Bee-Keepittg Jor 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-keepmg, 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 

 w^ith 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. 



Apiculttire 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 have suflScient 

 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, that 

 ■only those who will let energetic thought and skillful plan, 

 ■and above all promptitude and persistence, make up for 

 physical weakness, should enlist as apiarists. Usually a 



