I have worked with Carniolians in Eastern Europe and last year in Turkmenistan,
where the beekeepers did not use smokers or veils.  In Eastern Europe we used
loose veils and small smokers, but the bees had a wonderful temperament.  I was
so impressed I bought several dozen New World Carniolian queens last summer and
requeened with them.  They wintered well here in northern North Carolina but we
have an early spring and the carniolians were honey bound and slow to take off.
 I know the Bulgarians go into the hive in the spring and take a cappings
scratcher and scratch the capped honey adjacent to the brood and get the colony
to eat and expand, but this is too labor intensive for me.  We are in the last
third of our honey flow right now and the jury will be in on the NWC's in about
two weeks.  I have liked what I have seen of them so far but they may be too
slow out of the blocks in the spring for my climate.

Bill Lord
--
William G Lord
Area Specialized Agent, Environmental Education
E-Mail  : wglord@franklin
Internet: [log in to unmask]
Phone   : 919-496-3344
Fax     : 919-496-0222