Full text of:
Ideal “Bee Woman.” Evening Star (Washington, DC), July 9, 1902
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How She Would Manage Her Colonies of Busy Workers.
From the New York Tribune.
“In this day, when so many doors are opening to women, I am surprised that so few adopt beekeeping as a means of support,” says a woman beekeeper. “A ‘bee woman’ who would succeed must have lots of energy and push, and, above all, must not be easily discouraged. She must be willing to work hard and often early and late during part of the year. Furthermore, she must have come under the fascinating spell which the ‘busy bee’ seems to have such power to throw over those who seek to know her mysteries.
“As beekeeper she must have a good degree of health and vigor, especially if she works without an assistant, because there is of necessity much lifting and often many hours upon the feet. Yet it is surprising how much hard work one can endure in the open air when one’s interest is thoroughly enlisted. There is probably no more healthful occupation, and for those broken in health from mental overwork or close confinement indoors the business is ideal.
“It is not necessary that a woman should have no fear of bees on the start in order to become a successful apiarist. Such fear, of course, must be overcome rapidly or prove an inconvenient obstacle; but experience shows that acquaintance rarely fails to establish relationships of th most pleasant character between the busy little honey makers and their owners. The be sure, there are the stings, and one must make up her mind to receive them occasionally as gracefully as possible. Fortunately the human system soon becomes immune to the poison, and beyond a momentary unpleasantness the beekeeper takes little notice of the matter. Occasionally a person fails to win immunity from the suffering, and even finds it dangerous to risk being stung. Such persons should give up all thought of beekeeping.
“The ideal bee woman will be willing to go slowly–very slowly–at first. The tendency is to want to rush things and begin with a large number of colonies when one knows nothing whatever about the business. Two or three colonies are enough at first. If she succeeds with these, she can easily increase the number, and if she fails, her loss will be great enough. It is safe advice to urge the beginner to keep out of debt as nearly as possible. After the first investment for two or three colonies it is better to make the apiary pay its way as nearly as possible.
“From the nature of things–the variableness of the season, the varied honey flow, etc.–beekeeping always must be an uncertain business, and, therefore, it is not well to depend entirely upon it for a living. A good way is to combine poultry raising and fruitgrowing with it. Women are adept in both of these lines and a few stands of bees will add materially to the income and not demand too large a part of one’s time. Then, if the season is poor, more attention can be given to poultry and less to bees, and vice versa.
“The profits from beekeeping necessarily vary largely. Much depends upon the knack of the beekeeper in being able to get her colonies into prime working order just at the right time, and so manage her business as to keep expenses down and to market her honey advantageously. In Salt River, Ariz., where conditions in many respects are favorable, it is common to hear experienced beekeepers claim an average annual net income of $3 and $4 a colony.
“I should urge one contemplating beekeeping to invest in one or more good textbooks upon the subject and subscribe to at least one reliable bee journal. If this investment is made for six months before the purchase of the first bees and the intervening time is faithfully spent in study, so much the better.”
