Bee-Keeping for Amateurs, 5 
EXCELLENCE AS AN AMATEUR PURSUIT. 
After twenty years of experience, I am persuaded that 
no !-usiness offers more as an avocation. Indeed I think 
bee-keeping may best serve as a second business. We have 
already seen that bees are a blessing, and I would have 
every person, whatever his leading business, keep a few 
colonies of bees, unless by taste, nature or temperament, he 
be unfitted for the work. Bee-keeping offers additional 
funds to the poorly paid; out-door air to clerk and office- 
hand; healthful exercise to the person of sedentary habits, 
opportunity for the poor to reap what would otherwise go 
to waste, and superior recreation to the student, teacher 
and professional man, especially to him whose life-work is 
of that dull, hum-drum, routine order that seems to rob 
life of all zest. 
The labor required in bee-keeping, especially if but few 
colonies are kept, can, with thought and management, be 
so arranged as not to infringe upon the time demanded by 
the regular occupation. Even the farmer, by wise fore- 
sight, can arrange so that his bees will not interfere greatly 
with his regular farm work. I have never received more 
hearty thanks than from persons whom I had influenced 
to add the care of bees to their other duties. 
ADAPTATION TO WOMEN. 
Apiculture may also bring succor to those whom society 
has not been over-ready to favor—our women. Widowed 
mothers, dependent girls, the weak and the feeble, all may 
find a blessing in the easy, pleasant and profitable labors of 
the apiary. Of course, women who lack vigor and health 
can care for but very few colonies, and must t have sufficient 
strength to bend over and lift the small-sized frames of 
comb when loaded with honey, and to carry empty hives. 
With the proper thought and management, full colonies 
need never be lifted, nor work done in the hot sunshine. 
Yet right here let me add, and emphasize the truth, ¢had 
only those who will lebenergetic theug ht and skillful ‘plan, 
and above all promptitude and persistence, make up for 
physical weakness, should enlist as apiarists, Usually a 
