PROPOLIS. 257 



and plastering. When one required a little, it seized the 

 pellet with its forceps, and detached a portion. The whole 

 lump will not cleave off at once, but firmly adhere to the 

 leg, and from its tenacity, a string an inch long, will some- 

 times be formed in separating. The piece obtained is im- 

 mediately applied to their work, and the bee is ready to 

 supply another with a portion. It doubtless gets rid of 

 its whole load in this way, but it is difficult to watch the 

 whole process, as the bee is soon lost among its fellows. 



The buds of many trees are protected from the ele- 

 ments, by a kind of gum or resinous coating. It may 

 be found in many species of Populus, particularly the 

 Balsam Poplar (Populus ialsamifera) and the variety 

 {candicans) known as the Balm of Gilead. By boiling 

 the buds of these trees an aromatic gum or resin may be 

 obtained, the odor of which is very similar to that emitted 

 by propolis when first gathered by the bees, or when it is 

 heated afterwards. 



This substance is used to solder up all the cracks, flaws, 

 and irregularities about the hive. A coat is spread over 

 the inside throughout ; when the hive is full, and many 

 bees cluster outside the latter part of summer, they also 

 spread a coating there. A layer seems to be annually ap- 

 plied, as old hives are coated with a thickness proportion- 

 ate to their age, provided they have been occupied by a 

 strong family. 



It differs materially from wax, being more tenacious, 

 and much harder, when old. 



NBW SWARMS SOMETIMES USE WAX INSTEAD. 



Our first swarms that issue in May or first of June, sel- 

 dom use much of the pure article for soldering and plaster- 

 ing, but use instead a composition, most of which is wax. 

 I have noticed at this season, when pieces of old hives 

 were left in the sun, that this old propolis would become 



