At 19/09/01, Bill wrote:

>It is not that 4.9 is not genuine. It may be
>which is why there are several on this list
>testing it. Science looks for reproducibility.

The root of the 4.9 controversy is exactly that science has NOT been looking.  The
Lusby's went public out of frustration that no scientists would take seriously the word of
mere beekeepers who claimed they were beating varroa.  This is why the work is being
done by other mere beekeepers (and small under-funded research in 3rd world
countries!), who want to know if it is reproducible for them.

>When I shifted to the smaller foundation I did have
>less overall problems with the health of my bees
>and did not lose a hive over winter.

Great to have this sort of feed-back Bill - such is all we have to go on for now.

>The key in all this is not that science has to
>prove it for you to try it. We try new things all
>the time. It is the insistance that it works when
>there are only one or two data points that raises
>warning flags.

How many hive-years (data points) were there on SMR when it was first publicly
'launched'  ( vs several hundred hives over several years for the unacknowledged
contender)?

It seems to me that the argument comes down to those who will only believe the high
priests of the scientific order, vs those that can't be bothered waiting for science to catch-
up, and will try a promising new thing for themselves.

And if 4.9 turns out to eventually be acknowledged as a significant factor for mite
control?  How will that reflect on the current scientific hierachy, that looked the other way
for so long?

-Pav, frustrated hopeful sceptic.


"Any idiot can wage war. It takes a true hero to wage unrelenting peace.
Terrorists are forged in the crucible of despair. If we aim to eradicate
terrorism, we must eradicate hopelessness."

-- Martha Schatzle



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  (\      Pav                                          [log in to unmask]
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