> I hope this discussion is not becoming polarised, into 'for and 
> against', because I believe in 'horses for courses' and one horse
> may suite your course better than mine.

Hi Dave,

Agree, all beekeeping is local... and I think we have had this
discussion going since the times of the BeeNet :-) For some reason 
Buckfast is not considered useful in the UK, while used with good 
result in other parts of Europe. I will not try to convert any of you 
UK guys, only give my view to others on the list.

> A sting on the hand if you move too fast is tolerated.
> 
> Why ? I do not wish to tolerate it, nor would I expect it in well 
> refined stocks. I wish to be able to work quickly without any
> special precautions.

In real life this is not possible. With hundreds of hives using open
mating there will be a difference between colonies, also in
gentleness. If I was to select mainly for this trait it's possible,
but what will happen to vitality with so much inbreeding that will be
needed to achieve this? I don't need that extreme gentleness, I need 
vital bees more that can survive in the ever faster changing environment.

Without the difference there is nothing to select for, and we will
not be able to improve the bees. In all breeding programs with bees
(except the Starline-Midnight program that were real hybrids) the
difference will gradually decrease until they are almost even. Then
what? Can we happily lean back and think we solved it by just
maintaining the "good" stock? Or should we continue to try improve our 
bees by introducing new genetic material and let nature decide what is 
best suited for the bees now and here? Bugs and diseases soon travel 
as fast as money around the globe, bees need a way to adopt to that. I 
believe greater genetic diversity is essential. I don't see race 
purity as a mean to achive this, rather an obstacle in the bee's 
development. Evolution is not going to stop, why should we think the 
races that were developed ages ago in a totally different situation 
would be the best today?

-- 
Regards

P-O Gustafsson, Sweden
http://beeman.se

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