As an aside, so far only my cherry tree has set less fruit that normal. The reason is there is just more to pollinate, so with no bees, the natives could not do the job, which is why I started keeping bees in the first place, for pollination of my garden and fruit trees. In any case, their absence did make a measurable difference. Bill Truesdell Bath, Maine I believe the above also applies to the fruit industry and is the basis for renting bee for pollination. It is a matter of saturation, ideally fruit industry wants more pollinators than flowers to be pollinated. It is my challenge as a bussiness man to be able to provide this service. It is my challenge as a beekeeper to manage those hives to the highest standard. It is my challenge as a living creature to say no, that is enough. I havenīt been able to design a strategy to become an organic honey producer while at the same time been able to provide the pollination service. I havenīt develop a method to have my queen lasting two full season. I havenīt design a flower route that allows me not to feed. I havenīt been able to develop a bee line varroa free. So I pollinate for three month a year and produce "just" Honey for other four month and change my queen the second autum, and if I have energy each 7 to 9 months. and feed and treat. And believe I come close to perfection "next season". -- Juanse Barros J. APIZUR S.A. Carrera 695 Gorbea - CHILE +56-45-271693 08-3613310 http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/ [log in to unmask] **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************