At 12:00 -0400 8/17/01, Carmenie wrote:
>  Winter is approaching, and the honey flow is almost over.

What a depressing thought! It's still the middle of August! I would
definitely give them another super and winter in 2 stories, because
they may pick up more honey in the next month. I don't know about
your area but down here in New York the fall flow can be the main
flow. Don't you have a goldenrod flow up your way or is it almost
over?

Personally, I believe that if a colony is below par going into
winter, there is very little you can do. I have combined mediocre
hives and had them fail anyway. I think it has to do with the
percentage of young bees. A very strong hive will have a higher
percentage of young  bees which seems to ensure its successful
wintering.


Peter Borst
Ithaca, NY
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