PUKE BEESWAX. 



371 



Fig. 117. 

 VANDEKVORT MILL. 



685. The wax used lor thin surplus-foundation is a se- 

 lected grade. Wax from cappings (772) and Southern 

 wax are the best for this purpose. In every case, whether 

 the foundation is to be used for surplus (728), or for 

 brood-combs (223), the wax should be 1 horoughly 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. 



686. Nothing but pure wax should he used in any grade of 

 foundation. Parafflne, ceresine, etc., have been tried with 

 disastrous results. Aside from the fact that these compounds 

 melt at a lower degree than beeswax * and break dovm in 



•' 'Paraffine melts at llO" Falir. , Beeswax at 162. "— (Bloxam's Chemistry.) 



