

^X^xi" 



QEORQB W. YORK. Editor. 



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40th YEAR, 



CHICAGO, ILL,, JUNE 21, 1900, 



No, 25, 



Bee-Keeping- for Women. 



Written for the Wisconsin Convention, held at Madismt, Feb. 1 and 8, 19(X). 

 BY MRS. JENNIE TOWLE. 



TO make a successful bee-keeper, in my opinion, requires 

 several traits of character which are indispensable. 

 One must be patient, persevering, ingenious, indus- 

 trious, and, last but 

 not least, thoro. That 

 last word thoro needs 

 to be emphasized. 

 Bee-keeping is a work 

 that cannot be slight- 

 ed, nor neglected and 

 allowed to run itself. 



If a lady wishes to 

 engage i n bee-keep- 

 ing, either as a pas- 

 time or to earn a liv- 

 ing, she ought not to 

 attempt too much at 

 the beginning, as it 

 requires labor and lots 

 of nerve to endure the 

 stings and hardships 

 belonging to the work. 

 She should commence 

 on a small scale, and 

 increase her colonies 

 only with her increase 

 of practical knowledge 

 of bee-keeping, and 

 means and facilities 

 for caring for them. 

 She can ojbtain a prac- 

 tical knowledge of the 

 art of handling bees 

 by studying standard 

 books on bee-cukure, 

 taking and readjn^ 

 bee-papers ; but, best 

 of all, by actually ac- 

 quainting herself with 



her own work, and fearlessly doing whatever she finds nec- 

 essary to do, and, at the right time, observing well the old 

 maxim, " Never put off till tomorrow what should be done 

 today." CZJ 



Bees increase very rapidly, and each new colony means 

 an additional expense as well as work, so unless one has an 

 abundance of means and plenty of help, it is better to use a 



Mrs. West and Daughter, of Rock Co., Wis., in the Apiary. 

 {Mrs. W. does itlt the work with her bees.) 



little caution at first, or soon she will find an " elephant on 

 her hands," which she will be at a loss to know how to dis- 

 pose of. Besides, experience teaches us that a small farm 

 well cultivated is much less expense and work than a large 

 farm slighted, which also holds good in bee-keeping. 



Bee-keeping is a pleasant and fascinating work, when 

 it can be done without overwork and worry. But it is im- 

 possible to make a success of bee-keeping and attend to all 

 the requirements of society and fashion. One cannot at- 

 tend all the picnics, celebrations, circuses, tea-parties and 

 sociables going on in the neighborhood, for bees require 

 care, and, if not cared for at the right time, will take care 

 of themselves in their own time and way, without regard to 

 the pecuniary interests of their owner. 



But circumstances alter cases, and a little practical ex- 

 perience combined with a little native " gumption " will do 

 more for a novice than pages of other people's opinions. 



Many a lone wom- 

 an who is toiling over 

 her needle or wash- 

 board to earn a scanty 

 living for herself and 

 children, could find in 

 bee-keeping a far more 

 congenial and lucra- 

 tive occupation if her 

 location were only 

 suitable. Still, there 

 are some risks to run, 

 and it requires a little 

 means to start, and 

 live until some returns 

 are received. Yet it 

 requires but little more 

 capital, and not one- 

 half the vexation and 

 annoyance, to success- 

 fully keep bees, than 

 it does to raise poul- 

 try, and the receipts 

 are far more satisfac- 

 tory. Clark Co., Wis. 



Enameled Cloth 

 for Covering- 

 Bees, Etc. 



BY G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



FOUR questions 

 come from one 

 person to be an- 

 swered thru the American Bee Journal, and I think they 

 will not make too long an article if I answer them all in one 

 number. 



Question. — If bees need water in summer why do they 

 not need it in winter also ? If so, why would it not be a 

 good plan to use an enameled cloth covering over the brood- 

 frames in the winter? With such a covering over the 



