> I'm looking for some factual information. Looking to people like Peter to help me find citations other than some 'back to nature' blog.
I am flattered that you should steer this question my way. I will have to get back to you on this, but my take on it is that "back in the day" the skeps were "hefted". They were ranked in three categories. 1) too heavy to pass up, harvest it! 2) average weight, let it live. 3) too light to overwinter, take the honey! So far as I know, the hives were held over pits of burning sulfur which caused the bees to fall out of the skep. More anon.
Pete
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