One of my neighbours has a couple of friends who are missionaries. They have recently taken a new posting in Madagascar and apparently, along with everthing else, have inherited one (or more?) beehives. They know nothing about bees. My neighbour asked me what advice I could give. At least I know enough to say "Not much!" Presumably what they need is local beekeeping contacts or, failing that, some good books. I have no contacts in that part of Africa at all. I have only been able to find one good book about practical beekeeping in Africa and that's for South Africa, not Madagascar, and may not still be in print. (The copy I saw was quite old.) "Beekeeping in South Africa" by R.H. Anderson, B. Buys and M.F. Johannsmeier, published by the S.A. Dept of Agricultural Technical Services. Any comments or suggestions? -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 5104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 442 232301 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : [log in to unmask] ------------------------------------------------------------------------