>This is the real trick that beekeepers play on the bees.  We get them 
>established in a box of the size they would choose, then we expand 
>and harvest it so it can't be filled to the point of swarming.  We place 
>foundation or empty comb above the established cluster creating a 
>situation that the bees feel compelled to fix (as it would represent a 
>damaged nest in nature).

Most preceptive.  I suppose one thing that affects my perspective and
makes it different from the typical researcher working with the typical
colony using the typical assumptions is that I produced 30,000 comb 
sections a year, regardless of conditions, had to do it in hot weather 
and not-so-hot weather, in strong flows and dearth -- and had to get 
the comb finished even if the season cut off suddenly or be stuck with 
tens of thousands of expensive but unsaleable combs.

You learn a lot of things about bees doing that, and one of the things you
learn is under exactly what conditions bees will or will not draw, store, 
and cap.  You learn how they 'think' and what they 'like' and on't like.
You can't force them; you have to think like they do and lead them.

Thanks for reminding me.

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