CHAPTER XIX 



THE PRODUCTION AND CARE OF BEESWAX 



Beeswax was formerly an important part of the products 

 of the beekeeper for, at the close of the season, certain colo- 

 nies were chosen to be killed after which the honey and wax 

 were removed. With the introduction of modern methods, 

 honey-production increased, but there was less beeswax 

 since the combs are not destroyed, except as they are acci- 

 dentally broken. In spite of this entire change of policy 

 on the part of the beekeeper, beeswax is a part of the product 

 of the apiary which should not be neglected. Cappings 

 from extracting, pieces of comb built in parts of the hive 

 where frames have accidentally not been supplied, burr and 

 brace combs and combs accidentally broken in extracting 

 may be mentioned as sources which in the aggregate furnish 

 the beekeeper with a considerable amount of wax, while 

 occasionally the combs of diseased colonies still further in- 

 crease the supply. The preparation of this wax for market 

 often involves considerable labor and the beekeeper too often 

 neglects it on that account. However, if pieces of comb 

 are carefully preserved from wax-moth larvae, they may be 

 kept until there is an accumulation sufficient to justify the 

 necessary expenditure of time or combs may now be sent 

 to central stations or dealers for rendering. 



Rendering the wax. 



Beeswax is ordinarily removed from the combs by heat. 

 Cappings from extracting and new combs may be melted 

 up and the wax allowed to harden in a cake since these con- 

 tain little or no foreign matter. If any dirt is present, it 



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