Hi Peter & All, >I would like to have a bee that is healthy, productive, and reasonably easy >to manage. I >think the future of beekeeping lies in controlled breeding. > You want the same that most all beekeepers want. Extreme controlled breeding, such as I.I. or A.I., and letting the bees do their own thing are polarized and probably neither are the best way to breed a stock that will give us the qualities we as beekeepers desire. The answer to breeding bees that beekeepers desire probably lays in the middle of the road but all beekeepers must work together to accomplish this. The gene pool will be larger if we as beekeepers rear and breed queens in addition to trading and sharing material. We do not have to be polarized on developing a manageable honey bee. . . .. Keith Malone, Chugiak, Alaska USA, http://www.cer.org/, c(((([ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ApiarianBreedersGuild/ _________________________________________________________________ Find high-speed ‘net deals — comparison-shop your local providers here. https://broadband.msn.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::