164 
THE HIVE AND HONKY-BKE. 
Apiarian, let him use what hive he will, to he entirely 
independent of natural swarming. 
It will be obvious, however, that artificial swarming, to 
be successful, requires a knowledge of the laws which con- 
trol the breeding of bees. Those, therefore, who are ig- 
norant of the economy of the bee-hive, cannot safely 
depart from the old-fashioned mode of management ; as 
emergencies which they are unprepared to meet, may at 
any moment occur. An Apiarian may use the common 
hives* a whole life-time, and, unless he gains his infor- 
mation from other sources, may yet remain ignorant of 
some of the most important principles in the physiology 
of the honey-bee : while any intelligent cultivator may, 
with movable-combs, in a single season, verify for himself 
the discoveries which have been made only by the accu- 
mulated toil of many observers, for more than two thou- 
sand years. 
By the aid of movable-comb hives, artificial swarming 
♦ “ An opportunity of beholding the proceedings of the queen, in hives of tho 
usual form, is so very rarely afforded, that many Apiarians have passed their lives 
without enjoying it; and Reaumur himself, eveu with the assistance of a glass-hive, 
acknowledges that he was many years before he had that pleasure.”— Bevan. 
Swammerdam, who wrote his wonderful treatise on bees, before tho invention 
of glass hives, was obliged to tear hives to pieces in making his investigations! 
When we see what important results these great geniuses obtained, with means so 
imperfect, if compared with the facilities which the veriest tyro may now possess, 
it ought to teach us a becoming lesson of humility. 
The sentiments of tho following extract from Swammerdam, ought to bo 
engraven upon the hearts of all engaged in investigating -the works of God: “I 
would not have any one think that I say this from a love of fault-finding” — he had 
been criticising some incorrect drawings and descriptions — “ my sole design is to 
have tho true face and disposition of Nature exposed to sight. I wish others may 
pass the like censure, when due, on my works; for I doubt not that I have made 
many mistakes, although I can, from the heart, say, that I have not, in this treatise 
designed to mislead. * * * The desire of writing is so prevalent, that men publish 
books filled only with the fancies of their brain, and thus misrepresent God and 
his works. God forbid that I should ever do this. Truth, and a religious scrupu- 
lousness of mind, ought everywhere to prevail in describing natural things; for 
they are the Bibles of the divine miracles. If he who writes aims to deceive him* 
self and others, let him know that in due timo all things will bo revealed.” 
