AUGUST 1, 1913 



533 



The bees were all 

 loaded without a single 

 mishap about 10 p. ii., 

 and, needless to say, 

 we were tired, even if 

 not aware of it at the 

 time. 



N freight went 

 from Bellamy t o 

 Smi.h's Falls till the 

 next evening at 7, so 

 we expected a weary 

 wait all the next day 

 before going that 17 

 miles that lay between 

 us and the main line. 

 But again fortune fa- 

 vored us; for when the 

 bees were about load- 

 ed, my.good friend the 

 agent already referred 

 to came around to the 

 ear and told me that 

 he had been busy on 

 the wire with the train 

 despatcher and other 



officials, and they had ordered the fast ex- 

 press that went up at 7 A. M. to stop and 

 pick us up. My suit ease and the " gTub " 

 for the trip were back at New Dublin, and 

 tb.at meant that I must go back to get them 

 that night. I went back with one of the 

 teams, stayed there over night — i. e., what 

 little of the night was left — arose at 4 A. M., 

 a'.xl walked to the station, carrying my suit- 

 ca e and box of provisions, weighing about 

 ten pounds, I suppose, but really seeming 

 more like 50 before I got there. 



Sharp at 7 the next morning we pulled 

 out on the express, and were soon in the 

 yards at Smith's Falls. I promptly looked 

 up the yardmaster, and he at once consent- 

 ed to place my cars on a switch where they 

 would not be touched till ready to leave. 

 Two trains left before noon ; but as they 

 were both to do some shunting along the 

 way he advised me to wait for the fast 

 fi eight that left at 1 o'clock. His advice 

 ])roved good, as we passed the other freights 

 before getting to the next divisional run at 

 7 that night. The cars were next to the 

 engine — a very important item, as there the 

 bees get handled inucli easier than back at 

 the end of trains of 18 or 20 hundred ton- 

 i:age, as all trains aie on that line. 



We pulled in at the first divisional point 

 at 7, and the engineer insisted on placing 

 those cars himself, and not allowing the 

 yard engines to touch them. Forty miles 

 fi'om that line we had to leave the main 

 line and go over 100 miles on a new line 

 completed only last fall, and I learned that 

 no train went up that branch line till one 



Fig. 1. — A load of supers filled with combs on the way to the depot. 



left our station at G the next morning. The 

 night was cool; and as the bees were quiet 

 we went with the agent at that place for the 

 night, arranging for a call in the morning. 

 The agent formerly lived near us, and it 

 was another pleasant surprise to find him 

 there and (o have him help us. At 5 the 

 next morning a messenger came to the house 

 and asked if the man with the bees was 

 there, and we were told that the train would 

 be ready about 6 :30. 



After another pleasant trip that day we 

 arrived at our destination at 7 that evening 

 in a pouring rain, so the bees were not un- 

 loaded till the next day. The morning was 

 cool and cloudy, so from start to finish we 

 had nothing but the best of luck in every 

 way. The engineers on both long runs were 

 splendid fellows; and although I was more 

 than willing to make it worth their while 

 to handle tlie cars gently, they did not look 

 for it like some who are always watching 

 for tips. However, it pays to start on a trip 

 like this with a dozen or so quarters in your 

 pocket for judicious use along the way. 

 As stated, we had our lunch with us; and 

 although finger-bowls and table-napkins 

 were not in evidence, we managed all right. 



Just a word as to how the cotton served 

 us for ventilation purposes. In my opinion 

 it is away ahead of screens in every way ; 

 for, strange as it may seem, it actually gives 

 more ventilation than the screens, and the 

 bees are quieter. With the wire cloth they 

 see too much light, and are all the time fly- 

 ing to the top and trying to get out, while 

 with cotton they rarely fly up at all. As to 



