Of the Honey Harveft. 201 
I have known a hive of bees wafte their honey, 
and the hive become gradually lighter after the 
firft week of Auguft; and, art other times, in 
favourable weather, I have feen hives of bees, 
that were fituated near heath, (as mentioned, 
page 185) continue working keenly during the 
whole of Auguft, and the greater part of Sep- 
tember, and become daily heavier. Ina word, 
the harveft of honey, like that of corn, is ear- 
lier or later, more plentiful or {carce, in differ- 
ent years, according to the weather and the cli- 
mate, and the variety of feafons and fituations. 
One general rule, however, may be laid 
down for the proper time to take honey. As 
foon. as the flowers, in the neighbourhood of 
am apiary, are moftly faded, although the bees 
may continue to work in favourable days, yet 
their families being now generally very large, 
they will probably confume as much honey in 
one day, as they will collect in two. At this 
period, therefore, the prudent bee-matter will 
firft choofe his ftock hives, according to the di- 
rections given, page 89. He will then puta 
mark on every hive he has picked out for this 
purpofe, and fell or take the honey from all the 
reft, whether good or bad; for the fooner the 
honey is taken, it will run the more eafily out 
a See : of 
