Ottumwa weekly courier., 1878-07-24
Enterprises for Small Capitalists
From the st. Louis Post.


The fortunate possessors of $500 OF
$l LOCO, in these uncertain days, fre.
quently complain that it is a very un.
fortunate time for small Investments
or for the profitable use of such small
sums of money. The Government
Bond, about the only absolutely sure
investment, is not SO attractive at
per cent. interest as it used to be at
or Z. The only possible way by
which such small sums of money may
be made productive, is for the own.
er to go into some productive enter.
prise on his own account. We wish
to indicate few that require small
capital, small expenditure of muscu-
lar labor, and are attended with very
little risk.
Bee-keeping and the gathering OF
honey for sale, is one of the most at.
tractive and paying of small indus.
tries. For this is needed only little
place, and these are cheap
ly rented near any large city or vii
lage. The cottage may be ever SO
small and humble, provided there is
yard room for the bee-hives. Bee
keeping has got to be a science. No
longer are bee-stings feared by those
who will patiently learn their ways
no longer are whole swarms of these
destroyed in order to secure their
treasures of sweetness. On the con-
trary, bees become really pets OF
those who take a loving care Of them
and to such perfection has the art of
raising honey been brought that not
q bee is sacrificed in taking away the
honey, and even the comb is saved.
by q new and very ingenious little
the beautiful fresh combs
when taken from the hives, are deft-
fy unsealed, the honey is extracted
from the comb on the principal oi
suction by air, and the comb, perfect.
ly uninjured, is returned to the hive
only to be filled again in very few
days by the bees. This honey, the
purest known, is put up in sealed
glasses, and is every day becoming a
more staple article of food. The feed.
ing and keeping of bees is very easily
learned, and is said by all who en-
gage in it to be most delightful EN-.
ployment. Two hundred and fifty
dollars will stock yard of bees, that
with proper care, will yearly yield
81 600 worth of honey.
The raising of chickens and eggs for
market is another industry that re.
quires small capital, small strength
and small skill. The great improve.
ments that have been made in the
methods of transporting eggs have
given to this industry certain, steady
value that makes it most attractive,
We have in mind an elderly couple
who, with one acre Of ground, 500
hens and the assistance Of one stout
German woman, realized 81 200 per
year income from the sale of eggs and
chickens alone.
Dairy business may be started and
carried on successfully on a very
small scale. There is always sale for
good, rich, pure milk, and this can
always be obtained by properly feed.
ing and caring for the COW. A gen.
tlemen who owned little suburban
place was noted for the success he
had in getting good cows, the quantity
of milk and the fine quality that dis
all the animals that came
into his possession. The whole secret
he declared, lay in the kind treatment
and the abundant and good food aid
water given them, and the comfortst
BILE stabling. The milk was always
in good demand, and four cows pro-
duced quite comfortable little in
come. It is stated on good authority
that dairy Of fourteen cows in good
order will yield an income OF 1900