1522 Department of Ageicultuee 



shoulder to shoulder with their men, are as strong as men, and 

 the women of savage tribes are fully capable of performing the 

 burden of the work thrust upon them. The practice of wheeling 

 a wheelbarrow to and from the beeyard is better exercise for 

 gaining health and strength than swinging dumb-bells or sub- 

 jecting the body to various contortions in physical-culture practice. 



Eemimeratively compared with other occupations, beekeeping 

 has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. A woman, able 

 to work, can successfully handle from 125 to 150 colonies of bees 

 with but little extra help. In a fair season, if properly worked, 

 they will net her an income quite a little ahead of her sister who 

 teaches, or works in factory or store. But to the beekeeper every 

 year does not bring a good crop. The season for the actual 

 honey flow is comparatively short, and if during these few weeks 

 the weather is unfavorable, or as is sometimes the case, the blos- 

 soms yield little or no nectar, the crop will be short, or even a 

 total failure, manage or work as faithfully as you will. Then 

 there is capital invested, and the responsibility and risk of owner- 

 ship, the burden of which the employer carries for the woman 

 working for wages. But, while for the wage earner, in most 

 cases, it is an all-year-around monotonous performance, for the 

 beekeepers, after a summer of outdoor life comes a period of rest. 

 While your bees are taking their long winter sleep they need little 

 if any attention. Certainly the wise beeekeeper will get ready as 

 many supplies during the winter months as possible, if he or she 

 does not wish to be caught in a summer rush that is anything 

 but pleasant. Even this working ahead will leave plenty of time 

 for rest and recreation. 



The woman who keeps bees lives and works at home, and can 

 attend to her household and family duties besides her bee work, 

 even though some minor details may be neglected during the 

 busy season. There is much easy, agreeable work connected with 

 the business that will keep the growing boy or girl out of mischief. 



There is always a ready market for good honey. Dealers are 

 usually looking for comb honey put up in neat, attractive pack- 

 ages, and properly graded. This work is especially adapted to 

 women. The best way to dispose of a crop of comb honey is to 

 ship it as early as it can be gotten ready for the market. Sell it 



