Ever open to an easier way to do things, I read with interest Richard Taylor's column in last month's Bee Culture telling how he visited a beekeeper who made up his grease patties by dumping granulated sugar into a bucket and then dumping in liquid vegetable oil. I hate mixing up shortening and sugar so I gave the liquid oil a try. It worked great BUT I went back into some hives a week after application and the grease patty was gone. I think the shortening gives the patty structural strength and staying power. The liquid oil patties are easily carried out by the bees. Has anyone else tried this technique. I love the way the liquid oil mixes effortlessly with the sugar and am considering filling a bucket 2/3's full of sugar and filling out the top with shortening and putting the bucket in a heat chamber at about 130 and seeing if it will melt and mix. Anything beats being elbow deep in grease patties. Bill Lord -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: [log in to unmask] Phone : 9194963344 -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: [log in to unmask] Phone : 9194963344