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To Refine Bees' Wax

Crude wax, especially that imported, is generally loaded with dirt, bees, and other foreign matter. To free it from these substances, it undergoes the operation of refining. This is done by melting the wax along with about 3 per cent. of water in a bright copper boiler, preferably heated by steam, and after the whole is perfectly liquid, and has boiled for a few minutes, withdrawing the heat, and sprinkling over its surface a little oil of vitriol, in the proportion of about 3 or 4 fluid ounces to every 100 pounds of wax. This operation should be conducted with great care and circumspection; as, if done carelessly, the melted wax will froth up, and boil over the sides of the pan. The acid should also be well scattered over the whole surface. The melted wax is next covered over, and left for some hours to settle, or till it becomes sufficiently cool to be drawn off into the moulds. It is then very gently skimmed with a hot ladle, and bailed or decanted into basins, where it is left to cool. Great care must be taken not to disturb the sediment. When no more clear wax can be drawn off, the remainder in the melting pan is allowed to cool, and the cake or foot, as it is called, is taken out, and the impurities (mostly bees) scraped from its under surface.

The remaining portion is usually reserved for a second operation, but, if required, may be at once melted, and strained through canvas into a mould. The great art in the above low resin, 70 pounds; boil with constant agi-