WOMEN BEEKEEPERS 
103 
ing and bending—as nurses discovered in France 
during the World War! 
Thus it can readily be seen that if beekeeping is 
to be a paying proposition, it will not be merely a 
poetic pastime, though the poetry will always be 
there. But there will be a great deal of pleasant 
work—much of it outdoors. Much bending over 
hives, drawing out the combs one after another, scru¬ 
tinizing them intently. Much hoisting up of supers, 
weighing from twenty to sixty-five pounds, from off 
the tops of full hives to the ground. Nor can they 
be swung off and slammed down roughly since they 
are full of bees—and each bee well armed. 
Indoors there will be the turning of the extractor, 
unless again there is some other arm power avail¬ 
able, or unless one is financially able to have the 
extractor crank turned by electricity. 
Much must depend on circumstances and con¬ 
ditions. . . . Whether an apiary of two or three 
colonies or two or three thousand is contemplated! 
As to the tending of two or three colonies, I can 
imagine nothing more delightful for any woman, 
even if she should be a semi-invalid. Someone could 
always be found once in a couple of weeks to help 
for an hour or so—or a hive-lifting device could be 
used. 
