> To give some other background, our weather is mild and it doesn't rain > as much as the world thinks :). Our honey yields are modest to low at > around 50lb per colony in a reaonably good year. Gordon, I must live less than 100 miles from you in, I'd have thought, a rather similar environment but I'd be very disappointed with 50lb per colony. 100 to 150lb is my normal yield, and that's with single brood chamber Nationals. All I can think is that you're not in an OSR growing area. I haven't got varroa yet but it's close. I'll be very lucky to still be uninfected in five years time. It could even be here now. I've started inspecting quite seriously. I'll be doing a Bayvarol 'knock-down' next month. -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 4104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 442 232301 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : [log in to unmask] ------------------------------------------------------------------------