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Is It An Elaborate Or Natural Substance?

Categories: THE APIARY.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

No modern observer has ever been able to detect the bees in the act of

gathering it.





HUBER'S OPINION.



Huber tells us, that "near the outlet of one of his hives, he placed

some of the branches of the poplar, which exuded a transparent juice,

the color of garnet. Several workers were soon seen perched upon these

branches,--having detached some of this resinous gum, they formed it
br />
into pellets, and deposited them in the baskets of their thighs; thus

loaded, they flew to the hive, where some of their fellow-laborers

instantly came to assist them in detaching this viscid substance from

their baskets." Some of our modern apiarians have doubted this account

of Huber's. Now, in the absence of anything positive on this subject, I

am inclined to adopt this theory; that it is a resin or gum produced by

trees. (I cannot say that I am exactly satisfied with the story of

bringing the "branches and laying them by the hive," &c.) That bees

gather it in its natural state, is in accordance with my own

observation.





FURTHER PROOF.



Our first swarms that issue in May, or first of June, seldom use much

of the article pure for soldering and plastering; but instead, a

composition, the most of which is wax. I have noticed at this season,

when old pieces of boards that had been used for hives, were left in

the sun, that this old propolis would become soft in the middle of the

day. Here I have frequently seen the bees at work, packing it upon

their legs; it was detached in small particles, and the process of

packing was seen distinctly, as the bee did not fly during the

operation, as in the case of packing pollen. It is asserted that when

bees need it they always have it, indicating that they can elaborate it

like wax. I can see no reason why they do not need it in June as much

as August; yet, in the latter month, they use more than a hundred times

the quantity. At this time, they manifest no disposition to gather any

from the old boards, &c. It would seem they prefer the article new,

which they now have in abundance. Boxes filled in June contain but very

little, sometimes none. Why not, if they have enough of it? but when

filled in August, they always have the corners, and sometimes the top

and sides, lined with a good coat. Cracks, large enough for bees to

pass through, are sometimes completely filled with it. In this season,

a little before sunset of some fair day, I have frequently seen the

bees enter the hive with what I supposed to be the pure article on

their legs, like pollen, except the surface, which would be smooth and

glossy; the color much lighter than when it gets age. I have also seen

them through the glass inside, when they seemed unable to dislodge it

themselves, like pollen, and were continually running around among

those engaged in soldering and plastering; when one required a little,

it seized hold of the pellet with its teeth or forceps, and detached a

portion. The whole lump will not cleave off at once; but firmly adheres

to the leg; from its tenacity, perhaps a string an inch long will be

formed in separating, the piece obtained is immediately applied to

their work, and the bee is ready to supply another with a portion; it

doubtless gets rid of its load in this way; it is difficult to watch it

till it is freed from the whole, as it is soon lost among its fellows.

Now if this substance is not found in its natural state, how does it

happen that they pack it on their legs just as they do when getting it

from a board of an old hive, or pollen, when collected? They never take

the trouble to pack the wax there, when elaborated. Do not these

circumstances strongly favor the idea of its being a vegetable

substance? Perhaps the reason of its being collected at this season in

greater abundance, may be found in the fact, that the buds of trees and

shrubs are now generally formed. Many kinds are protected from rain and

frost, by a kind of gum or resinous coating. It may be found in many

species of Populus, particularly the balsam poplar, (_Populus

Balsamifera_) and the Balm of Gilead, (_Populus Candicans_). By boiling

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

(used sometimes for making salve;) the odor is very similar to that

emitted by propolis, when first gathered by the bees, or by heating it

afterwards. In the absence of facts, we are apt to substitute theory.

This appears to me to be very plausible. Yet I am ready to yield it as

soon as facts decide differently. Perhaps not one bee in a thousand is

engaged in collecting this substance--there being so few may be one

reason why they are not often detected, yet few as they are, a few of

us should set about close observation; something certain might decide.

Apiarian science is sadly neglected; a large amount of error is mixed

up with truth, that patient, scrutinizing investigation must separate.





REMARKS.



I feel anxious to get to the practical part of this work, which I hope

will interest some readers who care but little about the natural

history. I shall begin with spring, and will now endeavor to mix more

of the practical with it, as we proceed to the end of the year. In

order to illustrate some points of practice, I may have occasion to

repeat some things already mentioned.



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