WAX USED IN THE MODELLING OF PLANTS 303 



of the Mintorn family, which he is asked not to divulge ; 

 hence these materials are to be purchased, which is just as well, 

 did the reader know the complicated processes and machines 

 necessary for their preparation. 



In a work, however, published by Messrs. J. Barnard and 

 Son,^ there is a description with figures of a simple machine for 

 cutting wax blocks, which may be of service : — 



The most important thing is to cut it into sheets. To accomplish 

 this, you must be provided with a carpenter's plane, called a " tr57ing 

 plane." Place it on an angle, with the iron towards you, as shown in 

 the diagram A. Then a contrivance to fix the block of wax in, as 

 shown in diagram B, — simple in itself, as the longitudinal section will 

 show, being a piece of wood, about an inch wider all round than the 

 block of wax, with a stop at each end, leaving a space of about half 

 an inch between that and the wax, so as to admit of a wedge to keep 

 it steady in its place. The two hand-holes, as shown on each side of 

 Fig. 3, will convey all the necessary ideas, so as to require no further 

 explanation ; and the following diagram will show at once the full 

 working of this method of cutting wax, though the sheets of wax 

 purchased at the shops are cut by machines constructed expressly for 

 the purpose, which can be set to a gauge of any thickness required. 



The various white waxes of commerce rarely possess the 

 toughness and tenacity indispensable in sheet-wax for plant- 

 modelling, nor, indeed, are they suitable even for the preparation 

 of the fabric, unless treated with Canada balsam ; each sample, 

 therefore, must have balsam added in the following proportion, 

 and, when cold, must be tested by cutting : — 



98.— Modelling-wax (M.B.) 



Best white Madras wax . . . i lb. 



Best Canada balsam . . . . i oz. 



Melt the wax and stir in the balsam. 



1 Charles Pepper and Madame Elise, The Art of Modelling and Making 

 Wax Flowers and Fruit, pp. 10-12. 



