CHAPTER X. 



PROPOLIS. 



Derivation of Word — Sources — Nature — Purposes — Quantity Collected 

 — Adaptation of Materials to Wants of Bees. 



Another substance carried in, and largely used 

 by the bees, is an exceedingly sticky material called 

 propolis, from two Greek words signifying " before 

 the city," as it was observed, in early times, that it 

 was employed in strengthening the outworks of their 

 fortress-home, or, at least, in firmly securing the rim 

 of their hives to their floor-boards. 



It was formerly a matter of considerable discussion 

 whether this substance was a natural vegetable pro- 

 duct, or whether it was elaborated, as wax is. There 

 is now little doubt that it is chiefly a sort of resin 

 derived from plants, and especially from the leaf-buds 

 of certain kinds, like the horse-chestnut, the alder, 

 birch, willow, and hollyhock. Huber, to whom we 

 are indebted for so many interesting and careful 

 observations on apiculture, tried the experiment of 

 placing in pots branches of the poplar, before the 

 buds had opened, and these he put near his apiary. 

 The bees, settling on them, separated the folds of 

 the largest buds, extracted the resinous matter in 



