226 BEES-WAX. 



for melting and reducing the wax into shreds or rib- 

 bons, but the process of conversion under any circum- 

 stances is tedious and dependent on the weather. 

 " The following " says Mr. Parks, in his Chemical 

 Essays, " is the usual process as it is conducted in 

 England. Common bees-wax is melted upon hot 

 water ; and when in a fluid state it is laded out of 

 the copper, together with a part of the water, into a 

 wooden vessel, and in this it is allowed to remain a 

 few hours for the impurities to subside from it. The 

 purified wax is then put, while still hot, into a colan- 

 der full of holes, through which it runs and falls upon 

 a revolving metallic roller, which dips into cold water 

 contained in a vessel placed underneath. As the 

 melted wax runs through the colander upon the re- 

 volving roller, the motion of the cylinder forms it 

 into thin shavings, which cool as they come in con- 

 tact with the water, and in an accumulated heap into 

 the water below. These shavings of wax being now 

 in a suitable form for absorbing oxygen, are taken 

 out of the tub and exposed in a field to the action of 

 the atmosphere, till they become sufficiently white." 



USES OF WAX. ^ 



" In some countries, bees-wax is very extensively 

 employed in religious ceremonies of the inhabitants." 

 It is also much used in the arts. To the nursery- 

 man and orchardist it is invaluable. 



" The use of wax in making candles, ointments, 



