My thanks to Andy Nachbaur for his very long reply and to Frank Humphrey for his very short one. As regards the latter, we also have 640 acres to the square mile so it would appear that our measurements coincide. Now why should measurements fool me? 600,000 acres divided by 640 gives my figure of 625 square miles and that, I repeat, represents a lot of almonds. If they require 800,000 hives for pollination that bill alone must run into many million dollars. A huge industry. Surely they do not all go into cakes and candy bars. Regards Sid P. _________________________________________________________________ Sid Pullinger Email : [log in to unmask] 36, Grange Rd Compuserve: [log in to unmask] Alresford Hants SO24 9HF England