(71 



tions on the surface of epidermis. It is a thin coating of 

 wax that imparts the peculiar bluish appearance of " bloom" 

 observed on the surface of grapes, plums, pumpkins, and 

 some other fruits, as well as on the surfaces of many leaves. 

 These waxes are collected by immersing the parts on which 

 they occur in hot water which melts them. The wax then 

 comes to the surface and is skimmed off, becoming solid 

 on cooling. 



1607. Carnauba palm leaves. — The leaves of Copernicia cerifera (Arruda) Mart. 



{Palmae — Palm Family). Native of southeastern South America. 



1608. Carnauba wax. — The wax removed from the preceding. This is an ex- 



tremely hard wax, which has many important special uses, particularly 

 in the making of phonograph records. 



1609. A darker colored sample of the same. 



1610. Southern bayberries.— The fruits of Myrica cerifera L. (Myricaceae — 



Bayberry Family). Native of the southeastern United States. These 

 fruits are seen covered with wax, which is used for various purposes, 

 especially for the making of candles. From Miami, Florida. Collected 

 by J. K. Small, November, 1904. 



161 1. Bayberry plant.— The fruiting leafy branches of Myrica carolinensis Mill. 



{Myricaceae — Bayberry Family). Native of North America. Collected 

 in the New York Botanical Garden by J. A. Shafer. 



1612. Bayberry wax. — The wax removed from the fruits of the preceding plant 



by melting in hot water and straining. Presented by Mr. Baker, of 

 Hyannis, Mass. 



1613. Bayberry wax candles. — Candles made of the preceding. Same donor. 



1614. Bayberry wax candles. The same. Made at Staten Island, New York, 



and presented by Miss H. Louise Britton, in 1905. 



1615. Candel ilia.— The stems of a species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae— Spurge 



Family). Native of southwestern United States and Mexico. Specimen 

 acquired at Colima, Mexico, January, 1910, by W. A. MurrilL 



1616. Japanese wax. — A wax obtained from the fruit of Rhus succedanea L. (Ana- 



cardiaceae — Sumac Family). Native of Japan. Specimen from the 

 New York drug market. Presented by H. H. Rusby. 



1617. Ibota wax. — The wax of Ligustrum Ibota Sieb. (Oleaceae— Olive Family). 



Native of China and Japan. From the Field Museum of Natural History. 



FIXED OILS AND FATS 



Fixed oils are fatty substances existing in many plants, 

 especially in their seeds. Those which are liquid at ordi- 

 nary temperatures are known as oils. Those which are 

 solid at ordinary temperatures are known as fats. They 

 are natural compounds of glycerin with special fatty acids, 



