52 BEE-KEEPING FOR PROFIT 
to work. The queens from these hives should 
never be used for rearing purposes. It will 
be found that foreign bees as a rule produce 
more propolis than the native breeds. {Propolis 
always serves to attract bees, especially after 
it has been warmed before a fire for a few 
minutes; it then becomes very sticky. It is 
often used to entice bees to artificial food in 
early spring to stimulate brood-rearing before 
natural pollen becomes abundant. ‘This is done 
by scattering artificial pollen among shavings 
or chaff, and generally serves its purpose. 
Old quilts plastered with propolis are used 
by unscrupulous bee-keepers to attract swarms 
from neighbouring hives. 
