The Production and Care of Beeswax 341 



the bases of cells of the comb. It is supposed that Mehring 

 in 1857 made the first comb-foundation and during the next 

 twenty years some progress was made, but not until Root 

 (1876) made a machine by means of which foundation is 

 made between rollers was much advance made. Repeated 

 and continuous efforts to improve the product have led to 

 great advance in the reliability of the manufactured founda- 

 tion and comb-foundation is now used by all progressive 

 beekeepers. Better results are obtained if the wax is sheeted 

 and then put between the rollers under considerable pressure, 

 and as a result the home-made article is less dependable 

 than that made in well-equipped factories. Over 500,000 

 pounds of beeswax is annually made into comb-foundation 

 in the United States. The Rietsche press is used in Europe 

 but rarely in America. Two concrete or plaster of Paris 

 molds are made so that if hot wax is poured on one and the 

 other appUed the wax is molded to foundation. This 

 foimdation is soft, breaks easily and is more wasteful of wax 

 than that made on rolls. 



As was stated earlier, comb-foundation is made of pure 

 wax. It is reported that in Europe it is sometimes adul- 

 terated by adding paraffin or cerasin, but it is claimed that 

 when this is done the foundation is not easily accepted by 

 the bees and sags badly after the comb is built. It may be 

 stated that the manufacturers of comb-foundation in this 

 country do not practice this deception and the author has 

 personal knowledge of several cases in which these manu- 

 facturers have rejected shipments of adulterated wax even 

 when offered at a very low price. This should give the Ameri- 

 can beekeeper confidence in the marketed product. 



In addition to the use of beeswax in beekeeping it has 

 many uses in the arts, sciences and industries. It is ex- 

 tensively used in making candles, which are not molded as 

 are tallow candles but are made by pouring, drawing or 

 dipping. Beeswax candles are used chiefly in church cere- 

 monies. It is also used for making furniture and leather 

 polishes, sealing and grafting waxes and in making certain 



