MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 
129 
all the ancient and modern works 
which have appeared on bees, few of 
which have escaped me 5 and finally, 
my own experience and experiments 
have convinced me of a truth, which 
ought to be considered incontroverti¬ 
ble by all those who do possess, or 
who intend to keep bees, which is, 
that in general, in the natural state, 
there is no certain method, nor will 
one be ever discovered, (!!) by which 
a great harvest of wax and honey, 
and great swarms can be obtained at 
pleasure: these are chimerce which it 
is folly to pursue; because the former 
depends on the seasons being more or 
less favourable to the secretion of honey 
Q q 
