On Tue, 20 Feb 1996, Sean Eric P. & Pattie A. Robinson wrote:
 
> According to "KEEPING BEES" by John Vivian, he writes:
>   Native English brown bees were crossed with Italians, and used by the
> famous beekeeper Brother Adam and confreres of Buckfast Abbey to save the
> British bee industry from acarine disease in the early decades of this
> century.  This vari-colored bee was bred for superior honey production,
> gentleness, a compact brood nest, and good wintering on limited stores.
> Their sale is lecensed in the USA only to Weaver Apiaries, Inc. of Navasota,
> Texas.  Brother Adam's order gets a royalty on each queen sold.
>
> <[log in to unmask]>  Vine Grove, Kentucky, USA
> It's a great place to BEE!
 
The Buckfast bee is, I'm pretty sure, a more complex cross than
just British/Italian. I think it's mostly a three-way cross
A.M.mellifera/ligustica/carnica, but he experimented with many
local varieties. There are 11 listed in his book "Breeding the
Honeybee", with which he compares the Buckfast. I don't think
he actually says what the 'mix' is, but then that's hardly
surprising for several reasons. He certainly implies that he
has taken advantage of several strains though.
 
Regards,
--
Gordon Scott   [log in to unmask]   Hampshire, England.
               [log in to unmask]
               Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor.
The Basingstoke Beekeeper (newsletter) [log in to unmask]