> My teacher (who was born at the beginning of the last century, and learned
beekeeping from his father) simply replaced winter losses with splits made
from his best hives to replace winter losses, in the knowledge that he was
doing  things right by nature.

The question is about timing. When did he did his splits to replace winter
losses? Early or mid spring? Early or mid summer?

I rise this question out of this year experience.

I send a post asking what you will do with the colonies that were small
(under 3 frames) at the end of our winter. I was ready to cull them and just
keep the stronger ones.

But the wise Allen said, wait, how do you know the stronger ones are the
right genetic?

so I waited. I mixed the dinks (>2 frames) with the small (3 frames) and
left them there. Then it came a lovelly september and the big ones ate all
their reserves, but the small ones grew. Then it rained non stop for october
and november. I lost many of the stronger ones, but the small ones kept on.

Now, after feeding 24 tons of sugar, given some 3 tons of patties and almost
at mid summer, the stronger ones have given only one split have half super
of honey, but the small ones are in great shape with a full box of honey and
ready to be splited.

Playing God in time of weather change is very risky I learned.

Thanks Allen.

-- 
Juanse Barros J.
APIZUR S.A.
Carrera 695
Gorbea - CHILE
+56-45-271693
08-3613310
http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/
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