The dictionary of merchandize, and nomenclature in all languages, for the use of counting houses. Containing the history, places of growth, culture, use, and marks of excellency, of such natural productions as form articles of commerce; with their names in all European languages / By C. H. Kauffman.

  • Kauffman, C. H. (Calvin Henry), 1869-1931.
Date:
1805
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dictionary of merchandize, and nomenclature in all languages, for the use of counting houses. Containing the history, places of growth, culture, use, and marks of excellency, of such natural productions as form articles of commerce; with their names in all European languages / By C. H. Kauffman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    374/396 (page 364)
    ( 3^4 ) WAX, Becs-wax; F. C/re ; G. JTaclcs-, D. JVascli; I. Cm?; S. Cera-, P. Cera; DA. /Yu’j SW. Tax; POL. Wosk; 11. /Toslc; L. Cera. The substance wherewith the bees make their combs, is gathered from the stamina of flowers. It is very common to see bees sitting upon flowers, with their bodies all over powder. They take care to clean themselves of this powder, with the brushes of their feet, and to make it into two small balls, which they place in the two triangular cavities of their hinder legs. Some of these balls are yellow, some red, others green, &c. according to the color of the flower dust. This substance however does not become Wax, till it has been eaten, and transformed by the bee. It is said that the second stomach is the organ, by which this powder is altered, and changed into real Wax, and is thrown out again through the same passage that it went in. It is observable, that the bees extract but a small quantity of real Wax, out of the powder which they gather, the residue serving to feed them. It is with this sort of paste, that they build their combs; and when dry, it becomes the substance named Bees- Wax. Every comb, newly made, is white; but they become yellowish, as they grow old, and at last al- most black. But all combs do not furnish Wax equally white, as is well known to those, whose business it is to blanch it. As it is necessary for bees to make a provision of rough Wax, there is in every hive a pretty large por- tion of the combs, whose cells are filled with nothing but Wax, and like so many little magazines, where the bees go to deposit their little balls, one after another, while other bees take care to knead, press, and lay them in order. The provisions of undigested Wax, which some have called bee-bread, serve them in winter to feed upon. Yellow Wax should always be of a good consist- ence, fine color, and of a pleasant smell. The French