The times., 1901-03-17
FROM SHORTHAND TO BEES.
Miss Wheeler Finds the Change
Pleasant and Profitable.

\ hourishing little farm of three acres
on the north end of Lake ChampIain pro-
duces yearly more than two and a half
tons of honey and 1900 ducks. besides
quantities OF fruit which is marketed at
the neighhoring summer hotels. 1t is
owned and run by Miss Frances Wheeler,
for several years a stenOgrapher and
typewriter in New York. says the "Trib-
une.' In an interview Miss Wheeler said:
1t seems a far cry from stenogra phi
ers place in New York to the ownership
and superintendence OF duck and bee
ranch. Yet, in looking backward the
sense of harmony between the two occu-
patiOns deepeRs. / have grown to under
stand that it does not so much matter
what We do as how We do it; that the
qualities required for successful stem
Ogrspher are equally necessary for
duck and bee rancher. In both cailings,
if success is 10 be attained. ignorance
must be overcome by perseverance, tact,
and common sense.
Miss Wheeler learned stenOgraphy in
the first class Of the kind formed by the
Young Womens Christian Association at
No East Fifteenth Street. After sew
eral years OF office work her hands be
came diSa bled. and the problem arose
how to save the little family home at
ChaZy, y. y, with its bee plant.
Regarding her first experiences she
said:
Now that the difficulties are surmount-
ed ] can smile at the combinations which
ignorance and ingenuity inflicted on those
bees and the results that swept back
upon their owner that first summer. 1t
can be safely said that my apary ran the
gamut OF all the nisfortunes to which a
bee yard can be subjected without actual
ruin. A winters study of bee literature,
coupled with the practical knowledge
already gained, paved the way, however.
to future success, and / have never had
trouble with the bees since that time, ex-
cept through occasional inefficient help.
The yard has increased from thirty-one
TO seventy colonies.
The duck industry grew out of the bee
work. and was started TO justify me in
hiring a capable man for the entire s'a-
son, so that / might have his services in
the apIaTy. The first year ! had five Pc
king ducks, their eggs being set under
hens. That fall thirty were kept, and in
the spring incubatOrs were used for
Matching. now winter seventy for
breeding. While nearly every incubator
on the market can give fair hatch. what
is most needed is a machine which with
out the aid Of the operator will hold the
temperature steady all night in the egg
chamber No one can appreciate this who
has not been up and down night after
night during the Matching season rcPu-
latng a refractory incubator The ma
{ chimes that I now use hold the tempera-
ture steady for days at a time
My market is the biggest hotel on the
( lake, and l furnish all the ducks that it
uses. another hotel taking the overflow
| The birds are shipped twice a week from
I
spare no expense or trouble TO produce
/ the finest table duck.
( Il began with practically no capital.
/ This, OF course. was disadvantage. be-
cause il necessitsted an economy which
was costly in time and bird life and
obliged the use Of lot of eXasperating
makcshfts Ny greatest losses and trou-
bles Were caused by poor help. When
woman selects rural pursuits as her vO-
cation the question Of hired help I'm the
( form Of 4 general utility man cOnfrouts
her at the outset The laws of nature
I some way seem reversed when she takes
4 the reins. and it requires study for her to
J learn TO guide her team in her own femi-
| nine way TO the end of the trip without
J bolt or smash-up.
/ 1T is fascinating work to take place
and develop its possibilities The soil re-
! spends generously TO ones efforts, and
! an nature smiles gratefully in fruit and
1 flower. About such a life there Is an in
. dependence and scope beside which an
I office position seems very tame
! CloNernook, Miss Wheeler's home is
I an ideal spot. 1t occupies a sunny slope
running down TO the river. and comprises
I three broad terraces. The middle terrace
/ is in the possession Of the bees The
/ lowest one along the river is covered bv
/ grove. The buildings duckyards and
/ garden front the road