Mark wrote: "Could you elaborate a little on the problems of overwintering
on fall
honey and how one ensures that the bees have honey but not fall honey"

From my experience in Indiana I have found my fall honey to be considerably
darker than my spring or summer honey.  Reading up on causes for this
phenomina, the sources claimed it was because of a higher mineral content
(among other things) contained in the fall honey.  Further reading seems to
suggest that the higher content of material other than sugar content is what
is detrimental to wintering over on fall honey.  This "other" material in
the honey seems to be what causes a consideral disruption of the bees'
digestive tracts and which necessitates frequent cleansing flights.  If this
is not possible due to adverse weather, then we get the condition of
retention of feces which should be deficated.  Would an annalogy of having
diarhea and not having a commode available be appropriate here?  Anyway,
less "other" material in honey results in less need for cleansing flights,
from what I have read, at least.  Hope I have not pressed somebody's "fire
away" button.

Mike

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