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. 



