>        I read somewhere,(an old ('87?) Bee Culture?), an opinion
>concerning the fact that brood chamber foundation with holes is
>better overall for the bees. It was in relation to wintering and
>providing easier cluster migration from frame to frame. The bees do
>not have to go to the edges of the frames to move from one frame to
>the next in very cold weather.
>
>        Other than the cells lost to the holes is there a downside.
>I have the feeling sometimes that my idea of what would be a perfect
>set of brood frames, nice and tidy and even with no holes, and what
>would serve the bees best might be quite different. The natural comb
>in feral hives seems to have alot more pathways.
>
>        Do the removable frames provide more "order" for my
>convenience at some hidden expense to the bees?  Would providing a
>hole or two be worth considering when introducing new foundation?
>
>        Comments?
>
>        Jim Moore
>        [log in to unmask]
 
 
Jim
About 5 years ago Steve Taber of Honey Bee Genetics wrote for the american
Bee journal. One of the ideas for wintering which he wrote about was a hole
in the middle of the comb for the bees to use as you discribed, move from
fram to fram while still clustered. I thried it here in Alaska but was
unable to determine if it helped I think it did .. At the time I was also
trying some very aggresive Ideas concerning wintering and that one was not
Isolated and tested so I cant quatify information for you. But I think it
is a good idea.
 
 
Jerry Fries