Every region had its peculiar problems, the solution of which may seem strange to beekeepers in other climates ; but all of us can learn from the others in more ways that we sometimes think possible. The more we know of the practices in other areas the better for all. An interesting example is the practice of top-supering. It is only recently that it has been generally adopted in the Middle West (U.S.), but here, in the San Joaquin Valley, the top-supering method has been used for close to 40 years. The belief that bees would take a fresh super of combs better if added just above the brood nest is probably a hand-over from comb-honey production, where the oldest sections were put on top so that they would not become travel-stained. Though Root's A.B.C., for 1940, now advocates top-supering for comb-honey production also, in spite of the danger of travel-stain. 

Lee H. Watkins (1940) Arena, Bee World, 21:7, 75 

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The first honey storage super given to a colony may be added on top of that which is already there, or as shown in the diagram where it is placed beneath the previously added super. However, if any further supers are added they should be placed on top to avoid the unnecessary Lifting of heavy supers which have to be replaced after new ones have been added to the colony. This top supering is made possible when colonies are operated in a double brood chamber, so that it is hardly necessary to examine the brood chambers during the period of the main honey flow from the first to latter part of July. During the early part of the honey flow colonies should always have at least half a super empty for future storage. As the honey flow tapers off supers should be added very carefully so that no more than the required amount of storage space is available to the bees. This will encourage them to completely fill the corners of any frames that may not have already been filled to capacity.

G. F. TOWNSEND and P. W. BURKE. (1952). BEEKEEPING IN ONTARIO for Honey Production and Pollination. Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

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A study of the effects of top supering with 1, 2 and 3 honey removals and bottom supering with 2 honey removals was conducted on the quantity and quality of honey produced by 36 honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Beaverlodge, Alberta.  There were no significant differences with the various treatments. Honey production ranged from 76.8 to 102.4 kg. The results suggest that with the less labor intensive method of top supering the quantity and quality of honey can be maintained.

TI Szabo, P Sporns. (1994). A comparison of top and bottom supering on honey quantity and quality. American bee journal

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