BEES’ HABITS AND PRODUCTS | 51 
they consume, during the period of compulsory 
retirement in winter. ‘This semi-hibernation 
period varies in length in different parts of the 
country, but in some cases it must last for at 
least three months, between the date when the 
last eggs were laid and that when the queen 
resumes egg-laying again in earnest. Chyle 
food has a thick, milky-white appearance, an 
acid flavour, and quickly congeals if exposed to 
the air. Probably on account of its being fed 
to the infant bees one of its popular names 
is ‘‘pap’’ and another ‘ bee’s-milk.”’ 
Propolis.—This is a substance produced by 
the bees from the gum which exudes from 
buds and trees, or the wax given off by some 
grasses. Propolis emits a wholesome smell and 
is usually bitter to the taste. It is used by the 
bees to plug up any holes or cracks in the walls 
of the hive and to fasten the supers, lifts, 
frames, and sections together, and also forms 
their natural disinfectant. Although methy- 
lated spirit is violently disliked by bees, yet 
some forms of spirit varnish are very attractive 
to them, probably yielding something towards 
the production of propolis. 
Some bees produce propolis to excess and 
it then becomes a nuisance, for hives in which 
such a condition exists are always more difficult 
