> On Sep 9, 2015, at 10:01 AM, Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> (2) keeping many more colonies than can support themselves on the natural forage available.

I think Bailey is talking about the density of colonies in a given vicinity, not colonies in the apiary. On the other hand, when I lived in California, I observed repeatedly throughout the state that 120 hives was the usual size of a commercial apiary whereas in this neck of the woods, 24 is probably the average, up to 36 but seldom more. However, the driving factor seems to be ease of obtaining apiary sites. Where I live it is very easy, so the logical approach is to tailor them to the size that one can easily work, whereas in regions where apiary sites are more difficult to obtain, there is an incentive to put as many as possible. No doubt at times, a good location could support up to 500, but at others, more than ten seems like too many. Finally, it depends on whether you are judging the economic efficiency of keeping bees or the effect on their health

P
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