On Tue, 20 Feb 1996, Sean Eric P. & Pattie A. Robinson wrote: > According to "KEEPING BEES" by John Vivian, he writes: > Native English brown bees were crossed with Italians, and used by the > famous beekeeper Brother Adam and confreres of Buckfast Abbey to save the > British bee industry from acarine disease in the early decades of this > century. This vari-colored bee was bred for superior honey production, > gentleness, a compact brood nest, and good wintering on limited stores. > Their sale is lecensed in the USA only to Weaver Apiaries, Inc. of Navasota, > Texas. Brother Adam's order gets a royalty on each queen sold. > > <[log in to unmask]> Vine Grove, Kentucky, USA > It's a great place to BEE! The Buckfast bee is, I'm pretty sure, a more complex cross than just British/Italian. I think it's mostly a three-way cross A.M.mellifera/ligustica/carnica, but he experimented with many local varieties. There are 11 listed in his book "Breeding the Honeybee", with which he compares the Buckfast. I don't think he actually says what the 'mix' is, but then that's hardly surprising for several reasons. He certainly implies that he has taken advantage of several strains though. Regards, -- Gordon Scott [log in to unmask] Hampshire, England. [log in to unmask] Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor. The Basingstoke Beekeeper (newsletter) [log in to unmask]