4T4 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



A "Find" of Beeswax.— We 

 have received from H. C. Farnum, of 

 Aristotle, N. Y., the following concern- 

 ing a mine of beeswax on the Callfornian 

 coast. We know nothing of it, but per- 

 haps some of our correspondents on that 

 coast will be able to give us some light 

 on the subject. We are inclined to 

 think it a fishy yarn, but there may be 

 some foundation for it : 



No one has ever been able to give an 

 authentic account of how such enormous 

 quantities of beeswax came to be de- 

 posited on the beach near Nehalem, 

 Calif. Specimens are found along the 

 beach in various places, but it is most 

 plentiful near the mouth of the Nehalem. 



As the sea shifts the bars, pieces of it 

 are washed ashore, and large quantities 

 are found by plowing in some of the low 

 land near the beach. There are spots 

 where the sea has never reached in the 

 memory of the oldest settlers, and which 

 are covered with a good sized growth of 

 spruce, where deposits of the wax may 

 be found by digging. 



Specimens of the wax may be found at 

 the house of any settler on the beach, 

 and to all appearances it is genuine 

 beeswax. Several tons have been un- 

 earthed, and one man shipped a large 

 amount to San Francisco once, for which 

 he received $500. 



In quality it is as good as any in the 

 market, and has retained its familiar 

 odor through all its rough usage and 

 age. It is supposed by some, and so 

 stated, that it came from the wreck of 

 a Spanish vessel over a century ago. 

 Others say it came from a wrecked 

 Chinese bunk. 



These traditions in regard to the 

 wrecks came from the Indians, and are 

 not reliable. It is possible that this 

 beeswax is really a "Lost Treasure" 

 which the people are digging for on the 

 Nehalem. 



If there is anything in the latter part 

 of the story, the product is probably 

 what is known as " Chinese wax" (ccryl 

 cerotate), which is a substance bearing a 

 physical resemblance to refined beeswax, 

 and is also known as " white wax." 



It has hitherto been supposed to be 

 the inspissated exudation of certain 

 species of trees in China; but an inves- 

 tigation conducted on behalf of the 

 British GovernTnent by Al(!xaiider Hosie, 



1990, shows it to be a secretion of an 

 insect. Coccus pe-la. 



According to the report made by Mr. 

 Hosie to the science department of his 

 Government, the Chien-Chang valley in 

 the Chinese province of Sze-chuen is the 

 principal breeding place of the Coccus 

 pe-la. 



These insects appear first in March in 

 great numbers ; they are of almost 

 microscopic size, and are inclosed in pea- 

 shaped excrescences called "scales," on 

 the branches of a species of privet, the 

 Ligustrum lucidum. 



What the further history of the insects 

 would be, if left to themselves, we have 

 no means of knowing ; but for commer- 

 cial production they are transported, 

 toward the end of April, before leaving 

 the "scales," to the district of Chiating, 

 200 miles from their native valley. 



These insects and the wax product 

 was fully described on page 775 of the 

 Bee Journal for June 11, 1891. 



The value of the wax is due to its high 

 melting point, 160^, Fahr., as opposed 

 to 95'J, Fahr., for tallow. The intro- 

 duction of kerosene has much reduced 

 the sale and production of this wax in 

 China. 



Xlie Hditor left on his vacation 

 for rest on Tuesday, April 5. The many 

 letters from old-time friends and co- 

 laborers are fully appreciated, showing 

 that he has a deep hold upon the friend- 

 ship and esteem of the bee-keeping 

 fraternity. As a complete rest of mind 

 and body is very essential at this time, 

 it is not probable that the Bee Journal 

 will contain any articles from his pen 

 until his return, with the exception, 

 perhaps, of some that were prepared be- 

 fore leaving, for use as may be required. 



It is earnestly hoped and expected 

 that his " outing " for rest and recupera- 

 tion, may result in the Editor's complete 

 restoration in health, so that upon his 

 return, he may, with renewed energies, 

 take up anew the work which he has 

 been, for nearly a score of years, so 

 faithfully and unselfishly performing. 



