Ill] OF BEES AND APIARIES 341 



around them, while the place, which should not be 

 far away, to which it is wished to bring them is 

 smeared ' with erithace, apiastrum^ and other things 

 of which they are fond. When they have settled, a 

 hive is brought there, smeared inside with the en- 

 ticing substances I have mentioned. This is placed 

 close to the swarm, which is then forced by a gentle 

 fumigation to enter it. When once the bees have 

 entered the new colony they remain there with such 

 goodwill that, even if you place next to them the old 

 hive from which they came, they still prefer the new 

 home. 

 32 Having stated what I considered to be of import- 

 ance in the matter of bee-feeding, I will now pro- 

 ceed to discuss its object — the produce. 



The time for taking ^ the honey-combs is indicated 



^ Oblinunt. For this some such object as ramum seems to 

 be required, but it is quite possible that Varro disdained to be 

 more explicit. 



* Eximendorum favorum. As I have translated this passage, 

 I had better perhaps say here what I have translated. This is 

 the reading of the Archetype as given by Victorius : Signum 

 eximendorum favorum sumunt ex ipsis viris alvos haheat nem 

 cogerminarit coniecturd capiunt si intus faciunt bombum ety cum 

 intro eunt acforas trepidant et siopercula alvorum cum remoreissi 

 favorum foramina obducta videntur membranis, cum sint repleti 

 melle. Scaliger's remark on this is : Non est locus inquinatior 

 istOy et sane eum emendandi omnem prorsus spem abieci. And 

 so say Victorius and Keil. In order to get something to trans- 

 late I have supposed this to have been written : Signum eximen- 

 dorum favorum sumunt ex ipsis {fures alvos habeatne an cotitra 

 exterminarit coniecturam capiunt si intus faciunt bombum ety 

 cum intro eunt et foraSy trepidant) et opercula alvorum cum 



