AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



537 



a degree, and the late flight does no 

 good that I have been able to note. In 

 short, the harm done overbalances any 

 good which may be derived from this 

 plan. 

 Welton, Iowa. 



Wliy Bee-Keeping is so Well 

 Adapted to Women. 



BY CARRIE I,. SWIGART. 



Among the insects, bees stand first, in 

 the variety of the useful products which 

 they give us, and next to the silk-moth 

 in the importance of these products. 

 True, there are other insects that are of 

 great value — from the lac-insect we ob- 

 tain an important element of glue, name- 

 ly shellac ; the blister beetle affords an 

 article prized by physicians ; while we 

 are indebted to the gall-flies for a valu- 

 able element of ink. But the honey-bee 

 affords not only a delicious article of 

 food, but also another article of great 

 importance, namely, wax. 



Of course, the first product of bees, is 

 honey, and what is honey? We can only 

 say it is a sweet substance, gathered 

 from flowers and other sources, by bees ; 

 its chemical composition is as varied as 

 the source from which it comes. It is 

 composed of various sugars, and this is 

 as easy to understand why honey varies 

 so much in richness, color, flavor and 

 effects on digestion. Apiculture is a 

 vocation, which to be successful, requires 

 observation, caution, promptness and 

 immediate attention. 



The amount of time required will of 

 course vary with the number of colonies 

 kept, but with proper management, they 

 will not interfere with other duties ; thus 

 residents of country, village or city, who 

 wish to add to their income and pleasure 

 will find here an ever-waiting opportun- 

 ity. To those individuals, the nature of 

 whose business precludes air and exer- 

 cise, bee-keeping cannot be too highly 

 recommended. There are a few people 

 whose system seems to be specially sus- 

 ceptible to the poison of bee's sting, but 

 some soon become so inoculated with the 

 poison, that they experience no serious 

 injury, and it is a well-known fact that 

 each successive sting is less powerful 

 to work harm. 



Among the attractive feature of api- 

 culture, is' the pleasure which it offers ; 

 bee-keeping affords a wholesome recrea- 

 tion and it is ever a delight to watch the 

 workings and wondrous life-habits of the 

 busy bee. 



The profit too, of apiculture urges it 

 as a pursuit, when we consider the small 

 amount of capital invested, the small 

 amount of labor and expense attending 

 its operations and we are surprised at 

 the abundant reward we are almost sure 

 to reap. 



One thing to be considered, is, that 

 scientific bee-culture is an open field for 

 women, as well as for men, and our op- 

 portunities for making discoveries are 

 equal. By way of encouragement, Har- 

 riet Morse states that the being who has 

 for generations split kindling wood with 

 a case-knife, driven nails with a stove- 

 hook, and defended herself with a broom- 

 stick, may be relied upon to find a way 

 to capture the most inconsiderate swarm 

 that ever settled on a tree or post ; and 

 if we compete with our brothers in 

 teaching school, or any other employ- 

 ment, we are imagined decidedly out of 

 place in demanding as much pay as is 

 commanded by men for the same work ; 

 but we have yet to hear of a crate of 

 honey being shipped to any commission 

 house at a discount because of its being 

 produced by the management of a 

 woman ! 



Now, I believe that bee-keeping is 

 just one of those pursuits in which 

 women can compete with man to advan- 

 tage. The exertion required to lift full- 

 sized hives was one objection against 

 women becoming bee-keepers. That ob- 

 jection exists no longer. There is only 

 a half-hive to lift when lifting is re- 

 quired, and by wintering bees out-of- 

 doors, on a stand, the necessity of lift- 

 ing or carrying hives is almost wholly 

 done away with. 



With no strain on the muscles de- 

 manded now, in what particular cannot 

 women compete with men as bee-keep- 

 ers? Their perceptive powers are keener 

 than those of men, their patience and 

 perseverance are greater, and these are 

 the prime qualities demanded in an api- 

 arist. It is said that a good surgeon 

 must have a "lion's heart, an eagle's 

 eye and a lady's hand ; " so must a good 

 bee-keeper. 



There is much in bee-keeping that 

 suits woman's cast of mind — in fact the 

 whole manipulation demanded is of that 

 gentle, quiet kind which harmonizes 

 with woman's nature. With proper 

 thought and management, work need 

 never be done in the hot sunshine. But 

 let me emphasize, that only those who 

 will let energetic thought and persist- 

 ence make up for physical weakness 

 should become bee-keepers. 



A stronger body and improved health 



