The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-31

OIL. AIV1I.
/ addition Of hearty welcome an invit-
/ ing repast is assured them.-Country
/ Gentleman.
Bee Culture for Women.
/ Few not directly interested are aware
/ of the importance and progress of the
bee keepers art. 1t AT present supports
/ in the United States eight excellent
periodicals-one a weekly-which are
devoted exclusively to its interests. Its
national organization Is very active and
/ influential. Many State, interstate and
district societies are ably maintained by
I the bee-keepers of our country. The
State of Michigan has fourishing State
organization which has just held its
] eighteenth annual sessiun, which was at
| tended by between 200 and 800 bee
! keepers. Besides this, there are eight
/ district associations in the State, most
/ OF which hold two meetings each year.
/ There are six books on bee-keeping now
! before the American public, all but one
+ OF which are recent. Most of them are
not only up with the times, but are
/ thorough and exhaustive. Specialists
! in this art are making more than liv-
/ ing; they are securing a competency
/ Amateurs, or those who practice bee
| keeping as an ayOcation, are adding ma
/ terially to their incomes by keeping
bees. | know Of a clergyman, one of the
most successful in his denomination in
the State in which he resides, who has
secured more of an income from his bees
during each Of the past two years than
/ from his salary. OF course, manv fail
in agriculture, become despUndent and
/ abandon the pursuit. In this it is lust
! like every other business. But when we
consider the amount OF labor and capi-
tai required, know of no manual labor
| pursuit that offers better or surer returns
| for earnest and intelligent effort than
does agriculture. But | wish especially
to call attention to the advantages which
either as vocation or avoCation bee
keeling offers to our women, who for re-
creation, for health or Of necessity, must
employ their physical energies: 1st
The labor required in managing a small
apiary is not SO severe that any woman
OF average strength and endurance can
not easily perform 1t, Indeed, | know
ofseveral women, some of whom adopted
the business because failing health de-
manded outdoor employment, who have
successfully managed large apiaries
But let Us hear from the ladies them
selves.
Mrs. L. Harrison Of Illinois, one of
our ablest bee-keepers aud best writer's
on agriculture, laughs at the idea that
women are not aHlr vsically to man
age bees She offers her long end sue
cessful experience As standing argn-
ment to the contrary. Said "Cynla
Lenswik," whose beautiful articles have
so often charmed the readers of our bee
journals, in paper read at the AIichi-
gan convention in 1877: 81 would gladly
purchase exemption from indoor work
on washing-day by two days labor among
the bees and find two hours labor at
the ironing table more fatiguing than
two hours of the severest toll that the
apiary can exact" Mrs. L. B. Baker, a
very successful bee-keeper writes: But
/ can say, having tried both (keeping
clearinghouse aud bee-keeping), | give
Bookkeeping the preference as more prof
liable, healthful, independent and en-
ioyable. | find the labors of the
apiary more endurabe than working
over a cook stove indoors, and more
pleasant and conducive to health" The
hundreds of successful lady bee-keepers
in our country prove that the above are
not exceptional cases, and demonstrate
the ability of women to do all that sue
cessful agriculture requires.
Secondly, this is bealthful, and offers
ladies the long-desired opportunity to
work in the outdoor air. One of the
most noted bee-keepers, not only in
America, but in the world, sought in
Bookkeeping her lost health, and found
not only health but reputation and in
fuence. Mrs. Harrison states that the
physicians told her she could not live;
but apiculture did for her what the ply
sicians could not do-restored her to
health, and gave her such vigor that she
has been able to work a large apiary for
years. Says Mrs. Baker: Il believe
that many of oar delicate and invalid
ladies would find renewed vigor of body
and mind in the labors and recreations
of the apiary. BY beginning in the
early spring, when the weather was cold
and work light, | became gradually
accustomed to outdoor labor, and by
mid summer found myself as able to
endure the heat as my husband, who
| had been accustomed to it all his life.
| Previously, to attend an open-air picnic
was to return with headache" Thus
words, and, better, deeds, prove that this
vocation is not only healthlul but health
giving to our ladies.
Thirdly, there are no discounts upon
labor in the apiary, because performed
| by a woman As Mrs. Harrison said at
the national convention at Lexington,
KY, in 1881: 81 am never asked to take
| less for my honey because produced by
woman" The same skill and labor in
the apiary bring the same reward,
whether exercised by man or by woman.
Aye, more, women even excel in this
art. The finest honey | ever saw was
produced by lady bee-keeper. This
lady's honey found its way to England,
and was honored by special mention.
! The delicate taste and deft fingers of our
ladies make them to excel in the produc
ton of the beautiful comb honey. 1t is
certain that the average man can never
equal the average woman in the produc
tion of this Incompatible luxury of our
tables. That women can succeed | have
only to refer to Mrs. Baker's experience
to prove. She commenced with only
two colonies, a wise course, and the first
year her net profits were over 500, and
the second year nearly $500. Mrs. Baker
kept bees six years without ever losing
d single colony.
Lastly, agriculture is real source of
recreation. If but few colonies are
kept the pleasure will be very great.
There is so much that is interesting and
wonderful about bees that no one with a
keen appreciation for the beautiful can
work among them and study their ma,
ture and instincts, as the successful bee
keeper must, without becoming enamored
of the work Miss L. wilkins, who pro-
duced the beautiful honey already re-
ferred to, and whose honey, exhibited at
the last meeting of the State Society of
Michigan, was the incest sample ever
saw, says: II repeat that agriculture
offers to many womenno only profit but
pleasure" Says Mrs. Baker, my own
experience in the apiary has been a
source of interest ard enjoyment far
exceeding my anticipation" 1t is hard
ly necessary to remark that ladies of
little vigor and infrm health can only
care for very few colonies, and must
have sufficient strength to bend over a
hive and lift small frames of comb loaded
with brood or honey, and to carry an
empty hive. With the proper thought
: and management full colonies need
never be lifted, nor need work, in case
only few colonies are kept, ever be
done in the hot sunshine. But right
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