>>  and fed unlimited 60/40 syrup

>Actually, they used diluted honey, but called it sugar.<

Interesting!
Szabo reports:
… "The syrup was 60 per cent sugar and 40 per cent water by weight."…,
…"The sugar syrup stored in the combs was extracted and used again for feeding the builder colonies (using the same sugar: water ratio as mentioned before)." …

and Table 1 column headings include:
Sugar used from the feeder pail (lb)
Sugar recovered from combs (lb)
Loss of sugar (lb) per comb built

>I seriously doubt any of those colonies wintered successfully after that 
abuse, but <...

I am certain you are Correct!
Szabo states in this report's introduction that:
"Beekeepers who want a rapid increase in their colony numbers must use a suitable method of comb-building.  However, large numbers of combs built before and during the honeyflow will significantly reduce the honey yield.  The unique method of beekeeping in Western Canada could provide an excellent opportunity to use the available bees and equipment for maximum honey production and after the honeyflow utilize these bees for comb building.  Accordingly, up to 300,000 colonies which are routinely killed might be used for comb building."
… and …
"In 1974 at the Beaverlodge Research Station a preliminary investigation was undertaken to determine whether or not the bees which would be killed in the second part of August could be used for comb-building."


>Never believe anything you read.

Probably sound advise when applied to the main-stream media, those poor folks can't hardly sell anything unless it's sensational…

rB

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