Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
IDEAL "BEE WOMAN
How She Would Manage Her Colonies
of Busy Workers.

| From the New York Tribune
| In this day, when SO many doors are
| opening to women, 1 am surprised that SC
few adopt Bookkeeping means of sup
port says a woman beekeeper "A bee
| woman who would succeed must have lots
of energy and push, and, above all, must
| not be easily discouraged. She must be
| willing to work hard and often early and
| late during part of the year. Furthermore
| she must have come under the fascinating
spell which the busy bee seems to have
such power to throw over those who seek
| to know her myst cries.
| LAS beekceper she must have a good de-
gree of health and vigor especially il she
| works without assistant, because there
| is Of necessity much lifting and often many
! hours upon the feet. Yet 1t is surprising
| how much hard work one can endure in the
| open air when ones interest is thoroughly
enlisted. There is probably no more health
| full occupation. and for those broken in
health from mental overWork or close con-
fnement indoors the business is IDEAL
1t is not necessary that woman should
have no fear Of bees on the start in order
| to become successful apiarist. Such fear,
Of course, must be overcome rapidly or
prove an inconvenient obstacle; but eXpe-
rience shows that acquaintance rarely fails
to establish relationships of the most pleas
ant character between the busy little honey
makers and their owners To be sure there
are the Stings, and one must make I'D her
mind to receive them occasionally as grace
fully as possible. Fortunately the human
system soon becomes immune to the poison
and beyond momentary unplea santness
the beekeeper takes little notice of the mat
ter Occasionally a person fails to win i'm
munity from suffering, and even finds II
dangerous to risk being stung. Such per-
sons should give up all thought Of beekeep-
ing.
'The ideal bee woman will be willing to
go slowly-very slowIy-at first The tend
ency is to want to rush things and begin
with large number of colonies when one
Knows nothing whatever about the business
TWO or three colonies enough at first
II she succeeds with these. she can easily
Increase the number, and If she fails her
loss will be great enough. 1t Is safe advice
to urge the beginner to keep out of debt as
nearly as possible. After the first invest
ment for two or three colonies it Is better
to make the apiary pay its way as nearly
as possible.
From the nature OF things-the variable
ness OF the season, the varied honey flow,
etc-beekeeping always must be an I'M
certain business. and, therefore, It Is not
well to depend entirely upon IT for living.
good way Is to combine poultry raising
adopts in both Of these lines and a few
stands of bees will add materially to the
income and not demand too large a part
OF ones time. Then. If the season is poor,
nv attention. can De gwen TO poultry and |
less to bees, and vice versa
Ihe prohts from beekeeping necessarily
vary largely. Much depends upon the |
knack Of the beekeeper in being able to get
her colonies into prime working order lust
at the right time, and SO manage her bust
ness as to keep expenses down and to mar
ket her honey advantageously. In Salt |
River. Ariz.. where conditions in MANY ne.
spects are favorable, 1t is common to hear
experienced beekeepers claim an average
annual net income OF 81 and even 81 a col |
ony.
Il should urge one contemplating bee
keeping to invest in one or more good text T
BOOKS upon the subject and subscribe to at /
least one reliable bee Journal. IF this IN.
vestment is made for six months before the
purchase of the first bees and the inter
vening time Is faithfully spent In study. 50
much the better" Nv