A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



odor in my hand that lasts for hours. I 

 frequently detect the same odor about my 

 hives when the bees are making all snug 

 against the rains, or against the millers. 

 When used by the bees, we call it propolis. 

 Virgil refers to it as a '' glue more adhesive 

 than bird - lime and the pitch of Phrygian 

 Ida." Pliny says it is extracted from the 

 tears of the elm, the willow, and the reed. 

 The bees often have serious work to detach 

 it from their leg-baskets, and make it stick 

 only where they want it to. 



The bud scales begin to drop in April, 

 and by May Day the scales have fallen 

 from the eyes of every branch in the forest. 

 In most cases the bud has an inner wrap- 

 ping that does not fall so soon. In the 

 hickory this inner wrapping is like a great 

 livid membrane, an inch or more in length, 

 thick, fleshy, and shining. It clasps the 

 tender leaves about as if both protecting 

 and nursing them. As the leaves develop, 

 these membranous wrappings curl back, 

 and finally wither and fall. In the plane- 

 tree, or sycamore, this inner wrapping of 

 the bud is a little pelisse of soft yellow or 

 tawny fur. When it is cast off, it is the 

 size of one's thumb nail, and suggests the 



S6 



