Page:Little book of knowledge, or, The country man's choice companion.pdf/20

20 after, whether they go out or not, for if they do 'tis a shrewd sign they intend to leave you.

In the placing of your bees, observe be so  in the winter and spring, the face of the hives in stand to the rising sun; and so order it that  in winter nor summer, they be too hot or too  observing above all things, that the air be w some, as also the herbs, plants, and flowers growing about them. The herbs, &c. that bees most delight in, are these, Thyme, affi, Rosemary, Savory, Smellage, Violets Sage, Lavender Myrrh Wild Marjoram, Wild Thyme, Balm, Sweet Marjoram. Saffron, Bean Flowers, Mustard Seed,, Poppies, Roses, and the like. And those hate, are for the most part, Yew trees,  Wild Cucumbers, Elms Cornel, Spurge; Lawrel and all bitter herbs and flowers. They thrive better in the vallies than on the hills, and love to be near clear water springs. The best honey is extracted from Thyme, the second from wild Thyme, and the third from Rosemary. As for their hives, may place them in three ranks, and nd a yard one above another; suffer them to be quiet and undesturbed, keeping all hurtful creatures from them: as the Toad, Redbreast, Wood, Moth, Hornet, Lizard, Swallow, Sparrow, Spider, Butterfly, Serpent, and Stork: all which are utter enemies to the bees. All winter they rest, and live upon part of what they got in the summer; or, if you have taken the honey almost bare, you must feed them by putting in sticks very gingerly, dipped in honey, or sugar and water boiled; as also figs, raisons, curants, or the like. About the Sun's entering the sign Aries they come abroad and labour diligently, frng their combs, which when they have done, they begin to breed, and afterwards fill them with honey; their wax being extracted from