Dear Bee-Ler's in the UK, I sent this to the list a while back. I was mostly interested in the uses and amounts of oil produced by the rape seed and any other info on the oil. I did not get any responses so I am trying again. You can email me personally. Thanks, Bill B Subject: Rape (canola) >Dear beekeepers in UK, > >Just returned to the US from a lovely trip to the UK. > >I was amazed at the amount of rape (canola) that I saw. I >looked at the fields when I had the chance, but did not see >any bees. Most that I saw was passed peak bloom. The only >bees that I saw were in the Kensington Garden in London. > >I wish that I had paid more attention to the past posts that >were on the list some time back about the rape. Last time I >was in the UK, about three years ago, I did see the bees >working the fields of rape. > >It is my understanding that the government subsidizes the >growing of the rape. Why? I saw no corn or soy beans. Why >is there so much rape? Is it mainly used as fodder for cows >and sheep? Is there a lot of oil made from the seed for >frying oil and margarine? Is it just the area I was in that >grows so much rape? (countryside of London and the >Salisbury Plain) > >How about the honey? Do you get a good crop? Colour? >(color). Any specifics? > >Rape sure does make beautiful fields of yellow. > >William A. Bartlett >19124 Lake Drive >Leonardtown, Maryland 20650 >[log in to unmask] >38.25 N, 76.60 W >