268 
Mr. W. Brande’s Account, &c. 
The attempts which I have made to bleach the wax, have 
been conducted on a small scale ; but from the experiments 
related, it appears that after the colour has been changed by 
the action of very dilute nitric acid, it may be rendered nearly 
white by the usual means. I have not had sufficient time to 
ascertain whether the wax can be more effectually bleached 
by long continued exposure, nor have I had an opportunity 
of submitting it to the processes employed by the bleachers of 
bees wax. 
Perhaps the most important part of the present inquiry, is 
that which relates to the combustion of the vegetable wax, in 
the form of candles. 
The trials which have been made to ascertain its fitness for 
this purpose, are extremely satisfactory, and when the wick 
is properly proportioned to the size of the candle, the com- 
bustion is as perfect and uniform, as that of common bees 
wax. 
The addition of from one-eighth to one-tenth part of tal- 
low, is sufficient to obviate the brittleness of the wax in its 
pure state, without giving it any unpleasant smell, or mate- 
rially impairing the brilliancy of its flame. A mixture of 
three parts of the vegetable wax, with one part of bees wax, 
also makes very excellent candles. 
