10/03/2024
March 8, is International Women's Day.
Eminent Women in Beekeeping
Lucinda Harrison (1831 - 1904)
Please Like: Historical Honeybee Articles - Beekeeping History
circa. 1882 - Lucinda Harrison and her Assistant in the Apiary
Mrs. Harrison's Bee-Dress
Here we are, dressed cap-a-pie for work in the apiary. There is one thing lacking in the picture, which we wear when bees are very cross, and we did not put it on; for if we had, you could not have seen bow the cape is made. We put on a linen sack, or a gent's vest is buttoned on, and we then have a perfect head-gear, as no bees can gain access by creeping under the cape or around the arms. Our assistant will wear a long-sleeved apron, fastened around the bottom of the hat, and, if bees are very cross, wear leggins or a long skirt.
The hat is made of green wire gauze, such as screens are made of; the top of pasteboard, and bottom of calico. In making, we are careful to leave no wires to stick our hands or head when we put it on. We first roll up a hem; and if the wires stick through, hammer it upon a flatiron. When all sticking wires are disposed of, it is bound top and bottom, joined at the back, the top and cape sewed on. At the bottom of the cape is a wide hem, through which a string is run; under one arm is left open, and the other is joined with a string, thus forming an arm-hole. We put our arm through this bole, slip on the hat, and tie it at the open side. When we are stooping over a hive, the wire cloth rests upon the back of the bead; and, to prevent bees stinging through there, a postal card is sewed on the under side. Our hands are covered with buckskin gloves, which have doming sewed on to the gauntlets, kept in place by elastic. The apron has capacious pockets, which are always handy for a screw-driver, handkerchief, etc. We never succeeded very well with a veil. If we only wanted to walk around the apiary, it was all right; but when we worked, getting in all sorts of positions, It was sure to get close to our face or neck, and stings were the result.
We see by your letters, children, that you almost all say, that you would like bees better if they "didn't sting." For our part, we like bees that can fight their own battles; they have driven off thievish boys from our apiary several times, when they were trying to steal honey, and they protect our fruit and vineyard better than a dog. Before the busy time comes for work in the apiary, rig up a hat and gloves, so you will be of use there. If you are afraid all the time, you are of no account to work with bees. The expense is trifling — the gauze for the little girl's hat cost only ten cents, and a top was cut from a paper box.
- Mrs. L. HARRISON. Peoria, III., Jan., 1882.
Read Article in Full Here:
https://books.google.com/books?id=aXQeAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA123 =onepage&q&f=false
Source:
circa. 1882. Gleanings in Bee Culture. March. Page 123
https://archive.org/details/gleaningsinbeecu101882medi/page/123/mode/1up
