> Small cell size has been promoted as a panacea for all beekeeping problems.
> It was based on the idea that bees have been 'artificially' enlarged by the
> use of large cell sized foundation. My research indicates that just didn't
> happen.

I spent a few hours at the Ohio State (Wooster) bee lab this spring with
Dave Heilman, and he gave me his very extensive tour of the "Bee Museum".
I asked about the collection of foundation mill rolls, and he answered
that many of them were "small cell".  Perhaps they made the same error
that you mentioned on your web page:

  "The 4.83 that the Roots refer to, works out to
   about 5.21mm to 5.375mm cell size using the table
   in the text! That's the size range of foundation
   produced in the US today!"

Not having brought a micrometer or even a good steel rule, I did not
measure them myself.  While Dave no longer works at Wooster due to
state budget cuts, Jim Tew could show you the rolls, or have someone
measure and photograph them for you.


        jim  (If the "war on terror" was about stopping terrorism,
              it would be the "war on terrorism" or "on terrorists".
              Therefore, the "war on terror" isn't about stopping
              you from being afraid, its about making you more afraid.)

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