OCTOBER 15, 1913 



Apiary of J. L. Strong, Clarinda, Iowa, which has been its owner's sole dependence for many years. 



BEEKEEPING AS AN EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS 



BY FRANK C. PELLETT 



The general tendency is very conserva- 

 tive toward our industry as a business. We 

 are free to advise the keeping of a colony 

 of bees in the attic, or a few hives in tlie 

 back yard to supply the family with honey 

 and the beekeeper with an interesting di- 

 version. Enquiring beginners are always 

 warned against taking up honey production 

 for a livelihood because of the fact that 

 some seasons fail to supply a i^rofit. 



While to begin beekeeping on a large 

 scale without previous experience and a 

 thorough knowledge of the business would 

 certainly prove disastrous, the same may be 

 said of any other business. Beekeeping re- 

 quires high-grade talent to handle it suc- 

 cessfully, and one should never consider be- 

 ginning in any but a small way, and in- 

 creasing as experience and inclination justi- 

 fy. On the other hand, the men of my ac- 

 quaintance who depend upon honey-produc- 

 tion for a livelihood get as large an income 

 on the average, Avith less capital invested, 

 and less wear and tear, than in other lines 

 of agiiculture. We have been entirely too 

 conservative regarding the possibilities of 

 honey production, and I do not hesitate to 

 say to those who wish to know whether they 



can make a living in the business that, if 

 they will master it fully in all its details, 

 they can do well at beekeeping. 



There are many advantages also. The 

 beginner can start with an investment of 

 only a few dollars, and learn the ins and 

 outs of beekeeping while attending to his 

 other business, and not relinquish his source 

 of regular income until such time as he 

 gives the matter a thorough test and has 

 had an opportunity to determine whether 

 he is fitted for the work. 



The first essential to success, of course, is 

 a good locality ; for without a suitable flora 

 the bees can not gather a profitable crop. 

 Given a good locality, the rest all depends 

 upon the man. 



Among the successful beekeepers of Iowa, 

 three men are conspicuous; and these may 

 be, perhaps, considered typical of the lot. 

 J. L. Strong, of Clarinda, has kept bees for 

 46 years, 'and for more than a quarter of a 

 century has made them his sole dependence. 

 His home and business have been paid for 

 from the profits of his apiary. In addition 

 to honey production he does an extensive 

 queen-rearing business, and depends for the 

 most part on a single yard which he keeps 

 at home. 



F. W. Hall, of Colo, has been in the bus- 

 iness for many years, and his standard of 

 living is as high as that of the wealthiest 



