>
> Can someone give me advice about whether or not the bottom board of a hive
 shou
> ld be painted on the inside surface?  I have not observed this being done in
 Ar
> izona but I'm told it is the rule to do so.  The books I've checked don't
 expli
> citly deal with the subject, but photographs sometimes show the inner surface
 o
> f the bottom board as unpainted, although it is hard to be sure.  I have not
 pa
> inted the bottom boards of my own hives.  Should I?
>
The books I read said to paint all surfaces (inside & out).  Then
I talked to an Entomologist who happens to teach beekeeping.  He
said not to paint the inside surfaces at all.  I chose to NOT
paint any of my inside surfaces and, so far (after 1 year), my
colony seems to be thriving.
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