N ). C. DEFAKTMEN T OF AGRICULTURE. 311 



PROPOLIS. 



Besides honey and pollen, bees gather propolis, or bee-glue, carry- 

 ing it in their pollen-baskets. As the name bee-glue indicates, it is 

 of a sticky nature, and is used by the bees to glue up all cracks and 

 corners, although sometimes it is varnished over a plain surface, and 

 even over the cai)pings of comb honey. It is j)Ossible that some day 

 propolis may have a commercial value as a medicinal age«t, but at 

 present bee-keepers would be glad of a strain of bees (hat would 

 gather no propolis. When the lingers of the bee-keeper become 

 daubed with propolis, it cannot be washed off with water nor with 

 soap and water. First, smear the part with a little butter or lard, 

 rub well, then wash off all W'ith soap and water, 



BEESWAX. 



Bees do not gather wax, but secrete it a little after the manner 

 in which a cow secretes milk. The wax is secreted in little flat 

 scales between the rings of the abdomen, somewhat pear-shaped, 

 and beautifully white. As commonly found in commerce, it ranges 

 in color from a bright yellow to almost black. For the production of 

 a pound of beeswax, it is estimated by some that twenty pounds 

 of honey are consumed by the bees, and from that the estimates 

 varies all the way down to three pounds. In any case, the cost 

 is so much that the production of wax is not encouraged by bee- 

 keepers, although as a by-product, if every scrap of wax be carefully 

 saved quite an amount may be accumulated, for which there is al- 

 ways a ready market. 



A COLONY OP BEES 



Is a single family living together in one hive, w^orking together 

 in the most methodical manner, and each colony is separate from 

 every other colony, each bee loyal to the interests of its own colony 

 and ready at any moment to sacrifice its own life to defend its home 

 against the attacks of other bees or of any other foes, man included. 

 At the beginning of the swarming season a good colony will contain 

 forty or fifty thousand bees, possibly twice as many in rare cases, 

 among which will be found one queen, a few hundred drones, and 

 thousands of workers. 



