I thought I read somewhere that Russian bees lost something of their VSH character when out-crossed. Randy O mentions the race and also refers to his increasingly resistant bees as mongrels. Do any of you folks have good resistant crossed stock?

I retired in April and bought a wreck of a farmhouse. It was June by the time I had water, electricity and bees. Next year I plan to run twenty hives. Reaching sixty in three years.. Divided among three yards.

I have syrup and Mega Bee in my hives. With luck maybe they'll overwinter. I have apiguard in the fridge and hopguard should be here this week. I have a scale and a Nikon microscope.

I took from Mr. Oliver "nutrition and 2% or less Varroa." These are my first goals and priorities as I learn.

Now my question is: How do I stock my hives in the spring of 2015. Genetic diversity of course. Yes to locally adapted. But do I mix the Russians with Italian?

Jon Bucher

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