THE HONEY-BEE, 29 
The bee goes to the bottom of the cell, deposits a 
particle of honey, and brushes it into the corners or 
angles with its tongue, carefully excluding all the air. 
As it is filled, that nearest the sides of the cells is. kept 
in advance of the center. This is just as a philosopher 
would say it should be done. If the cell were filled at 
once, without attaching the honey to the sides, the external 
air would not keep it in place, as it now does effectually, 
when the cell is of ordinary length. When the cell is 
about one-fourth of an inch deep, bees often commence 
filling it, and as it is lengthened, they continue to add 
honey, keeping it within an eighth of an inch of the ends. 
It is never quite full, until nearly sealed over, and often 
not then. In worker cells the sealing seldom touches 
the honey.* But in drone cells the case is different ; in 
these, honey at the end touches the sealing about half way 
up. It is kept in the same concave shape while being filled, 
but being in a larger cell, the atmospheric pressure is less 
effectual in keeping it in its place; consequently, when 
they commence sealing these cells, they begin on the 
lower side, and finish at the top. 
PROPOLIS AND ITS USE. 
Propolis is doubtless the gum or resinous coating 
which protects the buds of many kinds of trees. 
It may be found in many species of Populus, particu- 
larly the Balsam Poplar, (Populus balsamifera), and the 
variety (candicans), known as the Balm of Gilead. I 
have seen the bees collecting it, and have frequently seen 
them enter the hive with what appeared to be the pure 
article on their legs, resembling pollen, except that the 
surface is smooth and glossy. Itis of amuch lighter color 
when new, than it is after it gets a little age. I have 
geen bees when they appeared unable to dislodge the pro- 
* This is true only of the native bees. 
