BEESWAX 207 



the creature and accomplishes the intention of the 

 fattener. Quietness is helpful; the horse ridden hard 

 and the bullock galloped round the spacious paddock, 

 rarely fatten. 



How like all this to the tiny insects clustered together 

 in the darkness of the hive, quiet, gorged to repletion : 



"So filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail, 

 Clings the cooled wax, and hardens to a scale ; 

 Swift at her well-known call, the ready train 

 (For not a buzz boon Nature breathes in vain) 

 Spring to each falling flake, and bear along 

 Their glossy burdens to the builder throng. ' ' 



— From Br. Evans' Poem, "The Bees." 



The most prominent distinction between fat and bees- 

 wax is the absence of glycerine in the latter. Animal fat, 

 when under treatment with any alkaline agent, always 

 produces glycerine; but when wax is saponified no 

 glycerine is produced. This is a useful fact to remember 

 when cleaning frames or other objects coated with wax. 

 Many readers must have encountered, at odd times, the 

 difficulty of thoroughly removing wax from various 

 domestic articles, and they will find this information of 

 value in that respect. A handful of washing-soda in the 

 water completely saponifies the wax, rendering its 

 removal an easy matter. 



Now, this brings a very iiaportant fact under our 

 notice. While the alkali is !.-;« helpful during all cleansing 

 operations, the apiarist must be very careful indeed when 

 melting wax for manufacture into comb foundation, or 

 whenever the pure article is required. Many bee-keepers 

 have noticed when melting wax that, after the cake has 

 cooled, it has a peculiar spongy mass adhering to the 

 underside. This is caused by a mineral in the water 

 attacking the cerotic acid (one of the constituent parts) 

 of the wax, thus producing an insoluble lime soap, and 

 wax so affected is utterly lost to the apiarist. 



