114 WAX. 



even two miles. Let us say we guess at it, foi the 

 present. 



CHAPTER V. 

 ■WAX. 



The careless, unreflecting observer, wlien seeing tlie 

 bees enter the hive with a pell^st of pollen on each of 

 their posterior legs, is very apt to conclude that it 

 must be material for comb, as it appears unUke honey. 

 So little regard is paid to the matter by many people,- 

 that they are unable to imagine any other use for it. 

 Others suppose that it will change from that to honey, 

 after being stored a time in the hive, and wonder at 

 the curious phenomenon ; but when asked how long, 

 a time must elapse before it takes place, they cannot 

 tell exactly, but they " have found cells where it be- 

 gan to change, as a portion near the outer end of the 

 cell had become honey, and no doubt the remainder 

 would in time." It has been remarked that cells were 

 only filled about two-thirds full of this, and finished 

 with honey ; now when any one finds a cell filled to 

 the brim with pollen, and no honey, such reasoning 

 will apply better. If this was the case, by examining 

 at different periods through the summer, we certainly 

 should find some cells before the change had com- 

 menced^nstead of their always being in just this stage 

 of transition. 



