>> There is no substitute for working through tens of thousands of hives.

>Many of the most important advances in beekeeping knowledge and
>practice have come from beekeepers with very few hives. They just
>happen to be very intelligent and observant

It is possible to point out a few exceptional individuals, but I think most of
those would fall under the 'researcher' category in my comments.

Moreover, a few exceptional individuals out on one tail of a rather mediocre 
curve don't disprove the my point.

Of course, we agree that all the readers of this list are exempt from the 
normal requirement to have extensive experience to be considered an 
excellent beekeeper and an expert.  

Moreover we are all granted equal status to Brother Adam, Huber, 
Langstroth and the other greats -- just by virtue of reading BEE-L.

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