Page:A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering of Bees.djvu/45

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the first Treatiſe.
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neſſe or greatneſſe alſo of the ſwarm to be nouriſhed, ſo that aboue the fourth part of the combes may not be taken from any hiue. Yet this order may not be vſed alike in countries, bicuaſe a man muſt conſider the dealing with the hiues, according to ye multittude of floures, & plentifulneſſe of foode for the bees. If ye warie combes hanging down do run into a length, then with ye ſame yron toole which is made like to a knife, being oftētimes, dipped in water, that the ware cleaue not to it, nor that the combs remaining may be harmed, & the hiue holdē on the one ſide cut the combs away. After this, put both your armes into the hiue, gathering togither, and taking forth the combs. But if the combes hang ouerthwart in the hiue, then muſt you vſe your ſcraping yron, that the combes of the further ſide thruſte togither, may ſo be cut away. Alſo the old & corrupt combs are to be takē forth, the whole and full of hony to be eſpecially left. And if there be any yong Bees in them, thoſe keepe or preſerue to increaſe the ſwarm in that hiue. After that, carry al the ſtore of the hony combes into one place, whereas you mind to make the hony, & ſtop diligently the ſides and edges of the hiues roūd about, that none of the Bees may enter in, which for the hony and waxe taken away, do eagerly ſeeke after, and finding the ſame, do vtterly conſume the ſame if they may.

Therfore, of the former matters muſt a ſmoake be made, & that (at the entry) or mouth or the hiues, that the Bees aſſaying to fly in, may through the ſmoke be driuen to flye backe again. Now after the hiues be gelded, and that anye ſhall haue ouerthwart or croſſed combes at the entrance of the hiue, thoſe then ſhall be ſo conuerted, that the parts behind maye be emptied & left void for another time. So that when they ſhal be next gelded the old combs rather than the new are to be taken forth, & the waxe renewed, for that the older the waxie combes are, ſo muche the worſer they be.

If it happeneth, that the hiue be ſo made, that the ſame may not be remoued out of ye place then ought you ſo geld firſt the hinder parte, and after the foreparte: and this eſpeciallye ought to be done afore fiue a clocke in the morning, and after

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