This section is from the book "Bees For Pleasure And Profit", by Samson G. Gordon. Also available from Amazon: Bees for pleasure and profit; a guide to the manipulation of bees, the production of honey, and the general management of the apiary..
Bees will gather nectar or pollen from most of the flowers, or blossoms, whether of weed or cultivated plant. The task of providing stores for the entire colony, and most of the other duties in and out of the hive, with the exception of laying eggs, fall upon the worker bees. It is the older workers, however, who go forth to the flowers and blossoms and carry back their heavy loads of nectar and pollen. The younger workers remain in the hive to nurse the baby bees and perform the functions of housekeeping and ladies-in-waiting on the queen. The fielders, or honey-gathering workers, gather nectar and pollen and transport them to the hive-there to be generously shared with all of the inmates of the colony.
Upon its arrival at the plant or flower the bee draws the nectar into its honey-sac, and through a wonderful arrangement the nectar is partially converted into honey by the time the return flight to the hive is accomplished.
On almost every trip to plants and flowers bees will gather very much more food than they can consume, but the bee through an inborn instinct seems to realize that the days of bright sunshine and blossoms are of limited number, and that in order to avoid starvation and maintain life something must be stored away. It is for this reason, when its own tiny appetite is satisfied, that the bee does not cease its labors and lie down to rest, but works tirelessly on, carrying load after load of nectar from the countless blossoms and flowers it visits back to the hive-there to be stored in the cells for food as needed.
The transformation of the nectar after being deposited in the cells by the bees into fully ripened honey, ready for consumption by either man or bees, is an interesting process. As the day ends the bees spread themselves over the combs, and a period of fanning is indulged in. This action-the circulation of air within the walls of the hive by the wings of the bees-hastens the evaporation of the excess water in the honey. When this evaporation has taken place, the heat generated by the bodies of the bees tends to cure or ripen the stored-up honey. The filled cells are then sealed over by the workers unless the contents is to be eaten at once.
Propolis is another product which bees gather. It is a kind of glue or resin. They use it for coating over the inside of their hives, filling crevices, cementing together any loose parts of the hive.
Honey is the nectar obtained from flowers and modified by the bees both before and after it is deposited in the comb cells. It is flavored by essential oils from the blossoms from which it is taken. The color of honey is likewise determined by the predominating source from which the nectar is obtained. Thus clover, sage, basswood and others are graded as white honey, while buckwheat is of very dark color. All honeys, irrespective of color or flavor, are pure, and there is no dainty food offered on any table which will be more gratefully received than a comb of honey as it comes from the hive. Bees see to its absolute purity for their own good.
Bees at work on their comb.
 
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