The majority of beekeepers keep bees because they are fascinated by bees and by beekeeping. We could buy honey in a store and save ourselves money. When each of us started keeping bees, we learned what we had to do to keep them alive and healthy. Real old timers could probably tell us about things they did to bee colonies that are no longer done today. When I started keeping bees in the early 1970's, American foulbrood was the big worry. Foulbrood does not seem to be as big a problem in the 90's. If you start keeping bees this year, you will learn how to keep your colonies healthy. With timely and proper care, bee colonies thrive. That has not changed. Tim Sterrett Westtown, (Southeastern) Pennsylvania, USA [log in to unmask]