Once again we have an acute and detailed original observation from David
Eyre.  Ted Fischer has pointed out why it is an observation and not science
and no, David, there is nothing wrong with observations: science begins and
ends with them.

David is doing what he does best - beekeeping.  On top of that he is showing
us that he is an observer and has the will and the resources not only to
experiment but also to share his results with the world.  Pause for applause.
 On the other hand, David is also showing us that he is not a scientist -
this is not a criticism, neither am I.

I offer the following suggestion which may enable the List to conduct science
rather than just talk about it.  Could one of the learned professors on the
list lend David a science student for a season?  The object would be to
enable David's experiments to be conducted on a scientific basis; the student
would carry out original research which would help his/her degree;  David
would get cheap labour for the season; the student would learn practical
commercial beekeeping; the rest of us would gain real knowledge rather than
just interest from the symbiosis.

How about it?

Chris Slade
Thinking somebody must have thought of this before.