>
> >I think many of us are aware that researchers are often terrible
> beekeepers


The flip side being that beekeepers are often terrible researchers.
Allen, what I greatly appreciate about your posts is that you are a
beekeeper who is also a good researcher, in that you actually compare
treatments (in this case wrapping, etc) side by side in a yard.

When I wish to understand a phenomenon, I often look for the extremes, where
the effects that you wish to study have the most impact.  So for me to try
to understand wintering/wrapping/insulation, I want to look for extremes,
leading me to study wintering in warm winter climates, to compare to very
cold winter climates.

I personally live in a mid range climate--snow in winter, but rarely temps
below 20F.  So I find the beeyard research by those of you in Canada and the
frigid Northeast to be of great interest.

What interests me is that something that has a small effect in my climate
may have a large effect in yours.  But that small effect may well give me an
edge.

You've really got me curious now about your cavity fill observations, with
regard to the optimal size box in which to build a nuc in cool weather.  I
don't feel the need to reinvent the wheel, and want to learn from your
observations.

May I ask you again for details on experiments that you've run that actually
compared the buildup of nucs (or the spam can of bees) in boxes of various
sizes, but made of the same material--so that any insulation effect is held
constant?

Thanks,
Randy Oliver

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