Page:A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering of Bees.djvu/47

Rh and working of it in the hote dayes, frō the beginning of May and vnto the middle of June.

Nowe the honny is gathered in this maner: firſt, before the honny be preſſed out of the combes, muſt thoſe corrupt combes hauing red filth, and hauing yong in them (if any ſuch be there) be preſſed oute, bicauſe they bothe procure an euill taſte, and with that iuyce corrupt the hony. The combs bruſed togither, ought to be put into a cleane preſſe, being yet warme, and new gathered out of the Hyues the ſame day, whiche lette lye there, vntil the hony by little and little be run forth, or rather for the more expedition, preſſed forthe with a heauy waighte, and the ſame which is then come forth, is very faire rawe hony. After that the honny with the waxe muſte be boyled togither, as hereafter ſhall be taught.

Nowe when the combes be thus bruſed togither, and the yong Bees killed and caſt forth, then muſt you make youre hony in this maner. As firſt in the Moneth of Septēber or October, take ye heauier and older hiues, which are of two or three yeares olde, and hauing bred ſwarmes in the Sommer before: and that ouer ſmoke and flame of ſtrawe, drie flaxe, or yellowe Brimſtone, the hiue a little whiles beholden, that the Bees may ſo flie vppe to the toppe of the hiue, or elſe ſuche remaining below burne their wings.

After that, turne downe the head of the hiue on the ground, and with a ſharpe knife cutte the croſſed ſtickes aſunder in the Hiue, or plucke thē forth with your hand. For by that meanes are the combes wel bruſed togither, and the Bees either killed with the fall of them, or elſe flye away. After this putte all the combes on a heape, being gathered oute of the hiues here and there into a preſſe, leaning ſomewhat on the one ſide, but ſome put ye combs into a wine baſket made of ſmal wilow or Oſier ſtickes finely knitte and wroughte togither, that hanged vppe in a darke place, the Honny maye runne thoroughe by little and little from it. After that the honny hathe thus runne forthe into a cleane earthen panne or boll ſtanding vnder it, then the ſame after poure into an earthen potte, or pottes, Rh