Allen Dick wrote:

> For this and other reasons (2) those who really know the
> answers often can't be bothered to get involved in discussion, and
> although they may make occasional attempts to set things straight, are
> normally content to just ignore untruths, half truths and out right
> fantasy.  If experts do bother to read the list, they often do so just to
> keep a finger on the pulse, for companionship, or for entertainment.
> There are, thankfully, exceptions on this list, but 9 times out of 10,
> experts just lurk and let others speculate and pontificate. (2)
> Therefore be sure to research the archives.  Some gems exist.

Interesting. So 90% of the posts on this list are opinion? Where might
both your post and my answer fit? :)

I think that the problem with the current discussion on screened bottoms
is that there is limited experience by most in using them and you are
getting experience vrs opinion, although it does creep in. The other
problem is that the good trials I have seen are all in warmer climates
than we have here in Maine so you have a practice that is in flux.

Also, beekeeping is still quite a bit more art than science. And art
does incorporate opinion, especially when it gets into new realms like
screened bottoms and 4.9. Art also leads to using a combination of
techniques which may disregard the approved method for several others
that also work in that specific local.

Beekeeping is not static. We learn of facts that turn out to not be true
since the fact was either based on incorrect observations or theory that
became fact. So the expert could be wrong as well as the archives.

I have learned to appreciate the posts of certain individuals, including
yours, as being informative and usually correct. I base my method of
beekeeping on George Imire and Tony Jadczak advice and have succeeded
because of them. But even they have taught me things that have recently
been disproved. They disagree with experts, yet they are experts. And
some of the most enlightening discussions on this list are when the
experts argue their positions. Obviously, both science and opinion are
involved. So are the opinions facts or the facts of the experts,
opinions?

I will wager that several of your over wintering points are disagreed
with by experts on this list. Since I am not an expert, I can only hope
that they will not "just lurk and let others speculate and pontificate".
(Humor there.)

Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME