CHAPTEE XIII. 



PEOPOLIS. 



PROPOLIS is & resinous gum, gathered by the bees 

 from the buds and leaves of trees and plants. 



The principal time of gathering it is during the 

 months of July, August and September. 



It is used by the bees to plaster the inside walls 

 of their habitation, and stop cracks or crevices in it 

 which they cannot pass through ; also, to coat over 

 anything offensive which they cannot remove from 

 their hive. Some authors assert that it is used to 

 strengthen their combs ; this is more fanciful than 

 real; it is true, there are occasionally some combs 

 found having it on them, but this is apparently acci- 

 dental. 



During some seasons there are large quantities of 

 it gathered, while in others there is but little. 



Its accumulation indicates a favorable season both 

 for honey and swarms, as well as prosperity within 

 the hive. In the spring of the year, bees will some- 

 times use for the same purpose grafting wax, varnish, 

 and even white lead (if free from the spirits of tur- 

 pentine) from partially dried work. The number 

 found carrying these substitutes is, however, very 

 small, yet enough to show that even bees try experi- 

 ments. 



