I think that that must be right Roy because you mentioned the fable in the lesson last week. Thanks for every one who has helped us with our homework (including Cheshire BKA web site which has obviously been visited by more than one of us!) Now for the other eight questions . . . Catherine From: roy.parker14@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: sleafordbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [sleafordbka] Re: Beekeeping Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 21:06:34 +0100 Hi.Simon, We welcome your enquiry, We are covering skep hives as part of the history of beekeeping and I thank Martin for his valued help on this matter, I have also found that " Burgonia " is of Greek origin meaning "ox birth" refering to the mythical practice by which bees are produced from the carcasses of dead oxon, (the Roman poet Virgil) Look at the picture on your Tate&Lyle golden syrup tin. "Out of the strong came forth sweetness" Thanks for your help Simon. Roy. ----- Original Message ----- From: simon croson To: sleafordbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: sleafordbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 7:45 PM Subject: [sleafordbka] Re: Beekeeping Why on earth we are teaching such detail on skip hives has to bee questioned? Simon Croson Sicroson@xxxxxx Www.sicroson.com On 14 May 2011, at 19:15, martin robinson <martinrobinson26@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Roy et al... No1.Before the advent of the modern movable frame hive bees were kept in straw skeps. The space available to the bees was limited so they regularly swarmed (a natural method of colony reproduction) which served to replace the colonies which were killed to obtain the honey. The space for the bees could be enlarged by adding an extra chamber called an eke (hence the term to eke something out) and to protect the hive from the weather a straw hackle was added. This was roughly a cone shaped device to deflect the rain. Sayings such as "to eke out" and "raising the hackles" have passed into common usage. No2.burgonia the only thing I can think this means unless you have the context to which it refers is French & Spanish for Burgundy http://ccgi.esperanto.plus.com/lfn/dictionary.pdf Regards Martin Robinson --- On Sat, 14/5/11, Roy <roy.parker14@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Roy <roy.parker14@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [sleafordbka] Beekeeping To: sleafordbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Saturday, 14 May, 2011, 15:23 Hi. There, Can someone out there with a beekeepers encyclopedia please answer these questions? 1. What is a hackle? 2. What does burgonia mean? These are questions from the section 4 in the Course In a Case. (History questions) If anyone can help it would be much appreciated. Regards, Roy.