BEE'SHA, a genus of grasses with the habit and most of the characters of bamboos, but remarkable for the fleshy pericarp which incloses the seed, forming a sort of berry. The species are few, natives of the East Indies.
is principally obtained from the ordinary bee-hive, where it is elaborated by the workers. See BEE. For some time, it was matter of dispute whether the bees really manufactured the wax from other ingredients in their food, or if they performed the simple task of carrying the wax ready made from the plant to the hive. It appears now to be definitely settled, that while, in ordinary circumstances• bees may derive part of the wax from plants, yet, when they are fed entirely upon pure sugar, they continue to elaborate wax, and to build up the walls and partitions of the honey-comb. The wax procured from British hives ls considered the purest and best, but the smallness of the amount necessitates the importation of comparatively large quantities from North America, Brazil, Singapore, Ceylon, Gambia, and Mogadore. British bees-wax is natu rally of a yellow color, whilst that procured from foreign countries is darker iii tint; and in the case of the wax from Brazil, which is yielded bya species of black bee hiving under-ground, the color is a dark mahogany, and the material is soft and tenacious. In the separation of the honey from the wax, the honey-comb is subjected to pressure. which squeezes out most of the honey; the residual comb is then treated with and heated, with constant stirring, till the wax melts, when the whole is passed through hair. bags. The wax is received in a vessel of cold water, where it is at the same time washed. and cooled down till it solidifies, as a thick cake, on the surface of the water. For many purposes, it is necessary to bleach the wax, and the common method is to obtain it in thin sheets or ribbons, by melting it under water, and pouring It upon hori zontal wooden cylinders, which are kept revolving half immersed in water in a perfo rated vessel. The sheets or ribbons of wax so obtained are laid out upon a field with a southern aspect, and being repeatedly watered, are subjected to the joint action of the sun's rays, the ozone of the air, and moisture. In a short time, the wax loses Its yellow
tint, and becomes white. Attempts have been made to perform the bleaching more expeditiously by employing chlorine, bleaching-powder, and other chemical agents. The only process which appears not to injure the wax is to melt it. and for every pound add 2 ozs. of pulverized nitrate of soda, and 1 oz. oil of vitriol, diluted previously with 8 ozs. of water. While the latter Is gradually poured in, heat is applied, and the whole mixture swells up, necessitating the employment of a capacious vessel. On cooling, the wax gathers on the surface, and being repeatedly treated with hot water, to wash away impurities, is finally allowed to solidify in a cake.
Purified B. has a density of 900 to 900, and is therefore lighter than water, which is taken as 1000. In thin slices, it is translucent, and is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. At 82° F., it is hard, brittle, and solid. When heated to 85' or 90' F., it softens, and can than be kneaded between the fingers like moist dough or putty, and at 145° F, it fuses, and becomes a true liquid. It is insoluble in water, and is partly soluble in boil ing alcohol, and partly not. The alcoholic solution, which takes up about 80 to 90 per cent of the wax, contains principally a substance called cerise, which separates m crystals as the solution cools, and ceroleino, which remains dissolved in the cold alco hol. The matter which resists the solvent action of the alcohol is a substance: called yriciue. B. is largely used in the manufacture of wax-candles and tapers; and though it has recently been very much excluded from the manufacture of ordinary candles, from the readiness with which first-class composite candles can be made indirectly from tallow, yet it is often used las one of the ingredients in composite candles to impart hardness to the manufactured article. The very large candles used in Roman Catholic countries for church-services, are always made of wax alone.