74 PRACTICAL BEE-KEEPING. 



the soaped vesael and cooled slowly as before, and the settlings scraped or 

 melted off by toasting before the fire, the impure droppings being caught 

 in water and returned to the receptacle for scraps for subsequent clari- 

 fying. 



Bleachmg is performed by pouring wax on to water just cooler than 

 that at which wax melts, it spreads itself out into thin plates, which 

 are removed as fast as they set, when they are exposed for seTeral days 

 to the action of the sun on cloths or trays. 



Soneydew is one of the nuisances of the beekeeper. When passing, 

 whilst the sun is shining, beneath trees on the under sides of the leaves 

 of which the aphis (green fly) is found, a shower of minute drops may 

 generally be noticed. This is honeydew, which is produced from the 

 bodies of the aphides, and may be seen on the upper sides of the leaves 

 of the trees affected, as a sticky varnish. Its taste is unpleasant, 

 although sweetish ; but unfortunately bees appear to like it, for they 

 gather it often in large quantities when true honey is not abundant^ Its 

 colour is exceedingly dark. We have seen aphide honey from sycamores 

 as deep in tone as walnut liquor, and where much of it is stored the value 

 of the whole crop is practically nil. 



PropoUs, found in every hive, has not as yet been turned by man to his 

 account. It is a resinous substance obtained principally from the 

 hybemaoula or leaf buds of poplars, chesnuts, &o. The bees carry it 

 as they do pollen, and with it not only varnish and strengthen their combs, 

 but fill every objectionable crack and cranny ; it much annoys the movable 

 comb hivist, as the bees are always using it for fixing everything, but the 

 application of a little tallow will reduce its hold as weU as disincline the 

 bees to insert it. We have seen a window cooling the interior uncom- 

 fortably coated over with a wall of this substance, and it is often 

 to be noticed used in considerable amount in contracting hive entrances. 

 If the fingers get soiled with it soap does not readily remove it ; soda 

 and hot water are required, but spirits of wine dissolves it at once — one 

 application, a wipe with a cloth, and the fingers are clean. The more 

 fastidious will find eau de Colocrne produce the same satisfactory result 

 immediately. 



