In a message dated 06/11/2008 11:17:03 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<The high losses cited for last winter come from real data and  ring true 
around here with some beekeepers losing a high proportion of their  stocks.  I 
lost three out of five and that is unusual.   >>
I didn't do so badly, losing one out of four, not counting the one I united  
due to bad temper. I picked up two swarms in July, which replaced them nicely, 
 though it was too late to get any honey from them. the honey crop was 
athetic, a  mere ten pounds. They were short of stores by the end of the winter, and 
they're  even shorter now, despite feeding. As a result, there's a distinct 
chance of  starvation if I'm not careful. I don't believe in routine feeding, 
but this  year I'm going to be giving candy to every colony. Colonies were 
never broodless  during trhe season, but they took a very long time to build up, 
and spent much  of the summer unable to forage due to the foul weather.

 
 
Regards,

Robert Brenchley
Birmingham  UK

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