In a message dated 09/12/2008 00:51:05 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

My  question is what would be the effect of keeping hives in two or  three
stories, encouraging swarming, and harvesting only small amounts of  honey if
it is really "in the way".



This is an experiment that many of us can do over the next few years to  
build up a sufficiently large collection of anecdotes that they might, if themes  
emerge, become regarded as evidence. The important point about Seeley's bees 
is  that the colonies are widely separated from each other.  Maybe we could  
each establish a single hive in a friend or relative's garden, or in an isolated 
 area where there are no other hives nearby.  Mesh floors would probably be  
a good idea. 
 
Start each hive from a swarm with foundation starter strips only.   Give them 
a total volume to occupy of maybe a couple of bushels.  When you  go to visit 
your friends (which might be more often than before) take a look at  the hive 
from the outside; check the debris falling through the mesh floor.  Examine 
the mites through a magnifying glass to see if more or less are damaged  than 
in other hives.  Read Storch's 'At the Hive Entrance' to gain a  non-invasive 
insight into what is happening within. Maybe heft the hive at  intervals 
roughly to assess the weight.  Open the hive only if you have a  particular valid 
reason to do so.  Don't feed them.  Take a harvest in  Spring when you know that 
what you take is truly surplus to their needs. Station  a bait hive nearby in 
case they do decide to swarm.  Do an annual thorough  health check for 
foulbrood etc when you take your harvest, but replace the  frames in the order in 
which you found them.
 
Report at intervals (possibly via the Santa Group).
 
Chris

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