From: "Lucinda Sewell" <lucindajohn@sewellhome.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 00:08:35 -0000
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com>
Subject: Re: A. m. m. and cell size

Nice one Robert,

> Beowulf Cooper (The Honeybees of the British Isles, BIBBA, 1986, p.
18)
> lists 'genetically large size' as one of the characteristics of the
British
> bee. He recommends 700 cells per square decimeter (not sure what this
> translates as) as a suitable foundation size for A. m. m. as opposed to
800
> to 850 for Italians (pp20-21).

This is what Dave Cushman is trying to discover: Why did Cooper settle on
the enlarged size? There was patently quite extensive experimentation. I
find it difficult to believe this man would have settled on a choice that
was particularly localised. What is interesting is that the smaller cell
foundation was available here (UK) till so recently. Somewhere in a later
chapter Cooper says that colonies may be difficult to get to draw the larger
foundation, but once on the larger comb settle down. HE NEVER STATES THE
ADVANTAGES OF THIS LARGE SIZE. Several people have mentioned to me that the
'English Black' Bee was larger than Italians. Older texts I've consulted all
list '5 to the inch' as worker cells. Unfortunately imprecise.

Looking forward to Dave, or others enlightening us as to the reasoning. I am
certain there was some.

John Sewell