Page:A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering of Bees.djvu/44

Rh by and by not quieted with the ſauour, flie vnto the foreparts of the hiue, & ſometimes flie quite oute of the hiue, wherby any may looke into the Hiue without harme, in a maner, to the perſon. If there happen to be two ſwarmes in one hiue, then are there alſo two kindes or formes of honny combes. For euerye company of Bees in agreement togither, doth faſhion & frame the waxe, as liketh them beſt. But all the honny combes being hollowe wrought, and a little cleauing to the ſides of the hiue, do hang, whereby they may not touch the floure or bourde, for that otherwiſe it cauſeth the ſwarmes to flye quite away. Yet the forme of their waxe is ſuch, as the condition of their cottages is. For that ſome Bees doe make doth ſquare and rounde ſpaces, and ſome long, ſo that eche frameth, as it were certain formes in the combes, according to his kinde. So that the hony combs, are founde alwaies alike in faſhion, but theſe combes of what forme ſoeuer they be, are not to be taken all out of the hiues. For in the beginning of Harueſt, whiles the fieldes yet flouriſhe, take a fift parte of the combes, but after, when Winter is at hande, then leaue a thirde parte behinde.

Palladius willeth the hiues to be gelded in the moneth of October, and that a third part be left behind. Yet conſider, that if there be ſtore, to take the more: if but a meane, then the halfe part of that leaue for the winter time: if the cottages appeare but halfe full, then take nothing away. But Varro teacheth, that a third part of the combes maye be taken away, & ye other parte left for the winter, although the combes be ful of honny. If you fear (ſaith he) a ſharp winter to follow, thē take nothing at al: & of the ſame mind is the learned Vergil in this. But the expert practiſers of our time in ſuch matters, do affirme, that ye honny ought to be taken awaye but once in the yeare, & this in the end of the moneth of Auguſt, vnto the middle of Septēber. But the waxe being corrupt, then, both before and at any time maye be taken forth of the hiues. Alſo as touching the honny which ye Bees giue, whether you maye take awaye either little or much, muſt be conſidered according to the ſmalneſſe or plentifulneſſe of ye hony being in the hiue. And according to ye undefined