New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
RAISES DUCKS AND BEES.
MISS WHEELER LEAVES AN OFFICE POSI-
TION AND BECOMES A FARMER
SHE TELLS of SOME OF
HER EXPERIENCES

hourshing little farm Of three acres on the
north end OF Lake Champlain produces yearly
more than two and half IONS Of honey and fifteen
hundred ducks, besides quantities Of fruit which is
marketed at the neighboring summer hotels It is
owned and run by Miss Frances Ellen Wheeler. for
several years stenographer and typewriter in this
city In an interview Miss Wheeler said:
II seems far cry from a stenoGrapher's place
IN New-York TO the ownership and superintendence
OF a duck and bee ranch. Yet in looking back
ward the sense of harmony between the two occu-
II does not SO much matter what We do as how We
do II; that the qualities required for successful
bee rancher. In both callngs. if success is to be
attained. Ignorance must he overcome by Perse-
NeTance, tact and common sense
Miss Wheeler learned steuography in the first
class of the kind formed by the Young Womens
Christian Association at No. East Ffteenth-st.
After several years Of office work her hands be
disabled. and the problem arose how 10 save
the little family home Chazy. y. Y. with its bee
plant.
Regarding her first experiences she said:
Row that the difficulties are surmounted I can
smile at the comhina iions which ignorance and in
swept back upon their owner that frst summer
It cas- be safely said that my aplary ran the gamut
Of al the misfortunes 70 which n bee yard can
be subjected without actual ruin winters study
Of bee literature. coupled With the practical knowI
future success. and ! ha'e rever mad trouble with
inefficient help The yard has increased from thir-
The duck industry grow out Of the bee work.
and was started 70 Justify me IN hiring a capable
man for the entire season. that might have
his services IN the apary The FIRST year had nve
Peking ducks. their eggs being set under hens.
That fall thirty kept. and in the spring in
cubators used for Matching | winter
seventy for breeding While nearly every incuha-
tor on the market can give falr hatch. what IS
most needed Is machine which. without the aid
OF the operator will hold the temperature steady
all night in the egg chamber. No one
preciate this who has not been up and down night
2 refractory incubat Tor The machines that
use hold the temperature steady for days al a
time
Ny mafArt IS the biggest hotel on the lake. and
taking the overflow The birds shipped twice
week from the middle OF June until October /
spare no expense or trouble 10 produce the finest
table duck.
I began with practically no capital This. Of
course, was disadvantage. because - neceSSi-
tated economy which costly in time and bird
life. and obliged the Of a lot OF exasperating
InakeshftS Ny greatest losses and troubles were
caused by poor help. When woman selects rural
pursuits her vocation the question Of hired help
IN the form Of general utility man contronts her
the outset The laws Of nature some way seem
reversed when she takes the reinS ana II requires
study Tor her 10 learn to guide her team In her
feminine way TO the end OF the trip without
bolt smash-up
II is fascinating work take a place and de-
VelOp its possibilities The soil responds generously
ones efforts, and all nature smiles gratefully in
fruit and flower About such life there is In
dependence and scope beside which an office posi-
ton seems very tame.
Clovernook Miss Wheeler's home. is ideal
spot It occupies a sunny slope running down 10
middle terrace IS IN the possession of the bees
The lowest one, along the river, Is covered by
grove. The buildings. duckyards and garden front
the road