PAST AND PRESENT. 77 



It remained for Swammerdam, Reaumur, Huber (80) and other 

 investigators, to dispel the darkness which surrounded the 

 operations of the hive, and to devise means by which the occu- 

 pants might be controlled, and the industry be worked for 

 increased profit, and upon humane principles. Nor was it the 

 least important result of their researches which put it within our 

 power to correct the errors of the past ; and, by careful selec- 

 tion, to effect such improvements in the race of bees as may 

 tend to render them more robust, less liable to disease, gentler, 

 and more prolific and profitable. 



143. Modern Bee-keeping The title "Modern Bee-keeping" 



stands for such skilful management of bees, based upon an 

 intelligent appreciation of their habits, as may secure the 

 maximum results of their labours, and the fullest development 

 of their best characteristics. It represents the desire to 

 minister to their comfort; to assist their industry by thought- 

 ful anticipation of their requirements ; and to encourage in 

 them the spirit of amiability by the display of a like spirit on 

 the part of man, and by the avoidance of all roughness and 

 cruelty in dealing with them. Modern bee-keeping has so 

 improved upon the older methods that the produce of the bees' 

 labour has been enormously increased, without a corresponding 

 tax upon their strength. It has been made possible for anyone 

 who understands what it means to take pains, to manage bees 

 with a handsome profit to himself. He can now engage in a 

 pursuit which has in itself an enthralling interest ; and which, 

 if carefully attended to, will return more than an ample com- 

 pensation for the time devoted to it. The moveable-comb 

 hive permits him to become familiar with the habits, and to 

 explore all the wondrous work of the honey bee (81). He can 

 take out the " waxen palaces," can investigate their beauties, 

 and see with what skill they have been constructed. He can 

 watch the queen as she moves across the combs, depositing 

 her eggs in the vacant cells. He can replace her with a 

 younger queen reared by himself, or imported in a postal 

 packet from foreign lands (300), and can, at will, oblige her 

 to produce drones or workers (113), as the conditions of his 

 colonies require. He can observe the various stages of the 

 egg and larva, and witness the breaking of the capping and 

 the emerging of the new-born bee. By the use of foundation 

 (110) he can supply the material for the building of the combs ; 

 and can so regulate the storing of honey that it may be re- 

 moved in the shape and condition most marketable, and with- 

 out injury to the gatherers. The extractor (134) enables him 

 to use the same combs again and again, and, by increasing 

 the harvest, to make his industry still more profitable. In 

 short, he can so utilise the advantages which modern discovery 



