From: "Peter Edwards"
> I would suggest that most experts worth their salt would advise strongly
> against allowing bees to clean up cappings as it is an excellent way of
> spreading disease."

If u mark supers with hive numbers in chalk, and use a number of uncapping
trays (simple rectangular catering sieves over plastic storage boxes) it is
quite practical to reserve cappings for return to the right hive - having
drained out the honey that drips, I just tip the cappings from the sieve
into the storage box and put that straight back in - there is free space by
then at the back of a double-length hive, otherwise of course u need empty
supers to enclose the tray when put at the top of the hive.
I find the bees make quite lovely patterns comby constructions out of the
cappings - which I just submerge later when pouring in the winter syrup
(these storage boxes are my deep feeders, needing only a crumpled shopping
bag as a float), although the children at school often suggest selling it as
'bee art'.   There is a market there I am sure - but better perhaps to
induce the bees to make these wierd but beautiful shapes between two sheets
of perspex that could have a cold light fixed behind on the wall.

Robin Dartington

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