MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

166 DR. miller'spollen insections, we must avoid the three conditions mentioned.I rarely have any trouble in that way, and I use 8-frame hiveswith frames 9li inches deep, and have the sections filled full withworker-foundation.Poplars.—Q. Arc poplars good honey-flowers? They areplentiful here.A. Yes; but the word poplar is used for different trees in differentplaces. What you call poplar in Virginia is probablyLiriodendron tulipifera, which is also called tulip tree and whitewood.It is a good honey-tree, although the honey is dark, Ithink.Porticos.—Q. Of what use is the portico on some styles ofhives ?A. It is supposed to protect from the wind any bees inclinedto take a promenade on the alighting-board. It also furnishes anice protection for spiders, and is not much used nowadays.Pound Packages.—Q. Could you start a colony with one poundof bees and a queen?A. Yes; if started early enough in a good season it will makea good colony.Propolis^—Q. Is there any wax in beeglue or propolis?A. No, and yes. In pure propolis, of course, there is no wax;but in propolis scraped from sections or frames—indeed as beesuse it in general—there is more or less wa.x, as you will find out ifyou will melt it.Q. Should the wa.x and propolis between the frames be takenoff every time the hives are examined?A. Xo; you are doing unusually well if you attend to it oncea year.Q. Is there any way of getting the propolis off of fence separatorsbesides the tiresome way of scraping? Will boiling mjurethe glued joints ?A. I don't know of any better way than to scrape. Boilingin water would dissolve the glue, and would not be a success inremoving the propolis.Q. Is there any sale for propolis, and if so, tell me where Ican sell it. I have heard it is worth quite a bit, but never couldfind out where to sell it, or how much it is worth.A. I very much doubt if there is any market for propolis. Ifyou have propolis that has been saved from scraping frames, sections,etc., you may find it a paying job to melt the beeswax outof it.