THOUSAND ANSWERS 167 



Q. How can I refine propolis and separate it from the wax? 

 Does it lose its aroma when boiled in water? 



A. I don't know how to refine propolis. I have separated it 

 from wax by putting it in a dripping-pan in the oven and pour- 

 ing off the wax; but it doesn't make a perfect job. One would 

 think it would work to boil it in water. Boiling water doesn't 

 seem to hurt the aroma of propolis. 



Pumpkin. — Q. Do pumpkin blossoms, nettles, common mint, 

 peppermint, snap-dragon, camomile and love-in-tangle produce 

 honey or pollen for honeybees? 



A. Pumpkins and all kindred vines do, also the mints. I don't 

 know about the others. 



Punic Bees. — Q. What do you think of Punic bees? 



A. The little experience I had with Funics makes me think 

 them hardy and industrious, not with the sweetest of tempers, the 

 worst gluers I ever saw, and capping honey so watery-looking 

 that they are fit for extracted honey only. 



Q. Have the Punic bees proved a success in this country, or 

 are they still an experiment? 



A. In the experimental stage; reports varying from favorable 

 to extremely unfavorable. 



Put-up Plan. — Q. I do not understand the "put-up'' plan as per 

 pages 167-8 of "Fifty Years Among the Bees." On page 168 you 

 say: "The cover is put on the supers, and the 'put-up' hive is 

 filled with brood, and is placed over all." 



If I were to do this I would put a solid board over the supers. 

 Then I suppose you mean to place a brood-chamber of the "put- 

 up" hive directly over all. But there would not be any place for 

 the bees to get out. 



Should a queen-excluding board be over the supers? Or, if a 

 solid board, would I have to arrange the brood-chamber on top 

 so as to leave an entrance for the bees to get out? 



A. You have it straight until you say, "I suppose you mean 

 to put the brood-chamber of the 'put-up' hive over all." I think 

 the whole thing will become clear if you note that I do not say 

 "brood-chamber," but that the hive is placed over all, and then 

 remember that ordinarily when we talk about a hive we mean 

 not merely the brood-chamber or hive-body, but the bottom- 

 board along with it. 



To be specific about it, the lower hive has placed on it the 

 super, or supers, and these are covered up just as they would be 

 if no other hive was to be placed over. Then on top of this is 

 placed the put-up hive with its bottom-board and its cover. This, 



