Tracing the history of professional beekeeping, John mentions that in the past beekeepers harvested honey by destroying the colonies, which inhabited hollow trees and other cavities.
Elukutselise mesilastepidamise ajaloo kohta ütleb John, et vanasti hävitasid mesinikud meevõtmise ajal mesilaspered, kes elutsesid puuõõntes ning teistes õõnsustes.