hard frozen that it could not be spitted, and could not be 
