CHAP. XV.
¶ The markes of good hony.
MOre plenty of hony is gathered in the full of the Moone, than at any other time: and if therewith the weather be faire, the same wil be more vncteous and fattie. In all kinds, the best hony is that, which runneth of it selfe as new Wine and Oile; and called it is Ace∣don, as a man would say, gotten without care & trauell. All Summer hony is red, as being made in the driest season of the yere. The hony which commeth of Time, is held to be the best and most profitable; in colour like gold, in taste right pleasant; euident to be knowne by the little leaues therein: and the same is likewise fattie. That which is made of Rosemary, or within the [unspec B] aire and vapour of the sea, is thick: and such verily as is thus candied, and will not run like life∣hony, is nothing commendable. As for Time honey it will not thicken: and if a man touch it, rope it wil and draw small slimie threds after it: which is a principall signe of the weight and heauinesse thereof. If hony be short in the handling, and soon breake, and that the drops part one from the other, it is thought to be a token of the worst and coursest of all. Another triall there is besides of good hony, namely, if it be fragrant and odoriferous to smell vnto, sweet in taste, & biting withall, or quick at the tongues end, glutinous and cleare. As touching the dri∣uing of hiues for summer hony, Thasius Dionysius is of opinion, that the tenth part therof should be left for the bees, namely, if they were ful: if not, then according to the proportion: but if they were but light and very thin, he would not haue them to be touched at all. The Athenians goe [unspec C] by this rule, and do obserue duly the Caprificial day, which is kept wholly vnto Vulcan: for then they euer begin to driue their hiues for this kind of honie.