Here are a few comments:
    I tested some of Roy's Weaver's Buckfast queens by chance.  I found a
hot one in the bunch, lots of supercedure, and no brood to spare in the
spring for nucs.  Plenty of late honey, but no early honey.
    Roy was kind enough to provide some replacements for the supercedure
problems, but I hear Binford's are better.  I have worked for them, in Texas
and Hawaii, so I believe it.
   I also use New World Carniolans, and love them.  They are better adapted
to the early flows of my area, and my nuc business.  And, they are easy to
work with.  Enjoy gentle bees while you can!  The Africans will be in your
backyard soon enough!
 
    As for the rough handling issue:
 
    I have worked bees commercially since 1977, with Roy, Sr., Roy, Jr.,
Richard, John, and Binford Weaver, Larry Connor and Mel Greenleaf at Genetic
Systems in FL, Carroll Wharton and Gus Rouse of Kona Queen, and the late
Mike Sinclair of HI.  I guess I was fortunate to learn from the pros.  Many
times, I remember hearing:  "Be nice to those bees!"
    I know that the commercial beekeeper kills many bees every day.  I hope
most of you try to minimize this.  Do you do the following to prevent the
deaths of our furry feminine friends?
 
1.  Prevent robbing:
        a.  Use burr buckets to contain wax, you'd be amazed how much you
accumulate!
        b.  Use drip boards when harvesting.
        c.  Minimize number of colonies open, or cover with screens or
whatever.
        d.  Keep bee tight equipment, it saves lots of robbing, stings, and
dead bees.  Cook in paraffin at 250° in a barrel or vat 15 minutes each box
to prevent rot, like they do in HI, NZ, etc.  In termite areas, and for
bottom boards/hive stands, soak in a preservative solution and dry before
paraffinning.  Protect your investment!
        e.  Plan your beekeeping so you don't try to do too much in one day
to minimize the time each colony is open.
        f.  Hire sufficient help so you can get through your yards in good
time.
        g.  Work with the flows, sometimes one yard is on a flow when others
aren't.
 
2.  Use cool smoke judiciously to keep the edges clear so you can slide
boxes back together, starting diagonally.  Push bees, don't crush them!
 
3.  Jarring bees to get them out of the way of manipulations does not hurt
them.  Rolling and crushing does!
 
4.  Use gentle, productive bees.
 
5.  Stop wearing a veil and beesuit, and see how good a beekeeper you are!
The bees will let you know when when you are doing a bad job!
 
6.  Be a gentleman, in the beeyard, at home, etc..  Do you see how far you
can go with rough handing of your wife and kids and friends and other
animals?
 
7.  Slow down and enjoy your life!
 
    I keep 41 2-queen colonies in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley!  I
just took off a ton of honey wearing shorts and T-shirt.  For most of it I
was using a brush, as the menthol-isopropyl solution I use on the fume
boards does not work so well on cloudy days.  I took a few stings, but I
know they are good for my immune system!
    I love my bees and healthy bee products!!
    Let it flow,
Charles F. Andros
 
Former Apiary Inspector, VT and NH, '78-'89
Producer of honey, pollen, propolis tincture, and candles
Presenter of workshops on Apiculture
Linden Apiaries/Boulder Wall Gardens
1 McLean Road
Walpole, NH
03608-0165
603-756-9056
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