Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-20
THE APIARY.

Bee- Keeping as an Occupation tor Women.
At the convention of the International
American Bee Association, held at
Brantford, Ontario, the following essay
by Miss 81. F. Butler was read:
The question may be, and no doubt
often has been asked, is bee-keeping q
suitable or desirable occupation for wo-
men2" and after having given it o pretty
fair trial for the last eight years, ] am
of the opinion that there is no reason
why any woman OF moderate strength
and intelligence, should not be able to
take charge Of an apiary Of from thirty
to fifty colonies, with very little assist
ance, and derive both pleasure and
profit from the employment; at the
same time, / doubt whether there are
many who would succeed very we'll in
carrying on the business alone, though
Of course there are few who would.
In reading the numerous bee-papers
that are published nowadays, one FREE
uuently meets with articles on the sub
feet OF, whether it is best to make a
specially of bee- keeping, or combine it
with some other occupation. Now do
both farming and bee-keeping success
=
daughters OF sons, who will make q
specially of this department, bee-keep-
ing, it may very advantageously be COM
bined with farming; and do not know
of any reason why girls might not make
as great success of the business as
boys.
The wife is supposed to have her
hands quite full enough with household
work, and, may say, her head, too, and
for any one, either boy or girl. man OF
woman, to do any good with bees, they
must give them their individual atten-
tion, and be really interested and en-
thusiastic over their work.
Eternal vigilance is the price of sue
cess" in any business, and in none more
than in bee-keeping. 1t is not only
labor, but science, and will make con-
stant demands, not only on the patience,
but on the bodily strength and intelli-
| gence OF those who engage in 1t; at the
same time there 10 fascination about
| the business which relieves it of all
tediousness. A woman will think Of heI
bees, study about them, and become SO
interested as 10 be almost paid for hel
work by the love of it.
\ Ibelieve it would be we'll worth while
for any one who has not been in the
way Of having the management OF an
apiary, to spend one season with skill
| fnl bee keeper before embarking in the
\ business on his own account, as he
would then find out not only the best
methods Of working, but also whether
| the kind of work suited him. However,
even with this preparation, all will moi
succeed, for know o lady who tool
this course, and afterwards failed en-
tirely when she was working for her.
self; while others, who have only
| learned what they could from books and
4 papers, besides the suggestions and in
structions given them by more expert
enced bee-keeping friends, have dont
very we'll.
In conclusion, may say that great
deal Of the work in the apiary is quite
as we'll adapted for women as for men
and also in the care of the honey, ant
/ in preparing it for market.
Where they are most likely TO fee
their deficiency, is, in the lack Of skill
to do the various carpentering job
4 that seem to be inseparably connected
4 with bee keeping. imagine that it i
the exception, rather than the rule T
find woman who knows how to handl,
carpenters tools, though even this the.
may acquire enough Of to answer tn
purpose, where therc is necessity to
i doing SO. e