At 09:31 AM 5/21/96 -0500, Aaron Morris wrote:
>
>> not very impressed with Walter Kelley Italians at this point. Bees
>> working some days..but not as much as #1.
>>
>Whoa! Tim, this is a world wide forum and you have just slandered
>Walter Kelley for a trait of Italian bees! Originally from a
>Mediterranean climate, Italian bees are not known for their rapid spring
>buildup, but they will catch up as the season gets warmer. If this
>is not to your liking, a statement like "I don't care for Italian bees
>in Vermont" is appropriate. But you should be careful not to blame (or
>defame) Walter Kelley or his livelihood based on the genetic traits of
>the bees he supplied!
Let me just say in my defense that if I wanted to slander or defame
anyone
I would do it in such a way so that would leave no doubt as to my
intentions
(evil grin). My impression is just that...an impression or opinion.
Perhaps
clarification is in order.
Everyone in these parts that I have spoken to deals with Kelley for
their
package bees. This year, Kelley's demand was SO high that they ran
out early on.
I have referred several people locally as well as by email to
contact the
York Bee Co. in Jesup GA. Being in VT a lot of us 'keepers don't
order our pkgs
until what many southern folk would consider late (April). York has
ALWAYS had
pkgs until way past when everyone else is done. Until two years ago, I
had always ordered the 'Double Hybrid' strain from York. Then, after
hearing
so many reports of Kelley bees, I ordered 1 pkg. Kelley only deals
with Italians. In my mind I was only reporting how well
these bees have adapted to Northern VT. I have not been impressed.
My comparison benchmarks are not
established fairly, however. The double hybrid strain, in my
opinion, is
amazing in many ways. Almost always gentle, very prolific and good
producers,
these girls have adapted so well to the harshest winters and will be out
flying in 40deg weather in March (when sunny) rumaging through my
birdfeeders
for anything that remotely resembles pollen. By contrast, the
italians don't
begin to move about until 60deg (two weeks ago this year) and by the
time
hive buildup is done they may have missed all of the tree blooms and
probably
the dandelion bloom as well. Is any of this of earth shaking
importance? No.
But it may be good info for anyone considering buying Italians for
this climate.
I should not have specified 'Walter Kelley' Italians, but there are
so many
pkg suppliers who claim their Italians are a MUCH better strain than
anyone
else's..I thought naming the supplier wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Finally, 'Kelley's bees' aren't even their bees....they second
source from
unamed suppliers in the South.
The Walter Kelley Co is my single source for ALL of my equipment
needs. I
refer anyone who asks me about an equip supplier souce to Kelley. Local
suppliers are a good source for emergency needs but are priced too
high to
hold my business for large quantities.
Tim Peters, Kirby VT
[log in to unmask]
KirBee Apiary, Bear Bait Honey
I rather be flying!
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