May 2, 1901. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



279 



4PIAUV OF FRAXCES ELLEN WHEELEK, OF CLINTON' lOlNTY, N. Y. 



( Courtei^y Reliable Poultry Jom-iint. ) 



mended, only reported as being accompUsht, and that feed- 

 ing' toivard night is recommended. 



Prof. Cook believes the "ABC" wrong in teaching 

 that honey from apple-bloom has a strong, rank taste like 

 that from cherry-blossoms. He may be right; but this, 

 like some other points to which he refers, was corrected in 

 the edition just out. 



In conclusion, we fear that Prof. Cook, overburdened 

 with work like some of the rest of us, has not taken the 

 pains to ascertain whether he himself is always correct 

 upon all points. He is a pleasant writer — one whom the 

 fraternity regards as authority ; and whatever else we may 

 say of him, he is actuated by the kindest of motives — a 

 spirit that esteems others better than one's self. — Gleanings 

 in Bee-Culture. 



Advantages of Bee-Keeping for Women. 



BV FRANCES ELLEN WHEELER. 



IN the effort to encourage and lead women into rural 

 occupations, there is a tendency to extravagantly exploit 

 the advantages and minimize the difficulties ; that is 

 misleading and unfair. This is especially true regarding 

 apiculture. Probably no industry has been more frequently 

 and enthusiastically recommended to our sex than the care 

 of bees. Certainly no outdoor work, in some respects, is so 

 well adapted to our general make-up, or more thoroly fasci- 

 nating and congenial. Thus far, our advisers are correct. 

 Their mistakes arise from conveying to the novice an im- 

 pression that the labor involved is of a light, superficial 

 character, and that the profits are an assured fact, and to 

 be confidently reckoned on. Some writers go still further, 

 and state how many colonies the average woman can take 

 care of alone, for an entire season, and what the returns 

 will be for each colony. 



Statistics look well on paper. Any one contemplating 

 a new employment would feel better to know at the start 

 just how much and how hard they must work, and what 

 they will make at it. Some people are loath to undertake 

 this enterprise unless they see in black and white the finan- 

 cial side of the question ; which would be perfectly reason- 

 able could the figures be relied upon. But in point of fact, 

 there is scarely any occupation where the unexpected is 

 sure to happen, and the " unknown quantity " is so often 

 to be reckoned with, as it is in an apiary ; both as regards 

 the labor involved and the profits received. 



A little common-sense thought on the subject will show 

 very plainly that no two worn'... vviudo Lh^ ^.^tie amount of 

 work in an apiary (ar.j ..lore than they will anywhere elsei, 

 or obtain the same results. And that in our country, where 

 the climate and the local flora are so varied, the quality and 

 ■quantity in the crov must also vary. Still more important, 



the home markets range in prices according to locality 

 for comb honey, all the waj* from 7 to 20 cents per pound ; 

 which affords quite a margin for speculation on returns. 

 Moreover, is it fair to exact from this business what is not 

 exacted from any other? 



That an immense number of successful apiaries are 

 scattered thruout our country is proof that bee-keeping 

 pays. How near the " top notch '' can be reacht, each indi- 

 vidual must demonstrate by practical experience. A good 

 instruction book, a periodical, and a few colonies, at the 

 start, will speedily tell the tale as to qualifications. 



After a few experiences alone in the yard, our novice 

 may decide (as I did) that it pays best, in the long run, to 

 have a good, strong helper, and that to secure this when 

 needed, some other industry must he combined with the 

 apiary, which will give full occupation to both, and relieve 

 the woman of the heavy parts : affording her leisure to over- 

 see the important details, and attend carefully to her 

 market. 



Again, tho we have sections where the climate admits 

 of an apiary being workt almost the entire year, it is not so 

 in our northern and middle States. Also, our pasturage is 

 such that there are many localities where apiaries of 80 to 

 100 colonies only can be workt, year in and year out, to 

 good advantage. Yards of this size will not, of course, 

 furnish an income sufficient for a comfortable living ; but, 

 with a comparatively small outlay of time and money, they 

 will add very materially to it. 



Something might also be considered of our returns 

 which are not reckoned in dollars and cents. I refer to the 

 growth in physical and moral health gained by the pure 

 air and loveliness about us ; the development of spiritual 

 and intellectual perceptions; and, above all, the sense of 

 helpfulness and fellowship with these wonderful little crea- 

 tures ; and commendation, 



** Whatsoever thing- thou doest. 

 To the least of Mine and lowest. 

 That thou doest uuto Me." 



Clinton Co., N. Y. 



Something More About Bees Being Necessary to 

 Poilenize Fruit-Tree Bloom. 



BV THAIiUKrS SMITH. 



THE advocates of the theory that bees are necessary for 

 the complete pollenization of the bloom of fruit-trees lay 

 great stress upon the necessitj' of cross-poUenizing and 

 seem to think that bees are tho only agents to accomplish 

 this. By cross-pollenization is meant that there are some 

 varieties of fruit-bloom deficient in pollen, and the pollen nec- 

 essary to fructify them must come from some other variety 

 of the same fruit that produces more pollen. That there 



