may be lifted vp when the honie is to be taken, or the said hiues to be 〈…〉〈…〉
the hiues which are best and most conuenient next vnto these, are those which are
made of Barke and of Corke: and next vnto them, those that are made of 〈…〉〈…〉
and Sallowes, such as we see in this countrie: the worst are those which are made 〈◊〉〈◊〉
baked earth, for they s••ald with heat in Sommer, and freeze with cold in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
I find those nothing conuenient which are made of dressed straw, or of 〈…〉〈…〉
the one is verie subiect to the fire, and the other cannot be translated or 〈…〉〈…〉
one place to another, if need should require. Yet those of straw may 〈…〉〈…〉
ind••••ed and imbraced if they be well lookt vnto, because the Bee-gard•••• 〈…〉〈…〉
within the danger of the fire; onely the worst fault they haue is this, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉
verie apt to breed within them, and to destroy the honie as it is gathered, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
withstanding in such places where wood is scarce, they are not to be 〈…〉〈…〉
in the cold countries, because of all ••••ues they are the wa••mest. There are also o∣ther
hiues which are made of splinted wands of hassell or such like 〈…〉〈…〉
they are esteemed the best of all other, and are indeed the sweetest, safest, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉
to worke in; prouided, that they be tr••••med, daubed, and thatched as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉
said: Now againe in your hiues is a great care to be taken touching the 〈◊〉〈◊〉
of them, for although the auncient allow but a cubit wide, and two in length, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
a cub•••• and a halfe not amisse in the bottome, and two and a halfe in length, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉
largenesse of a haue (if it be not too vnreasonable) neuer doth hurt: and wh••••••s
some vse to make two sorts of hiues, a greater and a lesser, if you make but one 〈◊〉〈◊〉
and those large ones, it will be ••••••rie way as good, for you shall many 〈…〉〈…〉
to inlarge your hiues, but verie seldome or neuer to straiten them, for all 〈◊〉〈◊〉
curios••••••e it selfe can speake against them that be great hiues, is but onely this, 〈…〉〈…〉
is long in casting, and casteth seldome, whereas, on the contrarie part, the 〈…〉〈…〉
small hiue casteth more soone, and farre o••ter, yet this is most 〈…〉〈…〉
swarme taken from the large hiue, is better than two swarmes taken from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉
hiue, being both more strong a••d more able for their worke, and a great 〈…〉〈…〉
better able to endure Winter, nor is it the number of stockes which 〈…〉〈…〉
but the quantitie of the honie.
Moreouer, they must be wide beneath, and narrow aboue, they 〈…〉〈…〉
wide, and two cub••••s high, drawne ouer and dre••t on the out-side with 〈…〉〈…〉
mingled together, that so they may continue the longer: Neither 〈…〉〈…〉
made as some are flat at the top, and shallow, but ascending pyramid wise, 〈…〉〈…〉
smaller till it come to the top, for thereby it both sheddeth off the raine, much 〈◊〉〈◊〉
and maketh the frames of the Bees a great deale stronger. These hiues 〈◊〉〈◊〉
crosse-barre within with clouen stickes verie well rubbed with sweet flowers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
the which the Bees must fasten their combes; and these crosse-barres must be 〈◊〉〈◊〉
places of the hiue, that is, ne••re to the top, and neere the bottome. They must be 〈◊〉〈◊〉
vpon boards fitted for the purpose, and that neere vnto some vvall, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉
it, that so there may be space for one to goe about them and make them cleane•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
e••se you may set them vpon some vault of stone or of bricke, to the height of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
foot, and as mu••h in bredth, layed ouer with mortar on euerie side, and 〈…〉〈…〉
••o the lizards and serpents, and other noysome cattell, may not get vp and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••∣ther
for to hurt them.
But the best and safest manner of setting of hiues, is to driue three strong 〈◊〉〈◊〉
to the ground, so as they may stand of one euen and just height, and about 〈◊〉〈◊〉
and a halfe aboue the ground, then vpon these stakes you shall lay a faire 〈…〉〈…〉
using-stone that may reach euerie way halfe a foot or more beyond the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and
vpon that stone you shall set your hiue, for by that meanes neither 〈…〉〈…〉
〈◊〉〈◊〉 vermine shall get to annoy the hiues.
Moreouer, the hiues shall be so set, as that there may be a distance 〈◊〉〈◊〉
one and the other, to the end that when need shall require, to looke 〈…〉〈…〉
for the making of it cleane, or any other thing, there may not any occasion 〈…〉〈…〉
to shake or rogge vpon the other, nor yet disturbe the adjoyning 〈…〉〈…〉