132 PROPOLIS. 



without injury to the fructification of the plants. So 

 far, indeed, from being an obstacle to this, the bees, 

 on the contrary, greatly facilitate it, by applying in 

 their movements the fertilizing farina to the stigma 

 of the flower. 



Propolis. Propolis is a tenacious substance, gene- 

 rally of a dull grey colour, gathered by the bees from 

 the buds of certain trees in early spring ; especially 

 from the alder, the poplar, the birch, and the willow. 

 It is of great use to the insect in various ways. The 

 ancients supposed it to consist of three different sub- 

 stances, or rather, perhaps, three different modifica- 

 tions of the same substance, according to the diffe- 

 rent proportions of wax blended with it, and have 

 been followed in this opinion by some more recent 

 inquirers ; yet the generality of intelligent Bee-mas- 

 ters are satisfied that it is in fact a single substan.ce 

 when collected by the bees, and that it is afterwards, 

 when used, mixed by them with common wax in 

 different proportions, according to the purpose for 

 which it is employed. Huber, to ascertain the fact 

 of its origin, stuck some branches of the wild poplar 

 in pots of earth, in front of his apiary. The bees 

 immediately discovered them, and set about loading 

 themselves with the identical substance, which he 

 had often detected adhering to their thighs in the 

 same manner as farina. He observed them " sepa- 

 rating the folds of the buds with their teeth, drawing 

 out threads of the viscous substance, and lodging a 

 pellet of it in one of the baskets of their limbs." He 

 ascertained farther, that branches newly cut did not 



