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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