MANUFACTURE  OF  WAX  CANDLES. 
221 
by  the  revolution  of  the  cylinder,  dip  under  water,  and  as  they 
rise  upon  the  opposite  surface  are  removed,  and  spread  out  thinly 
and  evenly  on  tables  placed  in  the  open  air,  so  as  to  be  exposed 
to  the  action  of  the  sun  and  air  for  a  period  varying  from  five  to 
ten  weeks.  Once  or  twice  during  that  period  the  wax  is  again 
subjected  to  the  same  process  of  melting  ;  it  requires  also  frequent 
turning,  so  as  to  present  every  portion  to  the  bleaching  agency 
of  sunlight. 
The  fusing  point  of  wax  is  raised  by  bleaching,  for  yellow  wax 
fuses  between  62^  and  63^  C.  (144°  and  146°  F.,)  and  bleached 
wax  between  64°  and  65^  C.  (147°  and  149°  F.) 
All  waxes  are  not  found  to  bleach  with  equal  facility,  accord- 
ing to  the  statement  of  Mr.  Barclay.  For  example,  English, 
Hamburgh,  Odessa,  Portuguese,  Mogadore,  Zanzibar,  East  and 
West  Indian,  and  North  American  waxes  bleach  very  readily, 
whilst  those  from  Cuba,  Dantzic,  Konigsburg,  Gambia,  and 
Gabon,  are  or.ly  bleached  with  difficulty,  and  seldom  acquire  a 
good  color. 
Notwithstanding  the  difficulty  with  which  Gambia  wax  is 
bleached,  and  its  liability  to  become  of  a  rusty  brown,  that 
country  furnishes  the  greater  part  of  the  wax  which  is  imported 
into  Great  Britian.  Large  quantities  are  likewise  imported  from 
Mogadore,  the  East  Indies,  particularly  Ceylon  and  Singapore, 
and  North  America.  The  Mogadore  wax  is  frequently  largely 
adulterated  with  fat. 
From  Brazil  a  curious  wax  has  been  imported,  the  product  of 
a  black  bee,  which  hives  under  ground.  It  is  soft,  and  exceed- 
ingly tenacious,  and  of  a  dark  mahogany  color.  It  does  not 
appear  in  the  slightest  degree  bleached  after  exposure  to  the 
sun.  A  considerable  quantity  might  be  imported,  but  no  use 
has  yet  been  found  for  it. 
The  English  wax  is  the  most  esteemed  of  all ;  but  the  small 
quantity  produced  is  absorbed  for  various  purposes  without 
bleaching,  on  account  of  its  fine  quality,  and  its  brightness  and 
fragrancy. 
In  1850  the  quantity  of  bees'-wax  imported  for  home  con- 
sumption into  Great  Britain  was  10,761  cwt.,  besides  a  small 
quantity  of  vegetable  wax  amounting  to  only  five  cwt.  There 
is  no  duty  on  wax.  1067  lbs.  of  wax  candles  were  also  imported, 
and  paid  £9  duty. 
