151 



throughout the country, this request was complied with. Three samples of sus- 

 pected comb were received, which, upon analysis, were found to have the following 

 composition : — 



Analysis of Foundation Comb. 



The parties who sent these sample.s to Messrs, Jones & Co. all claim to have 

 procured them from E. E. Smith, Tilbury Centre. The above analyses, with 

 remarks on the fraud in selling, and the danger in using such adulterated comb, 

 have been published by the editors of the Canadian Bee Journal. 



In the opinion of bee-keepers, pure beeswax is the only material that can be sat- 

 isfactorily used for foundation comb. Parafl&n melts at a much lower temperature 

 than beeswax, and this fact alone militates against its use in bee-hives. It has been 

 proved by experience that manufactured comb containing paraffin melts in hot 

 weather, a total collapse of the comb, often full of brood or honey, resulting. 

 Besides this loss of honey or brood, the bees are smeared by the melted mixture. 

 Messrs. Jones write me as follows, regarding their experience with foundation comb 

 containing paraffin : — 



"Paraffin was tested as a base for comb years ago, and, owing to the tempera- 

 ture at which it melts, was found totally useless as a substitute for beeswax. In all 

 cases which we have had this summer, where adulterated comb had been sent out, 

 great loss has been sustained through the comb breaking down when partly built 

 out, and this will always be the case with foundation containing any great amount of 

 paraffin." 



In addition to this, it must be noted that the difference in price per pound of 

 beeswax and paraffin is from 25c. to 30c, To sell adulterated comb at the same 

 price as the pure article is therefore a dishonest jiractice. 



When the foundation comb contains a comparatively large percentage of para- 

 ffin, the adulteration may be detected by one or more of the following means : — 



1. By its smell, colour and consistency, Adultei'ated wax has not the strong 

 characteristic odour of beeswax, developed especially by friction, neithei- has it the 

 tough and pliable nature of genuine wax. On being kept, the wax containing 

 paraffin becomes white and brittle. 



2. If a small lump of this impure article be placed in cold water, together with a 

 similar quantity of comb known to be pure, and the temperature of the water 

 gradually raised, the comb containing pai-affin will melt first and form a fluid layer 

 on the top of the water, while the pure beeswax is but just beginning to melt. 



4. Make a mixture of alcohol and water, in such proportions that a piece of 

 pure beeswax will stay suspended in the middle of the fluid. This is most easily 

 done by placing a piece of pure wax on the top of some spirit in a glass, and then 

 adding cai-efully, and with constant stirring, sufficient water to make the wax sink 

 slowly. If the mark is at first overstepped the addition of a little more spiiit will 

 cause the beeswux again to rise. 



As paraffin is much lighter than beeswax, the adulterated sample will be found 

 to float on this liquid, and a considerable quantity of alcohol will have to be added to 

 cause the impure wax to sink. 



