Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-14
KEBp1Ne BEES IN TINE err.
A Successful Apiary on Top of washing
ton Business House.

"a hHttcthtut 6pitai oh sVP vs. - ''""A'f'6T
ton Business House,
Washington stur.
The Scriptures assures US at divers
times and in sundry places that honey
Is wholesome and pleasant food, and
an ancient dietetic dogmatist who lived
in the wise old days of Plato aud
Socrates went further and declared that
olive oil for the exterior and honey for
the interior decoration of tho human
form divine covered the whole phil
osophy of physical we'll being.
The tiny insects, scarcely bigger than
flies, who make this delectabie sweet
have from time immemorial afforded
most fascinating study 10 all nature
lovers. In the guise Of n limited mon
archy they maintain an ideal republic,
and conduct their aflairs With marvel
Gus methods, which, even in these dnys
of patent hiyos and manufactured comb
awakens ns much awe, and admiration
| as when In tho Iatrinrchal timos they
conducted law abiding colonies IN the
carcass Of lion.
The new woman should End especial
!, pleasure in keeping bees, for In their
communities petticoat government is
supreme Not only ia the highest Office
| filled by one OF the gent!er sex, but on
| the approach of winter sufficiently
popu Gus hive will kill of all the I'M
| fortunate fathers Of their country who
have dawdled idle through the summer,
leaving the colony ertireiy manless.
For this supremacy in matter of state,
however, these Amazons pay the high
pr,oe Of a life of unremitting toll. Even
, the queen'has no sineoure, for during
tho working season she lays daily from
1900 to 4,0UU eggs. IL il curious to
note, moreover, that in spite OF the
dominating soy, bee affairs are con.
Quoted with q singular lack of senti-
mortality, not to say an almost ruthless
materialism. Not only do the workers
kill the masculine drones to safeguard
the winter stores, but the queen as we'll
makes wholesale slaughter of all rival
queens.
No less an authority than the United
States, Department Of Agriculture is
responsible for the statement that ices
may be kept rrottahly even In great
crowded cities One large np'srist
annually moves his bees from the
10 miles, in, order to gather in the itch
harvest of honey furnished by the
linden trees and the shrubs of the city
parks and lawns. Indeed, one of the
largest yields of honey on record, AZ
pounds 10 three days, was obtained en-
tirely from the linden trees.
Instances are also given of success
full apiary on the roof of New York
business house, and of one III ths heart
Of Cincinnati, whose 40 colonies produce
annually about 1000 pounds of honey.
These industrious little insects will
travel distance OF several miles aud
gather honey all the day, NOT only from
every opening flower, but also from
trees, shrubs and even weeds, which
one would hardly associate with 40 deli
cate a product. Golden rod and astere
often give large yield in the late fall,
after all other honey plants Tail. Any
woman, therefore, who lives within
.'bee linen of park may start q tiny
agricultural experiment station Of heI
own, and, If she ia lucky, may provide
honey for her family aud no inoonaider.
alb entertainment for herself.
To begin with, one needs good boob
about bees, then hive OF good bees, .
veil, gloves and smoker. all of which
.. may be obtained at any bee supply
store. The rest is all experience. The
danger from singing Is greatly exaeger
ated. An apiarist who understands biz
bees asa Jockey deos his horse hal
little to fear. In fine weather, wher
gold is pouring into the Golfers OF tn,
hive, the bees are usually in good ten
per, and may be approached with i'm
punity. sIn wet weather, however, wher
: work is at standstill and the hees ar,
forced to loaf about the hive, they ar,
; apt to be i'll tempered and quarrelsome
aud IL is the part OF prudence to keel
sakn .; r.
sequent wave Of prosperity restore
3 harmony. When they are angry, tn,
hum OF the bees takes high, ominou
note, which an experienced bee keepe
recognizes at once and respects.
Comb honey cells from IL or IS cent
a pound Wholesale and 8 cents poun,
more at retail, while extracted honeI
is several cents a pound cheaper. Thi
is accounted for by the fact that
, takes great deal Of honey to make yer.
: little comb. A bee makes wax b.
gorging herself with honey and hanging
, herself to tho top Of the hive Until tin
J scales of wax form on her body. 9Th
bee keeper simply uncaps the hone
Z combs. extracts the honey and return
= the empty comb to the hive, leavin
!. the bees free to store away honey in
stead Of manufacturing comb.
: AN entire Ice outfit costs from S6 I
|; $40, and II one were to have the vora
possible luck, the loss OF oil the beos
: ~ or So would replace them, while a
I, unusually good season might sho,
enough surplus honey to pay the entir
. FIRST cost By beginning in very sinal
way and making haste slowly one run
but littleIislS, and the venture ma
provo very profitable.
. A deaf and dumb woman in Now Yor
9 State, deba;rod from most other opppi
:, tunitios OF earning living, bought
. hive of bees some years 40 to try be
!, fortune. She is now successful bee
q keeper, with large apiary and yer
i snug income. Whether agriculture
% takon up for food or for fad, IL has muc
u to recommend IL as an occupation fo
!. recreation for women.
D. THREE VICTIMS mr. A G0I IlcInM