Hello Robert and All,

> American bees don't have a good track record in the UK, with most of the
few  people to have tried them reporting that they produced loads of bees
and no  honey. Given the climatic range in North America, this seems
surprising; can  anyone pin the reason down a bit closer?

Lack of floral source and weather conditions not being right for the
production of nectar are two reasons which come to mind right off the bat.
Strong hives of bees forage out farther which is one reason why strong hives
produce more honey than weak. In yards I looked at yesterday the strongest
hives were still bringing in nectar. The air was full of bees coming and
going at those hives while the weaker hives were doing nothing.
The work of Dr. C.L. Farrar showed that one strong hive will outproduce
easily two weak hives. New beekeepers tend to split their hives to small to
be able to take advantage of the spring honey flow or do so much swarm
control they get a small honey crop BUT no swarming.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
Odessa, Missouri