Lionel wrote: "Top bar hives cannot be inspected with any ease."

Oh yes they can! Everything is at waist height so there is no stooping. 
  You examine only one one comb at a time so there is no heavy lifting. 
The bees are far less disturbed so (usually) you don't need a smoker.  
You just have to remember to keep the combs vertical when turning them 
about to look at the other side.

In my experience (I run both types) examination of TBHs is much easier 
than the stacking boxes.

Chris

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