404 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



would go well together. Poultry requires almost constant 

 care in winter, at a time when bees are inactive. During 

 late spring, summer and early fall poultry needs little atten- 

 tion, except at morning and evening. During the middle 

 of the day the time could l)e utilized in caring for bees. In 

 fact, it is not possible to handle them except at this time. 

 They resent interference except on warm days, then onh' 

 during the latter part of the forenoon or early part of the 

 afternoon. When bees are most busy at work and most 

 numerous about the hive is the best time to handle them. 

 On dark, cool days, or very early or late in the day, they 

 are almost certain to attack one who disturbs them. 



The July 9, 1903, number of the "Youth's Companion" 

 contains a short article upon the topic, " The Woman and 

 the Farm," Avhich relates to the possibilities of gaining a 

 livelihood by engaging in those specialties of agriculture to 

 which reference has been made. The article says, in part : 

 "Two essays read before agricultural societies in the central 

 west suggest a wider and truer view of the situation. . . . 

 The heroine of the other (second) essayist was a successful 

 stenographer, who, wanting a house of her own, pitched upon 

 a three-acre place which was far from cities, but within reach- 

 able distance of several summer hotels. By study, perse- 

 verance, tact and common sense, she presently found herself 

 marketing every year five thousand pounds of honey, fifteen 

 hundred ducks and <|uantities of fine fruit." In addition, the 

 writer says: "Probably there is not a county in any State 

 which does not offer similar o})portunities for tired women 

 to rest by change of occupation, and meantime earn a living ; 

 or for ambitious women to take up fruit growing, market 

 gardening, poultry keeping or some other specialty, and 

 carry it on at a profit." 



There is hardly a locality in Massachusetts where there are 

 not sufficient honey-yielding ffowers to allow of successful 

 bee keeping. This ajiplies not alone to the country but 

 quite as well to the cities. In rural districts, wild ffowers 

 and cultivated plants are to be de})ended upon for a honey 

 su])})ly. In cities the flowers of cultivated ornamental })lants 

 and those of the ornamental trees in the streets and j)ark- 



