Watchman! Tell us of the Night.
Can you not recommend some reliable prophet, who will
prophesy good weather soon? The storm is terrible; not a road
in the county is passable for half a mile; the drifts are as
high as the fences, and the snow full three feet on the level.
Bees are getting uneasy, and must have a flight soon. Many
report heavy losses, even now; others complain that all are
sick with dysentery. In my home cellar, out of about 275, 4
are slightly affected, the balance are apparently in good
condition. My outside apiaries fare worse. Two weeks ago
quite a number had the dysentery slightly; I should judge
about 8 or 10 per cent. How they now are I cannot tell;
certainly, no better. I believe that they can stand it a
month longer, and my home apiary 6 weeks, but that is the
limit.
We are all afraid that Vennor's prophecy of 11 feet of
snow will yet be realized, unless some one can be found to
contradict it. Eleven feet of snow now would last us until
all our bees had died a natural death from old age. Help us
out of our trouble, if you can.