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["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@bellsouth.net>]

On 2/12/2012 2:50 PM, mIEKAL aND wrote:
> Wow, I'm impressed.

Wild-hive beekeeping in Burziansky region of Bashkortostan

Bashkortostan is the only place in Russia, where people are still 
engaged in the ancient business of wild-hive beekeeping. This is the 
Wild-hive beekeepingmost ancient form of apiculture, when honey is 
gathered not at bee-gardens but on the trees! At that bees are kept in 
pine-tree hollows.

The first information about Bashkir apiculture is known from the XVII 
century and the peak of wild-hive beekeeping falls on the XVIII-XIX 
centuries. Bashkirs kept their own hollows with bees and every bee 
master had its own sign (“tamga”) on his hollows. The hollows were 
gouged out in trees at the height of 6-8 meters and 60-90 cm in 
diameter. Every bee family in such hollows had 2-5 swarms. Strong 
bee-families are able to bring up to 10-12 kg of honey per day. Because 
of intensive tree-felling and development of agriculture and 
cattle-breeding wild-hive beekeeping lost its meaning and gave way to 
modern bee-keeping. In order to preserve and investigate wild bees the 
Shulgan-Tash state reserve was established in 1986 in Bashkortostan.

Med Wild-hive beekeeping is still alive in Burziansky region of 
Bashkortostan. Being nearly completely dead in 50s last century 
wild-hive beekeeping began to revive among local population again. There 
are several reasons to that: people begin to understand growing 
significance of natural foods and honey undoubtedly belongs to such 
products. Notwithstanding all forecasts wild-hive beekeeping is becoming 
economically profitable. This honey has no analogues in the world on its 
medicinal and tasting properties. Wild honey possesses a unique delicate 
aroma and taste. This honey is saturated with beeswax and ambrosia and 
is rich with fructose and glucose. Its composition includes ferments and 
vitamins, about twenty amino acids and mineral aromatic substances.