28 



The Untrained and inlact impossible, in the prohibition States, where it was actually 

 °'°' necessary to increase the sugar allotment to candy makers. Investi- 



What becomes of gation proves that former users of alcoholic beverages were large buy- 

 not take training? ers of candies and other sweets. 



home to^compete There is an abundant opportunity for the development of local trade 

 with normal meri j^ honey in almost all parts of the country. The future of beekeeping 

 capped. After a is inviting. There is every reason to expect that it will continue to 

 aWe^^ man ^ can develop rapidly for several years and that it will long continue to be 

 uDon'^tilrtriot^ism ^^ important minor branch of agriculture. From its very nature, 

 to hold him in a owing to the limited supply of nectar, it can never be one of the lead- 

 can not do the ing branches of agriculture, but there is abundant nectar to build up 

 Ho? 'with™^the beekeeping to ten times its present capacity. 

 man-'^HeTToo Need of Training. 



soldier to be sus- F^m the requirements indicated for good beekeeping, it is evident 

 tained by charity, that you will need all the information obtainable before engaging in 

 There is only one / . . o i. .t • • » & s 



way out for him, the business on a commercial scale. Such training you may secure 



trafahfgVothlthe through the agency of the Federal Board for Vocational Education 

 canmaintainhim- from courses in beekeeping in some of the agricultural colleges. After 

 sell in the after . J^ .° ,, ,, , , ,? „ • 



years with dignity you are well equipped with all that one ot these colleges can give you, 



rheRemiblic ab?6 then a good plan probably will be to arrange for a season, or part of a 

 to carry on in season, in the apiary of a thoroughly good commercial beekeeper. 

 cessfuUyjustashe This selection must be made with great care. Not all beekeepers who 

 did in war. ^yg fairly successful in honey production are as careful in their work 



as they should be, and by working with the wrong man you mij^ht 

 get into beekeeping habits that should be avoided. A man should be 

 chosen who makes a study of the behavior of his bees, one who is famil- 

 iar with the literature of his vocation, and, if possible, one who is able 

 to succeed in regions where most of the beekeepers fail to get the full 

 crop. After a season with such a man — and thi'o will be many who 

 will be glad to have your services in this w?y" — ^you should be able to 

 care for 100 colonies managed for extracted honey, provided your 

 disability does not prevent you from doing the work necessary. By 

 that time you will have a good idea of the amount of work which 100 

 colonies require. 



You should avail yourself of every opportunity to visit apiaries and 

 talk with expert bee men. Visits to and careful surveys of the apiaries 

 of others who are successful may be worth almost as much to you as a 

 season's close application. 



Overcoming Your Disability. 



Beekeeping means outdoor life under healthful conditions, well 

 suited to facilitate recovery from insipient tuberculosis, neurasthenia 

 from shell shock and other afflictions. At first in some of the manipu- 

 lations of the apiary there will be more or less difficulty which will arise 

 directly from your disability, but by the exercise of ingenuity you will 

 be able to devise ways of doing the work. If you have lost an arm, you 

 will need an artificial arm or some device for lifting the hives and hive 

 parts. Racks to hold frames while working with them, trays and 

 small tables are used and you will improvise other conveniences. If 

 your disaljility prevents your getting about easily, you will be able to 

 arrange your apiary so that there is the least possible amount of walking. 

 Light stools are employed for sitting while working over hives. After 

 training, the sooner you get to work the better. You will find that 

 actual work with your artificial limbs and devices has a greater thera- 

 peutic value than mere exercises and work is incomparably more 

 interesting. 



