> Why keep the inner cover between the deep boxes and supers? I know some do
> at certain times of the year but I have never known the reason why.
>

That is only after I extract in late July, early August and put the wet
supers back over an inner cover. The bees take down the honey in the wet
supers and eventually start filling the upper supers with late nectar, which
is usually not very good to overwinter with in my area.

Bob's post and his methods would work fine even in colder winters like Maine
since the keys are always good queen, healthy bees, adequate numbers of
bees, adequate stores and good location.

He feeds sugar syrup which has been shown to be the best winter feed, better
than honey. George Imire's practice is to get the best honey for
overwintering, which is low ash honey which usually is light summer honey,
not the darker fall honey. It all gets down to the bee's ability to have
cleansing flights in the winter. Warmer winter, more cleansing flights so
less reason to worry about winter feed. I like his practice as I do like to
stay as natural as possible, but I have no problem with feeding sugar syrup
if needed.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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