In a message dated 97-03-25 08:46:45 EST, [log in to unmask] (Albert W Needham) writes: Hello Al << Why recommend a chemical to control grass around hives? I have two hives and I just kneel to the side and either pull up or just simply clip the grass down...no big deal with a two or three hives.>> 1. To keep from having to ride the mower deck hard up against an object, so you can have neat trim look, which we need. What I do is spray a four to six inch strip around buildings and objects I do not want to hit. I have a showcase farm to care for, six hundred acres on a main highway, half a mile outside of town. Eight acres of lawn, three houses and eight barns set on this farm. Got to have some way to speed up the process. <<Why should anyone want to ride a mower around hives anyway? We all know that kind of noise may aggravate them.>> 2. When I mow around the hives I have no problem, they are to busy makeing honey to bother with me. <<If someone has big commercial bee yards, I could understand the economics of Roundup & etc.,or some such.>> 3. See number 1. << An aside..it strikes me that we humans are getting lazier & lazier with all our 'alleged' labor saving devices. I can see the use of a ride-em mower if someone has some physical problems or a giant spread.>> 4. In my case thirty years of stoop labor on a labor intensive turkey farm. Bad on back and knees, not complaining I loved it. Lots of time standing on concrete to dress out those birds. This is why we switched to cattle, less labor and easier to do.You are right, people are getting lazier. << My 2 cents....:-) [ With inflation over the years, we really devalue our thoughts with 2 cents..it should probably be 'my $10,00 worth these days]>> Al>> 5. I could not agree more. With best regards :-) Dennis Dennis Scott Scott Farms Greenville, Ohio