PURE BEESWAX. 387 



In eveiy ease, whether the foundation is to be used for sur- 

 plus, or for brood-combs, the wax should be thoroughly 

 cleaned by heating it to a high temperature and allowing it 

 to cool slowly in flaring vessels, from which the cold wax can 

 be easily removed. Wax, that is allowed to retain impurities, 

 has less consistency, and will sag more readily. The method 

 used by wax-bleachers of purifying with acids should not be 

 resorted to, as the bees have a dislike for any disagreeable 

 smell or taste. 



684. Nothing but pure wax should he used in any grade 

 of foundation. Paraffine, ceresine, etc., have been tried with 

 disastrous results. Aside from the fact that these compounds 

 melt at a lower degree than beeswax and break down in the 



"hive, the bees readily discover the imposition and show a de- 

 cided preference for pure foundation. 



685. The most common adulteration of crude beeswax is 

 made with tallow. Luckily, this is easily recognized by the 

 soft, dull appearance of the cakes. The smell of tallow is also 

 noticeable in freshly broken fragments. 



686. Paraffine and other mineral waxes are detected in 

 beeswax, by the following methods : 



Specific gravity. Beeswax is a little heavier than some of 

 the other waxes. By putting a piece of beeswax into water 

 and pouring in alcohol until the wax goes to the bottom, one 

 has a solution which will test lighter materials. As comb 

 foundation has been laminated and is uneven in surface it 

 is well to chew the wax and the foundation, before making 

 comparative testSj so as to put both in the same condition. 

 Paraffine will readily show considerably lighter specific weight, 

 and will float. 



Melting points. Tie a piece of the material you wish to 

 test on the bulb of a round thermometer and hang this into 

 a vial over a slow fire. Good beeswax melts between 144° 

 and 150°, while the common grades of paraffine melt between 

 120° and 140°. 



Saponification Test. Hot liquid lye will entirely change the 



