> Surely the whole point of agriculture is to maximise the number that do make it.

Of course, but not by doing things that have no effect! If wrapping hives has little or no effect on overwintering, why do it? Many beekeepers have told me the chief effect of wrapping is psychological: the beekeeper *thinks* he's helped the hives. Might as well lay a prayer cloth over the inner cover. 

I posted on 12/9/10: 

> Five years of tests show that colonies of bees in good condition will winter at Madison, Wis., without packing or heating.

Believe me, winter temperatures in Madison are rougher than here in Upstate NY, where it often goes below 0 F in winter (-17 C)

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