>A goodly amount of empty comb is going to encourage the bees for forage more and further, and to exploit sources that might be less-than ideal, and thereby make a harvestable crop from even a marginal flow, or a geographically inconvenient bloom
I have no argument with the wise practice of early and heavy supering with drawn comb (I of course do it myself) however there are seasonal and geographic limits that are beyond the control of the bees or beekeeper. A colony on a ship at sea or in the middle of the Sahara will not be able to produce a crop regardless of the amount of empty comb. The fact that there are always variation and often large ones in traditional honey producing regions is testimonial enough. Many large operators here in the west are resorting to "feed lot" practice this year. Would that it were so easy as putting on a little more empty comb.
"It aint no use if you don't have the juice" it is wisely said
Paul
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