Little John, different bees in different locations do different things. Our bees propolise everything inside our hives. walls, ceiling, floor. Also all surfaces on the frames along with all joints and the holes in the frames where wires were meant to go. So here it is not a myth but a fact.
Point taken. I speak only from my own experience, as it would appear you also do yourself. But - read on ...
On reflection, it may be relevant that the hive I referred to was made from two layers of 'commercial-grade' plywood sandwiched together. (not a method I ever repeated, or would particularly recommend) This plywood would have been formed using smooth moulds and under considerable pressure using urea-formaldehyde glue which resulted in the formation of a glassy-smooth and fully water-resistant surface. It's not particularly attractive stuff - such as plywood made with a high quality veneer on one side.
During construction of the hive, the two layers of plywood were held together with a generous number of alternating wood screws set-out 'domino-style', with their exposed tips duly abraded away, and together with their recessed screw heads, treated to a dab of molten wax. (these being the days before I discovered 100% waterproof glue ...)
As beekeepers, we tend to regard the application of propolis as being a bit of a nuisance, and something to be avoided if at all possible. But - from the bees' point-of-view it represents an enormous amount of energy invested, both in the collection of the various tree gums and other materials used, and the time and effort taken in identifying those places where it is to be applied.
Thus - what purpose would have been served by bees propolising any part of this surface - which was already glassy-smooth and waterproof ?
Taking this a step further, you may just be able to see from my earlier post re: nuc-construction which
Captain776 has just quoted from (BTW, thanks for the kind words,
Captain779), that I paint the insides of my bee boxes as well as the outsides. Indeed, I've gradually formed the opinion that painting the inside of bee boxes is considerably more important than the outside.
I initially started painting the insides as a means of preventing the pallet-wood I used for hive construction [imported wood of any quality being an expensive commodity here in Britain] from splitting and rotting - and it was only at a much later date that I came across:
Constructive Beekeeping (1918), by Ed. Clarke - a copy of which can be downloaded from
https://archive.org/download/cu31924003100306Clark writes:
The bees collect propolis (despised by the beekeeper) and with infinite work and a knowledge of the laws of condensation of moisture, have varnished the inside, sealed all openings that would give upper ventilation, making out of their home a perfect condenser for the water vapor that has filled the hive air by evaporation from the nectar. This moisture they collect from the inside surface of the hive, works right in with their idea of economy, saving the carrying of water from the stream or spring.
When building his own hives:
All joints and cracks are filled with hot rosin or pitch and the inside of the hive-body and cover is given three coats of varnish.
Clark concludes:
All other Conditions, by the aid of condensation, can be controled by the beekeeper. Ventilation and shade each make more room in the hive, but not with uniformity under all conditions; So we must add to the treatments we give the bees, a well varnished inner surface to the hive, and a cover that, at no time, permits of upward ventilation.
And so it would seem that very little is new in the world of beekeeping - with my own (successful) devised method of hive construction and management being identified and described a hundred years ago, and several thousand miles away !
It would seem that both Ed.Clark and I prevent any need for the bees to propolise the walls of their hives - by simply 'getting in there first' with the copious application of paint or varnish.
LJ