“When a swarm is about to come out of the hive (which happens when a number of young bees have matured, and the hive determines to send their youth out to found a colony, as formerly the Sabines often were compelled to do on account of the number of their children)[217] there are two signs by which the intention may be known:  one that for several days before hand, and especially in the evening, many bees weave themselves together and hang upon the entrance of the hive like grapes:  the other that when they are about to go forth or have already begun to go they buzz together lustily, as soldiers do when they break camp.  Those who have come forth first fly about the hive waiting for the others, who have not yet collected, to join them.  When the bee keeper notices this he has only to throw dust on them and at the same time beat upon some copper vessel to collect them, thoroughly frightened, where he desires in some nearby place on which he has smeared erithacen and bees’ balm and other things in which they delight.  When they have settled down he should place near them a hive smeared within with the same baits, and then, by blowing a light smoke around them, compel them to enter the hive.  When thus introduced into their new abode the swarm makes itself at home cheerfully, so that even if placed next to the parent hive they will prefer their new colonial settlement.

“And now, having told you all I know about the care of bees, I will speak of that for which the industry is carried on, that is to say, of the profit.

“The honey is taken off when the hive is full, as may be determined by removing the cover of the hive, for if the openings of the combs are seen to be sealed, as it were with a skin, then the hive is full of honey:  but the bees themselves give notice of this condition by keeping up a loud buzzing within, by their agitation when they go in and out and by driving out the drones.

“In taking off honey some say that you should be content with nine parts, leaving the tenth, because if you take it all the bees will desert the hive:  others leave a still larger proportion than I have mentioned.

“As those who crop their corn land every year obtain good yields only at intervals, so it is with bee hives:  you will have more industrious and more profitable bees if you do not exact of them the same tribute every year.

“It is considered that honey should be taken off for the first time at the rising of the Pleiades, for the second time at the end of summer before Arcturus has reached the zenith, and for the third time after the setting of the Pleiades, but this last time beware not to take more than one-third of the store even if the hive is full, leaving the other two-thirds for the winter supply, but if the hive is only partially filled nothing should be taken off.  In any event, when a large amount of honey is to be taken off a hive it should not be done all at once or ostentatiously less the bees be discouraged.  Those combs which, on being taken off, are found to be partly unfilled with honey or to be soiled, should be pared with a knife.