Perhaps a new beekeeper might benefit from this tale of experience, or
one of the many veterans out there would care to comment.
 
I'm a second year beekeeper in northeast USA (Rhode Island).  Two strong
hives started in the Spring of 1996 from 5-pound packages (Italians) had
yet to produce one drop of surplus honey as of July 11, 1997, i.e.
nearly two seasons later.  Seemed odd to say the least.
 
All equipment was new and properly assembled in May 1996, with two deep
brood chambers devoted to each colony as a base.   Other than a very few
borrowed frames with honey and drawn comb scattered in each colony to
*get them going*, all frames were undrawn Pierco one-piece plastic
frames.   The bees were fed syrup, and queen excluders topped by medium
honey supers (no drawn frames; only undrawn Pierco frames) were placed
on top of the brood chambers several weeks after starting.
 
By mid-august 1996, I removed the honey supers.  There was extremely
little drawn comb in the honey supers and no surplus honey at all.   The
deep supers had plenty of drawn comb and honey; also the colonies
appeared healthy.  I was pleased that they were well equipped for the
winter.
 
Needless to say, I was very optimistic when both colonies emerged strong
in the Spring of 1997.  However, when I saw very little drawn comb and
no honey in the honey supers by July 11, I knew something was wrong.
Based on tidbits of information I gained from this list over the months,
I removed the excluders and began to feed syrup again.   Lo and behold,
on July 19 I re-examined the hives and found perhaps six frames in each
honey super had fully drawn comb and considerable honey (and/or syrup?).
 Only problem was that there was also a large amount (approx. 35%) of
*bridge comb* perpendicular to the frames and connecting the frames.  I
subsequently removed all the comb that was going the wrong way.   I
think I'm on the right track, but I'll have to re-install the excluders
by August 1 (the latest) if I see any brood in the honey supers.
 
I'm hoping for the best when I re-examine this weekend.   Thanks to all
on the list who have helped me indirectly!
 
Cheers.
 
Norm Provost,  Burrillville R.I. (USA)
Engineer, Homebrewer, BeeKeeper-wannabee