BEE-MASTERS IN THE MIDDLE AGES 49 
the chief aims of modern bee-science is to abolish 
swarming altogether. The swarming habit is one 
of the greatest obstacles in the way of a large 
honey yield, and until a race of non-swarming 
bees has been evolved by modern breeders there 
will always be this element of uncertainty in the 
honey harvest. 
Latter-day beemen, therefore, join the chorus of 
disapproval of this old, senseless custom of bee- 
burning, rather because it has given them the task 
of undoing the work of ages before any progress 
is possible, than from the generally accepted 
humanitarian reasons. 
