THE COMPLETE Bee-Master; OR, A DISCOURSE OF BEES: Showing the best Way of IMPROVING Them, and Discovering the Fallacies that are imposed by some, for private Lucre, on the credulous Lovers and Admirers of these Infects. By J. WORLIDGE, Gent. LONDON: Printed for, and Sold by G. Conyers, at the Ring in Little-Britain. 1698. Price s●. 6d: an apiary beneath a tree To the READER. AFter so many worthy Authors that have publicly imparted so much of Art and Ingenuity to the World, concerning the ordering and governing this small Animal the Bee; and especially Mr. Butler, whose Treatise of the Feminine Monarchy hath been judged by persons of Learning to be the most complete that ever was written of any one Natural subject, it will not be expected that any one should exceed him, as to the general Scope of his Treatise. But seeing that divers Persons have been for these many years, and yet are willing to endeavour an Improvement and Advancement of Bees, to make them more profitable, and bring them into greater esteem amongst us than formerly; and that by novel Ways and Methods of Ordering them, some Persons of very good Quality and Parts, have taken a great deal of pains and used much skill to observe the Nature of these Curious, Industrious and Profitable Infects, not thinking it an undervaluing to their Reputation, although Slight is the Theme, yet not the Glory slight, [Virgil.] Others on the contrary, wanting that Reason and Experience they pretended to, have abused the World with their fictitious Notions concerning Bees, which have made a greater Humm than all the Bee-books that have been published before. That humming noise was the occasion of my reviewing those Observations I had formerly made concerning these small, profitable, laborious, loyal, nimble, cunning, industrious and resolute Animals; so resolved, that they cannot be compelled to digress from their own natural Inclinations, nor yet restrained from their prodigious Increase, by which they preserve their Colonies, which otherwise would suddenly be extinguished: So profitable and laborious, that by the ordinary Methods of ordering them, they fully recompense all your Care and Cost you need to bestow on them with a sufficient overplus; and so nimble and cunning, that they are not to be played withal, nor governed by such that know not how to govern themselves nor their Pens: But of any Creatures what soever the most easily managed and improved, if you prosecute their own ways or intentions that Nature prompts them to, as many poor and ignorant Country Housewives can tell you; and the most learned and accomplished Poets and Philosophers have been forced to condescend unto: who after all their subtle disquisitions into the Natures and Properties of them, have ever concluded with admiration of their Virtues and their Knowledge, Order, Government, Art and Industry. Therefore if you design an improvement of them beyond the Ordinary Method, it is best first to understand their Natures, and wherein the common and ordinary Method of providing for them proves deficient, and then endeavour to supply all those defects and remove all obstructions that stand in their way, that you may rather ingratiate yourself into their favour, by pleasing them in every thing, than in the least to thwart or cross them. for which Love of yours to them, they will recompense you manifold. For their delight is in warm and dry Habitations, not narrow and tall, troublesome to ascend, but broad and shallow. For it was not the Love the Bees bare to Ludovicus Vives that made them settle under the Leads over his study in Oxford, and continue there above a hundred years; nor could a narrow place have afforded so great a Mass of Honey as was taken thence upon renewing the Leads, Auno 1630. as Mr. Butler hath related: But it was the conveniency of the place being broad, warm and dry, that invited them to so long and continued a Succession: In other places of the same nature I have known the like, although not for so long a time. And as the Bees delight in a close and private Dwelling, so you must endeavour to preserve them by the smallness and closeness of the Doors to keep out their enemies, which are not a few, and save them much of their labour in a continual watch for a great part of the year, and secure them in their Sleep at other times from being destroyed or deprived of their Wealth; yet not to straiten them in their busy times of gathering. Many other things you may observe that they naturally incline unto, wherein you may assist them But be sure not to plant any thing near, nor do any act that may be offensive or Heterogeneal to their Natures, whatsoever any advise you to. Nor do you feed yourselves with vain imaginations, that they will fix their Combs to Frames of your Fancy, nor work when and where you please; nor desert their Lechery, when you instruct them to the contrary, unless you have a more curious way of Castration than is yet discovered. Nor do you expect so vast a profit, as some have endeavoured to persuade you unto, only to invite you to be a Purchaser; lest you reckon your Chickens before they be hatched. To assist you in these Disquisitions, I have put you to this small charge: if it may be useful to you in prosecuting the Improvement of this little Animal, or in preventing your precipitating into Mistakes and Errors by any Ignis Fatuus, I have my Desire and Reward. But whether those other new pretended Methods of vast Advantage, that are so dear bought, or these ordinary and cheap Instructions will succeed most to your Content and Profit, time and Experience only can demonstrate; to which I must submit. This nevertheless I can assure you, that what I have in this small Tract positively affirmed, is either from Experience or good Authority; when peradventure what you pay dearer for, may be barely Suppositions; and yet at your own Cost to be Experimented. CHAP. I. Of the Universality of Bees and the Antiquity of their Colonies. THE Bee is an Insect more universally dispersed throughout the World than any other that is known to be useful, and their mellifluous Colonies of very great Antiquity; Samson feeding on the Honey made by a Swarm of Bees that hived themselves in the Carcase of a Lion, and Jonathan tasted of the Honey that dropped from a full Comb in a Wood Profane Authors also have not passed these Infects over in silence, the most ancient Poets and Naturalists having written largely of them; as Hesiod, Philistus, Menecrates and many others. Aristomarchus for fifty eight years did little else but keep Bees, and Philistus employed his whole Life-time about them, as Pliny relates, lib. 11. cap. 9 Honey being much more in esteem in those Ages than in these, sugar having lately gained a Repute above it. For if you observe most of the ancient Instructions for Conserving, Preserving, or other Confectionating, Honey was then prescribed where sugar is now: So that thence it may be presumed that Bees were more nourished and cherished than in these later times. Such an opinion had the Ancients of Honey, that in case it were gathered by the Bees under a certain Constellation, that it would be so heavenly a sweet Liquor that no one thing in the World might be comparable to it (Pliny lib. 11. cap. 14.) for the universal Cure of Diseases, and restoring from Death to Life, like unto that Celestial and divine Nectar which they supposed did immortalize the Gods above. There are scarce any parts in the known World, unless in the Torrid Zone, where these Infects are not harboured; from Asia through all Europe unto the North America, the vast Territories of Russia, Tartary and other remote parts from the Southern Seas, being plentifully stocked with them, sugar not being there so usual. But how these numerous Infects first came to be reduced into Colonies is uncertain, unless Arist●us the Son of Apollo and King of Arcadia (as some report) was the first Discoverer of their Use and Order; a Work becoming so great a Person. But certain it is, that they in ancient times had their residence in hollow Trees in ancient Woods, as that of Jonathan's finding Honey there seems to assert: and in other Concavities. Oft in deep Caves (if Fame a truth report) Low underneath they vault their Waxed Court; And oft discovered in a hollow Rock, Or in the Belly of an aged Oak. [Translat. of Virgil.] And at this day in many places it is not unusual, to find Swarms in Trees and hollow places in Buildings, etc. From whence their Swarms issuing out, it is probable that they were entieed into Hives or other Receptacles prepared for them, which were first made of Rinds or Barks of Trees, in imitation, as may be supposed, of the hollow Trees they naturally placed themselves in. Afterwards by degrees they began to make them of other Materials: And some before Pliny's time, had made such Hives, with that fissile Glass we call Island-glass, where with Ships are glazed; and some of clear Horn, placed in Frames to discover the Bees Work, although in vain Then they betook themselves to the making of Hives of Osier-twigs, and such like, and daubed them; as yet in many places are used. From all which it may be concluded, That Bees preserved in Colonies, and their increase by Swarms, is of that Antiquity, that no History certainly mentions the first Invention of their management, unless you will credit that of Aristeus. CHAP. II. of the Breeding of Bees. THat Bees are Infects, and that the most, if not all, of Infects are sometimes engendered by Putrefaction, is not by any denied; Bees many times being engendered in the corrupted Carcases of Beasts, according to the Poet; Quatuor eximios praestanti corpore Tanros, etc. Four of his largest Bullocks forth he took, As many comely Heifers never broke: And when the ninth day bright Aurora showed, He worships Orpheus, and the wood reviewed: A Wonder, not to be believed, he sees From the dissolved Entrails, Swarms of Bees. Which from the broken ribs resounding fly, And in a thick Cloud sally to the sky. On a tall top branch they Cluster now, As Grapes hang dangling on the gentle bough. [Ogilbies Transl. of Virg. Geor 4.] To which end also the same Poet directs the very Method of ordering a Steer, some a Heifer, others an Ox, limiting it to that Species, others producing other Infects, that out of their Carcases Multitudes of Bees may be engendered. And it is not improbable that the Carcases of these Beasts should produce Bees, when we every Summer perceive, that other Beasts that lie in the open Air do produce Infects of other Species. But this of Bees may not so well succeed in these Northern, as in the more Southern Parts of Europe, where our Poet lived. It was the Opinion also of the same Poet and of others, that Bees gathered their Seed out of certain Leaves and Flowers, and carried them to their Hives, out of which their young were produced. 'Tis strange that Bees such custom should maintain, Venus to scorn, in wanton lust disdain To waste their strength; and without throws they breed: But cull from Leaves and various Flowers their Seed. [The same Translat.] But this Opinion gains not much credit, nor is the other way practicable here. Therefore other ways for the Generation of these worthy Infects are to be discovered. Aristotle himself thought it a work of great difficulty to discover it: And Butler in his Feminine Monarchy hath taken great pains about the Generation of the Queens, Princesses, Drones and Honeybees; to which Curious Tract we refer you, only from him shall observe, that Bees begin to Breed about the middle of February, if they are well provided for and the Spring be forward, else in March, by laying their Eggs or Seed at the bottoms of their void Cells; which by the warmth of the Bees sitting on them (the season of the year concurring) are converted into Worms or Grubbs, as most Infects are before they fly. Thus by the old Bees sitting on, warming, and feeding these Grubs, in about three week's time, are a whole Set of these Infects generated. And as the Spring comes on and Food increases, so do they increase their Breed, throughout the Months of March, April, May, June and July continually feeding their young, either with their old stock of Honey in bad Wether, or with new Food and Water, which they continually gather and carry to their young if the Wether permit them to fly abroad; or else in building Combs, as far as their room will suffer them and as it is for their own convenience. And thus do they build and breed until the end of July and sometimes after. For when Bees have done swarming you may be confident they have done breeding and not before. But whether the Drones are the Males or Females, or whether the Females, if the Honeybees are such, before Droning time have conceived for the ensuing year, I had rather submit to the Judgement of the most Experienced and Ingenious Butler than endeavour to disprove it. However from his Writings and every Ingenious Bee-master's Annual Experience, I may safely conclude, that Bees do not spend their time in these Spring and Summer-months (whilst they breed) in Luxury and Idleness, as by some is imagined; but to maintain and increase their Colonies, during that part of the year that yields them plenty of Matter out of the various Blossoms that are abroad, for the building of their Combs and feeding their young; until not only that Matter that is fit for those uses ceaseth, but until the Leaves of the Oak and other Honey-bearing Leaves and Plants yield plenty of that Nectar or Celestial Dew that they lay up in store for their Winter and Vernal Provision, and whereof their Masters many times deprive them. In vain therefore can it be expected, that this noble (yet indocile) Insect, should be either persuaded to desist from breeding sooner than the season of the year enforceth them; or to gather Honey before it is to be had, as some would insinuate into us to believe. It is not to be feared (in case it were in our power to prevent them) that Bees will ever overstock themselves; for were the Hive never so full of Bees, they would the sooner fill their Cells with Honey, and the better live over the Winter. And after they have killed their Drones, which they usually do before the gathering of their Honey, there is not an idle Bee nor a Beggar amongst them. CHAP. III. Of Increasing and Swarming of Bees. MAny Attempts have been made by several Ingenious Persons, for the increase of Bees without the troublesome and hazardous way of Swarming; by giving them liberty in the Spring and Summer to swell their vast numbers into several Artificial Hives, set the one under or by the other. But when they are dispersed into several Hives or Boxes, and near an equal proportion in each Box; yet when there Hives are separated with the Bees in them, that part separated from the old Stock will not thrive: A great Argument of their want of, and love unto their King or Queen, which doubtless remains amongst his greatest Riches in the first Stock; from which if part of them voluntarily separate themselves, by swarming with their Leader they soon betake themselves to their work. So that I could never observe from the Experience of any other, nor yet from my own, although often and seriously attempted, that the Stocks or Colonies of Bees could by other ways or means, than by their own voluntary Swarming, be ever multiplied or increased. Therefore if you design many Stocks in your Apiary, or that you keep your ordinary stock only for increase wherewith to store your better Hives (hereafter discoursed of) which you keep for the sake of the Honey, be sure not to over-hive your Bees; for the less the Hive is, the oftener they swarm. For Bee's over-hived rarely increase, unless it be an early Swarm and in a good Summer. And in good Summers, an early Swarm not over-hived may cast a Swarm itself: A sufficient argument that they spend not their time in Luxury and Idleness; and that although they have room enough in their Hives to make their Combs and store themselves with Honey, yet do they breed during the breeding-time, else could they not send forth a new Colony so soon; and cannot employ themselves in gathering Honey before it falls. The sending forth of Swarms or Colonies doth not at all hinder or confound the Bees, it being but the work of two or three days to prepare for a Swarm: unless the badness of the weather prevent, which may as well prevent them of working as of swarming. And after they are hived, they, the very next day, fall to making of Combs if the weather permit, and will in few days in fair weather have made large Combs and laid their Eggs or Seeds for another Breed. So that it cannot be reasonably imagined that Bees are in any confusion either before or after Swarming, or that they lose any time besides the day they swarm, as some have reported. Bees usually swarm twice in a year, sometimes thrice, and (though but seldom) four times in an extraordinary good year; so that there is no danger of a decay of your Stock, unless through your own neglect, but a certain hope and confidence of taking a Swarm every year from each Hive to supply your new Hives, (we are hereafter to treat of) without any diminution to your breeding Stock; and as may also be presumed, a store left for a future increase, and those that are superannuated left for you into the bargain, so that care be always taken not to over-hive them. CHAP. IU. Of the Bee-Hives or Houses. BEfore we did observe, that some of the ancient Bee-masters had made Hives of transparent Matter, that they might the better discern the Work of the Bees; which it seems did not succeed according to expectation, else had they been more frequently used and approved of by the Reporters of them. Butler also condemns the use of them to that intent. And most true it is, that you cannot through the clearest Glass discern their working, nor yet their Combs, unless in July or August about Noon, when most of the Bees are abroad, and their Company begin to wax thin by their killing their Drones and death of their old Bees, which now through their constant and extraordinary labour have worn out their Wings, and fall far from home, uncapable of ever returning. For oft their Wings are torn on Rocks abroad, Freely spending their Lives beneath their Load: In Flowers and making Honey such a pride They have, by which their Lives away do glide. [Virgil.] Then may you discern the ends of their Combs filled with transparent Nectar, but from that time they work not in making Combs nor yet in breeding. Some have been of opinion, that by the light of these transparent Hives, these industrious Creatures do frame their work with more expendition and delight. To which I may answer, That in the darkest Cells or Caves they shape their Combs as curiously and artificially as in the most lightsome: And that in these that are transparent, the numerous labourers do so much obscure their work, that you would think the Light of small advantage to them. Therefore Glass for that purpose is of no great use. It is likewise supposed that Bees take much pleasure in the Light of these Hives, and so are thereby the more prompted to Industry: Whether that be so or not is difficult to determine. But it is probable that an Hive made with large Squares of fine French or Dutch Glass, which is more transparent than the English, may not incommode the Bees; especially if each Glass-window hath its Shutter over it, to close it from the cold as the weather requires it. This I am sure that it yields the Spectators much pleasure and delight to see these nimble Creatures always in Motion and full of business whilst the weather is hot, although not that exprected and promised pleasure of the view of their Architecture. Now if you design really to improve these Animals to their greatest height of advantage, you must observe their true inclinations, and follow them in that very Method that naturally they themselves tend unto. As 1. In what place soever they design to inhabit, they begin their work above and work downwards. 2. In a Narrow Hive or place where their number is great, they are much impeded in their work; and in a broad Hive (so that their Number be proportionable) they begin many Combs according to their number, and do not so much hinder the one the other. 3. In a tall Hive or other Cavity, when their Combs are of any considerable length they become weary, because they continually ascend and descend in the narrow passages between the Combs; which is not only troublesome, but a great hindrance to those that are below. For I have always observed, that the uppermost part of the tallest Hives are never without Bees; but at the coldest time of the day or night, then very full, and at the hottest times they are continually ascending and descending. To prove which I once cut off with a sharp knife, the top of a straw Hive and some part of the Combs, thinking by that means that they would as well have passed out that way as at the bottom of the Hive; over which I placed a Glass-hive made after Mr. Hartlib's way, published in his Common weath of Bees, that in case the Bees would have always ascended, they might have then built in the new Hive over them: but they would not forsake their Combs. 4. The Bees always fix their work to the top of the Hives, and not to the Sticks only that are placed in the Hive, as by some is erroneously affirmed; those Sticks being placed in the Hives by some to strengthen them, that they should not sink with the weight of the Combs, by others to preserve the Combs from breaking in case the Hives should be leaned side ways or removed. 5. They always Swarm for want of Room. 6. A place cannot easily be over-stock'd with Bees, so that they have liberty to fly without incommoding the one the other; but if the Country be barren or wanting of Meadow, Water and Oaks, it may be overstocked. Therefore make a Box or Hive of about eight Inches in height in the Inside, and about twelve Inches broad, four square, close at the top and open at the bottom, with a Square of French or Dutch Glass on each side of about four or five Inches broad and five Inches deep, so g●oved in that no Air may pass through the sides of it; which may be prevented by fixing it in with Paste or Cotton-wool. Let there be Shutters or Covers for each Square of Glass, to be added and taken off at pleasure, by means of small Buttons or Hasps; or you may make it without Glass if you please. Let there be two Teeholes or Doors, the one in the middle of the one Square-side at the bottom, and the other in the middle of the other Square-side next adjoining; that when this Hive stands with the one Door towards the South East, the other may be towards the South-West, each door being about three Inches long and one third part of an inch deep. Then make another Box or Hive of the same depth, and about six or eight Inches broader, with two Squares of Glass on each side, two Doors on two of the sides, that they may tend towards the same coasts as the other: Let this Box be open at bottom also and close at the top, except an hole in the Middle of about three Inches Diameter or Square. You may also make a third Box of about two Foot over or more, but of the same depth as the ; always increasing the Number of your Glass-squares, and Doors proportionable to the breadth of your sides. The Tops of these Boxes must be made of well-seasoned dry Wood, Oak, Beech, Fir or Sugar-chest, and made in Panels joined to prevent shrinking, swelling, warping, splitting, etc. the sides with Studds and Panels, as every Joiner can direct you. The top on the inside may be either of the Board as it is, which is best; or if you doubt that it will shrink you may line it with a thin Matt, as I have seen it, or Plaster it with sine Mortar made of Lime and Hair; always remembering to sing off the hair that may probably stick without the Mortar. You may also make sticks to hang in several places of the Boxes, of about half an Inch square, fixed in the upper part of the Box and extending to the bottom or very near it, the better to preserve the Combs steady, and to help the Bees the easier to come to their Combs. The first of these Boxes you may take a swarm into it at Swarming time, and set it in its place where it is to stand, leaving both the Doors open to the coasts before mentioned; which if the Swarm be great will be quickly filled. When you perceive it near full add the second Box under it, placing the first on the middle of the undermost, leaving the hole in the middle open. This may be done in the cool of the evening or in the night. The next day will part of the Bees take to their new Box, but the greater number continue their former employment until they have quite filled the upper. Then will they fall to work in the lower, and it's probable may fill that also the same Summer. As you find occasion, you may add the third, and so a fourth or fifth, leaving the several Doors open in every Box whilst you find there is occasion; and as the weather grows colder and the Bees labour less, so you may lessen their passages by small Wedges, made flat and fit for that purpose; so you may keep their Glass shut as you think good. You may if you please let your uppermost be a small Straw-hive, which is as good, though not so comely or suitable, as that of joiner's Work. You may make a Frame of Wood on four Legs, covered with Board or Lead, or what you please to place these Boxes in to preserve them from the Wet, much whereof they will not endure. Let the drip be carried off from the two foremost sides, lest it drive too much on the Hives or Bees. This Case or Bee-house must stand Arras-wise with one Corner towards the South, that the Boxes also may the better stand that way. It must have doors on every side: the two Back-doors may be whole, and made to open only when you have occasion to move, order or view your Bees. The two Fore-doors may be made in several parts; the upper third part to open upwards, supported, dripping forwards, by slender Iron-hooks, that the wind stir them not; these serve to keep the Bees and Boxes from Rain and Sun. The Under-doors may be made in halves, the one to hang on the East and West-posts, and the other on the South-posts; those on the South-posts to be taken off the Hooks all the Summer, and in the Winter also, except when the Bees are to be totally confined. The Copper Cut will show you the form of the whole, as well Boxes as Bee-house. From this Form or Model of keeping of Bees these Conveniencies and Advantages will certainly ensue. 1. The Bees have not far to ascend, their Habitation being but low. 2. They are not hindered for want of Room, nor for want of Entrance; their Doors are wide and on several sides of the Hives or Boxes, that they have great freedom of passage to and fro in the most busy time of their Gathering. 3. The Bees have the benefit of the Sun the whole day by this position of the Hive. In hot and dry weather the morning Sun is most necessary, to invite them abroad before the Dews are off the Fowers and Trees; and the evening Sun is necessary at all times. 4. Their entrance or doors may easily be straitened as the season of the year requires. 5. The Boxes themselves may in the Winter be secured from cold Winds and Rains, and the warm Sun may be excluded in the Winter-months, which shining on the Hives, tempts the Bees to come abroad to their ruin, and usually wakens them out of their Winter-fleeps; provoking them to expend their Provision, which in the Spring time, if the weather prove unseasonable, they may want. 6. you may make use of your Glass-Windows at any time to view the numerous Colonies of these most laborious Animals. 7. These broad and flat Boxes will harbour with advantage, as many Bees as possibly can cohabit together in any one Colony, with all imaginable conveniency. And as they increase in Number, so m●y you increase your Boxes, until you find them at a stay: And then it is best to take them by the usual way of Smothering by the sum of Brimstone, admitted by some hole left at the bottom of the Bee-house, and kept stopped until you have occasion to use it for this purpose. For let not any one imagine, that their Honey can be taken from them and the Bees preserved; unless by some sorts of driving mentioned by Butler in his Feminine Monarchy, which also are not commended. The Bees will never forsake their Combs that are full of Honey, as I have several times experimented, as well by cutting off the top of the Hive and placing another over it, as by inverting a Hive with the bottom upwards and placing another over it; wherein the Bees built some Combs, yet by far the greater part of them kept to their former old Hive. Therefore all the boasts and affirmations of what hath been done to that purpose have been vain, unless such pretended Experimenters have met with a new Species of Bees. CHAP. V Of the Gathering of Bees. THese Animals spend their time, as long as the weather will permit and any thing will yield them matter to work upon, in gathering Honey either gross or pure, or Wax, as their occasions require and the season of the year will afford them, according to the Poet, Now when bright Sol makes Winter's Cold retreat, Behind the Earth and opens Heaven with Heat, Forthwith they rise, and through Groves and Woods Reap purple Flowers, and taste the Crystal Floods: By what instinct I know not; then they fly To their own Courts, and their dear Progeny. Next make their waxed Cells with greatest Skill, And those they with Celestial Nectar fill. [Translat. of Virg.] In the first of the Spring in February, if the weather be fair, they will abroad; and in that Month and the next, as the Spring is earlier and later, they gather much on the Hazel, Dandelyon, Daisy, Violet, Withy, Alder, Daffodil, etc. But above any other Tree they most affect the Phyllirea; one sort of them beareth in those Months an abundance of greenish Blossoms which yield great plenty of a Gummy Rosinny Sweat, which the Bees daily transport to their Hives, and yet it as often as the day reneweth. Nothing can be more acceptable to your Bees than a Hedge of this Tree about your Apiary, it being a very close Fence green all the Winter, and yielding so great a quantity of acceptable Food in the usual time of their greatest Necessity. Although these Trees are not now very common, yet are they easily propagated from Seeds, Layers or Slips. And I do assure you the effects of them to be as aforesaid, and do not advise it to your loss, as a certain Author did to place the Elm about your Apiary; a Tree that hath been always esteemed injurious to Bees, not only by ancient and experienced Bee-masters, but our modern Botanics. Nor as hath been advised to plant the Palm. tree, which neither Gold nor Silver can purchase to flourish in this Northern Clime. The residue of the Spring do the Bees plentifully gather on the Blossoms of the Black-thorn, Bullace, Plum, Cherry, Pear, Apple, Goosberry, Peach, and many other Fruits and Flowers, of the Gardens as well as of the Meadows. Them let sweet Gardens with fresh Flowers Invite. [Virgil.] Thus from one Tree and Blossom to another do these industrious Infects gather their food, being more gross than the fine Honey they gather in the Summer for their Winter-store; this being but the Ambrosia, as Bu●ler terms it, serving only for present maintenance for themselves and their Brood for want of which (their old stock of f●●e Honey or Neotar being spent, and the uvea hor bad that they cannot gather) they often die. Therefore those Plants that afford them most of this early Food ought to be propagated about your Apiary. When the Spring is a little past, and the Summer or May-month well entered, than the Bees prosecute their building, preparing Cells wherein to store up their Treasure for the succeeding Winter; not neglecting their Breeding, which they continue until Nature (their Mistress) Prompteth them to decline it, and follow their work of gathering and storing up their Nectar whilst it is to be had. Every Bee hath his several Office, some to gather, others to build, etc. as the Poet observed. For some provide, and by a Compact made, Labour abroad; others at home are stayed To lay Narcissus' Tears, and yielding Gum, As the first Ground work of the Honeycomb; Which with stiff Wax they finish to their praise: Others, the Nations hope, young Colonies raise. Another part the purest Honey stives, Until the liquid Nectar crack the Hives. And some by Lot, attend the Gates t' inform Approaching Showers, and to foretell a Storm; To ease the laden, or imbattell'd drive, The Drones, a slothful from the Hive. [Translat. of Virg. Georg. 4.] After the Summer Solstice the pure Nectar rests on the Leaves of the Oak, and some other Trees, but most on the Oak; so long as these Dews fall, the Bees daily lad themselves home with it; they not omitting their making of Combs, nor as yet their Breeding. Besides from Trees, they gather much Honey from Thyme, chief to be nourished in and near your Apiary, as the Poet advised. Set Thime about their Hives, and Pines remove From lofty Hills, for they such Plants do love. [Virg. Georg. 4.] For Thyme yields much and very pure Honey. The Pines are only supposed to be for shelter, being ever green, in the room of which you may place Phyllirea, which is to be preferred, yielding both shelter and food. After the Honey-dews are over, Bees gather but little; neither do they then build any more Cells, having no need of them, but fill at those times all their Cells to the very top, not only with Honey, but all the Intervals with their Bodies. So that if you should separate or drive the Bees from their Combs before the fall of the Honey-dews, and take the upper part, you would have but little advantage, by reason of the young Grubs you would have mixed with your impure Honey. And if you should separate or drive them after, you would not leave wherewith to maintain them over the Winter; and your driving of them, being a linger Death, would prove greater cruelty to these Animals than a sudden suffocation. Not but that they in the Autumn continually employ themselves in gathering very pure Honey in small quantity, from the time of the Honey-dews, until the severity of the Winter prohibits their Flight; but not enough to renew their Store for the succeeding Winter. All which considered, you will soon be of the Poet's Opinion, Omnibus una quies operum, Labour omnibus unus; All rest at once, at once they labour all. [Virgil.] THE CONTENTS. CHAP. I. OF the Universality of Bees and the Antiquity of their Colonies pag. 1 CHAP. II. Of the Breeding of Bees. p. 4 CHAP. III. Of Increasing and Swarming of Bees. p. 9 CHAP. iv Of the Bee-Hives or Houses. p. 12 CHAP. V Of the Gathering of Bees p. 22 FINIS. Some Books lately printed for T. 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