744 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Sept. 15. 



and frorn this hole are quite plainly seen. Chipmunks 

 and red squirrels come right up to our table to get the 

 crumbs. Of snakes we have three distinct varieties, 

 all Lon-poisonous and quite tame. We do not molest 

 them, and have become quite accustomed to seeing 

 them around — in fact, rather like to watch them. We 

 have sjme large-sized lizards, and a big mud-turtle. 

 Now, who could be lonely with such company? 



Tommy was very sleepy this morning. I could 

 scarcely get him up, and he seemed half dazed for a 

 time. He had hi,-, shirt on wrong way about. He was 

 puzzling to know how he buttoned it up the back — 

 said he could not rejnember doing it. I suggested he 

 put his vest on that way too. He said he would not 

 do that, for he might get lost in the bush. I asked 

 him what difference that would make. He said, 

 " Why, I wouldn't know which way I was going ; I 

 should get all turned around." By the way, there is 

 some Irish about Tommy. 



We went out to explore Morrison I,ake. and, if pos- 

 sible, gather berries. The day was very hot, and the 

 deer-flies were so bad in the bush that we were forced 

 to retreat without the berries. We went to see Mr. 

 Armstrong, a settler on the lake, from whom we got a 

 fresh supply of butter and a great deal of informa- 

 tion. He told us we could get into Morrison l,ake 

 from the railway, by road, ouly six miles distant, and 

 good euougji for a bicycle. We also found that we 

 could portage from Morrison Lake into several other 

 lakes where there is splendid fishing. We decided, as 

 there stemed to be so many advantages in this part of 

 the country, to purchase a place here if possible, and 

 make it our headquarters. We spent the evening 

 with a party of campeis from Onllia ; had a very 

 pleasant time on the river in the moonlight, as usual, 

 with the cornet for company. The moonlight nights 

 heie are magnificent, as it is so quiet and resiful. 

 Outside of the occasional call of the whippoorwill, and 

 the music of the rapids in the distance, there is per- 

 fect quiet. The least noise can be heard a remarka- 

 bly long distance. The notes of the cornet echo from 

 rock to lock, five or six times. Each time it seems 

 further and further away, till at last it dies away en- 

 tirely in the distance. The effect is very beautiful, 

 and, together with the hazy, shadowy appearance of 

 the river-banks reflected in Ihe moonlight, gives it all 

 a strange and weird though very charming effect that 

 lives long in the memory, and is not the least of the 

 many pleasant effects peculiar to this most desirable 

 summer resort. 



To-day (Tuesday) the wind got up about 7 o'clock 

 as usual. After a good breakfast we started out to ex- 

 plore the islands in Morris n L,ake. We put our fish- 

 ing-tackle in the canoe, also a lunch (quite a bulky 

 parcel, by the way) considering there were only two 

 in the party. We also took along our largest tin pail 

 so that we could have some hot coffee. Our way was 

 up the Morrison Rivcr, over two portages. I wish 1 

 could describe Morrison River. It is a narrow stream, 

 very winding ; ihe banks are lined with green trees, 

 ferns, and wild flowers. Every turn in the tiver pre- 

 sents a ne^ scene of verdant beauty. Aquatic plants 

 find a congenial home here. In fact, one has almost 

 to pu?h the boat tnough beds of purple willow-herb 

 (the celebrated honey plant), pretty pink marsh-net- 

 tle (S/ac/ivs pahislris). flowering fern, arrowhead, and 

 thousan<i.-. upon thousands of sweet scented water- 

 lilies (Nytnphea odoiata). There are also yellow wa- 

 ter-lilies in great abundance, and deer grass with its 

 pretty pink blossoms. From Morrison River we made 

 our way into the clear waters of Morrison Lake. 

 Here we Ihiew out our trawling-line ; and as the wind 

 was favorable we put up our .sail. This was very 

 pleastint, and we weie getting along nicely when we 

 discovered we were driving straight on to tome rocks 

 that were partially hidden. Tommy tried to draw in 

 the trawl and guide the boat at the same time, while 

 I tried to get down the sail and keep the boat off the 

 rocks with my paddle. My paddle dr.ipped overboard, 

 and in the midst of the excitement Tomtny announc- 

 ed the fact that the trawl wa-. caught on a rock First 

 we secured the paddle, got the sail tucked away, and 

 were drawing in the line when we discovered that, 

 instead of having a rock on the end of the hook, we 

 had a bedutiful ti h. When landed it proved to be the 

 largest fi>h taken t. ) date. After that we made for the 

 island, ate our lunch, and then prepared to investi- 

 gate. We were paddling slowly around the north side 

 of Island B and we notict d that the bushes appeared 

 to have a bluish cast. We soon landed, and were de- 

 lighted to find the rocks just covered with blueberries. 

 We did have a feast. After we had eaten all we want- 

 ed we filled our largest tin pail with them. Further 

 on toward the center of the island we discovered a 



beautiful patch of red raspberries ; but as we had 

 nothing to put them into we had to leave them. The 

 island is beautifully wooded, and so nicely situated, a 

 short distance from the main land, with nice sandy 

 beach suitable for bathing, and very desirable in many 

 respects, we decided there and then, if possible, to 

 purchase it. 



It was now getting dark, and we started down the 

 river for camp, which did not prove nearly so charm- 

 ing in the moonlight as we had expected. The mos- 

 quitoes were simply dreadful. We had almost to 

 fight our way through. The noise they made was like 

 bees swarming. We managed to cover our heads 

 with our handkerchiefs, but they went for our hands 

 so bad that we could scarcely paddle. We got through 

 at last, minus the blood we left behind, and prepared 

 to get supper. We were much disappointed to find 

 the mosquitoes around our camp in great numbers, 

 apparently waiting for what was left of us. We found 

 it necessary to build a large fire, which drove them 

 off ; then we ate a good hearty supper in peace. Dur- 

 ing the day we did not notice any mosquitoes at all, 

 but have learned by experience that it is not wise to 

 explore marshy places after sundown. 



ll'ednesday. — It was very windy to-day ; rested all 

 morning ; saw no boats passing our camp. The wind 

 was so high that no one cared to venture out ; went 

 for a long walk in the woods, picking flowers, eating 

 berries, and amusing ourselves generally. Went fish- 

 ing in the evening. Tried fishing by moonlight for 

 the first time. Caught one pickerel and several very 

 large catfish. One was so large it broke my pole as I 

 was landing it. 



While fishing we were surprised to see a man with 

 a heavily laden canoe coming right down through the 

 rapids. Evidently this was a common thing for him 

 to do. He just looked up, said " Good evening, gen- 

 tlemen," and was gone. We decided if he could go 

 through so nicely we would try it too, when we made 

 our trip down the river to see the electric works. It 

 may be that the scraps we threw away after meal- 

 times or the situation is most favorable, but certainly 

 this place seems to be the favorite haunt of all kinds 

 of animals and insects. They are veiy friendly, and 

 have a rather free and easy style about them which is 

 rather embarrassing at times. They have a way of 

 dropping around, not only at mealtime, but also at 

 beatime. Besides six distinct kinds ot flies, all of 

 which are much more active and industrious than the 

 common house-fly, we have large black ants, wasps, 

 hoi nets, and beetles. Then the snakes seem to be 

 more numerous, and we have become quite interested 

 in watching their habits. But then there is a limit to 

 one's enthusiasm along that line, for, no matter how 

 much one may be interesteit in natural history, he 

 naturally objects to having the subject for a bedfel- 

 low. L,HSt night, when we returned from our fishirig- 

 expeditiijii in the moonli£,ht, we found a large-sized 

 snake trying to make his way into our tent So far 

 we had n ,t molested the snakes ; but v. e felt the line 

 would have to be drawn somewhere, for the thought 

 of having even harmless snakes, between three and 

 four feet long, crawling over one while asleep is not 

 calculated to produce pleasant dreams. We chased 

 that fellow and tried to kill him, but he got away. 

 The first thing in the morning, however, when I open- 

 ed the tent I discovered him back again at the same 

 place. This time he was promptly despatched. As I 

 write, a small every day ordinary little toad has hop- 

 ped up on the rock beside me ; and as he looked so 

 home-like and familiar I decided to let him stay and 

 w.^tch him catch flies, and hope with all my heart that 

 he will catch them all. 



Thursday — To-da3' we decided we would pay a visit 

 to the Ragged Rapids, where the citizens of Orillia 

 are investing S7.5 tWO in an electric plant to supply 

 their town wiih light and power. We set out after 

 breakfast, taking our lunch and fishing - tackle as 

 usual. To get there we must either shoot the rapids 

 or carry our boat over a long portage. We had heard 

 that the dam was almost complete, and we could see 

 that the water was rising even up where we were 

 camped, as the little wharf we made to land our boat 

 was now coveied with water. As w^e approached the 

 rapids between our camp and the works, we debated 

 whether to shoot the rapids or carry the canoe over 

 the portage. I said I did not think it was right for 

 me, with a wife and three 1 ttle children, to run any 

 risks ; but then the weather was .so hot I just hated to 

 carry that canoe over that rough, rocky path, so we 

 decided to have a look, and, if thought safe, would go 

 down. After a little consideration we decided to risk 

 it. Accordingly we headed our canoe right for the 

 center of the stream, and in two seconds were in the 



