38 



as to debar them of all social privileges and the advantages of a 

 market, yet at the same time sufficiently removed to enable them 

 to purchase land at a price within their reach, capable of furnish- 

 ing support for their families. From a lack of experience neces- 

 sary for them to engage successfully in general farming, and the 

 cost of equipping a farm with the required stock and tools to carry 

 it on, these people must, if they leave the mills, stores and shops 

 of the cities and take up a residence in rural sections, engage in a 

 special branch of agriculture that they can familiarize themselves 

 with through observation and the study of books. 



Market gardening, the growing of small fruits or flowers, poultry 

 raising and bee keeping are the agricultural specialties either en- 

 gaged in alone or in combination that are best adapted for those 

 who are compelled, on account of ill health or from other circum- 

 stances, to leave the cities and resort to the country to take up 

 agricultural pursuits to gain a livelihood. 



There are seasons, owing largely to climatic conditions, when 

 bees in Massachusetts are unable to collect and store more honey 

 than is required for the raising of brood and food for winter use. 

 For this reason bee keeping for either comb or extracted honey 

 may not yield a very large income. To provide against such an 

 exigency it is not advisable for one to depend upon bee keeping 

 as a sole source of income, but to combine with it some other 

 specialty. Which of those specialties already mentioned to be 

 selected should depend upon location, kind of soils, demands of 

 the market, etc. 



Suitably situated in a locality for the advantageous growing of 

 poultry, in a vicinity where there exists a variety of honey-yielding 

 plants, a combination of these two industries 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 attention, except at morning and evening. During 

 the middle of the day the time could be 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 only during the 

 latter part of the forenoon or early part of the afternoon. When 

 beos 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 dis- 

 turbs them. 



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

 tains a short article upon the topic, " The Woman and the Farm," 

 which relates to the possibilities of gaining a livelihood by engag- 

 ing in those specialties of agriculture to which reference has been 



