From: "Helmut,E. Garz" <hommes@olympus.net>
Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 04:39:11 -0000
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com
Subject: observations.

To whom bothers to read.

Do NOT all what I scribble under any circumstances take as personal
affront or as absolute facts, since there are as far as I know no
absolutes except natural laws.

There is this interesting viewpoint of "the bigger the better". I
think Gene mentioned something about this 4oo pound fellow and the
consequence. Ask a few former POW of those infamous Gulags who
perished first under adverse conditions. They were not the skinny
ones but the imposing "Men's Man" such as the carriers of odd shaped
eggs running to and fro on on large lawns.The small ones may just have
an edge, who knows for sure.

I do not know ANYTHING about genetic nitty grits since I was a
highschool drop out and do not even speak the language properly.
(None for that Matter).
However, I learned early in my "Courriere" to measure to some
exactance and as I understand the criteria of measuring the distance
from wall to wall in a bee cell, it is by no means exact, since there
are variants and it imposes no problen at all. (Tolerance + - .04 m/m)
There are all kinds of measures ,depending on the age of the cell and
the kind of being utilised for what purpose by the bees.
Certainly has the size of brood cells a bearing of Varroa propagation
since it was observed that these critters prefer larger cells as first
choice, I.E. drone cells to do their obcene deed.

So, having also observed and measured "wild combs", the measure of
the Lusby's has merit. After all the bees know best having survived an
unknown length of time in the wild. Additionally I discovered that a
majority of combs in my apiary are indeed from, 4.8 to 5m/m across,
to speak conservatively. Brood, cells that is. BUT they are
interspersed with other cells, such as honey storage and drone cells.
That does not mean that we are free of diseases or mites. I lost 7
colonies out of 21 since the fall of 1999.

To a great degree my neglect and ignorance to be aware of tell-tales. Or knowing it and not doing anything about it.
Also I cannot claim that the loss is related to Varroa.
74 posts have been written and most of it has to do with academics of
genes, color, hairs, size and whatever else. Naturally we have the
very experienced ones among them. What puzzles me about his is: Why
asking questions about something which was debated, questioned,
researched by scientists at universities since over a hundred years
without conclusions. How many books, articles were printed? Looking
at this multitude of information we should by now be more than
knowlegable about the keeping of bees.

I am somewhat on the warpath just with this term "Bee keeping". Suffer
under the impression that they tolerate me up to a point because I
make it conducive for them to hang around until they see fit to leave,
irrespective of my wishful thinking.
Of course , I am just a beginner and do not know any better.What is
however of great convenience are the various designs of gadgetry
helping to facilitate the labor and organisation of apiaries. And
those were to the maximum degree concocted by practical bee masters.

I learned from around the middle 70ties until the 90ties that having
bees and "keeping" bees are two entirely different horses. It depends
a lot on climatic environs. Southern climates appear to be a piece of
cake in some regions. Not so in damp foggy and cool latitudes.
Looking at my knowledge, I am more confused than ever because of the
myriad of alternatives of approaches and "Managements" as it is
proclaimed by the experts.

Therefore, I have the strong tendency to accept the theory (Proven by
the facts of life at the Lusy's apiaries) of the smaller size
workercell. It is reinforced by the natural development by the bees in
my apiary. I have no idea what the genetics of those are. There are
dark one's mixed with lighter one's, smaller one's with larger one's
and they all collect pollen and nectar.

I leave them alone because the natural laws take effect and I dare not
play with it since I am indeed ignorant as ANYONE else. (AS proven by
all these futile endavors since the last century).
But ---- I understand the concerns of the commercial aspects of bee
management relative to cost and effiency.
I still wonder what the people do having 10 000 colonies and more to
KEEP them in spite of beetles, mites and all the other adverse
particles. Only one of them gave me a hint. But that is politically
incorrect specifically at this list thing.

We humans may advanced knowledge deeper in the makings of the
universe, but by NO means can we ever catch up with creation and what
it has in store. For me -- Mother nature knows best, even if it leads
us to smaller cell sizes.

Your' truly
(The reason why I was polite in my epistle is because I am afraid
Barry kicks me off the site after all my effort of spending time at
the piano)