Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-04

TIE INSECT WAX OF CHINA.-The Scientific
American quotes the following account of the
production of Chinese wax from DR.. D. J. Mac.
gowan's interesting work Chemical investiga-
ton has proved the wax to be a cerotatc of cervl
In China, prior to the thirteenth century bees
wax was employed as Il coating for candies;
but about that period the white-wax insect was
discovered, since which time that article has
been wholly superseded by the more costly but
Incomparahly superior product of this insect.
The animal feeds ON an evergreen shrub or tree
Uigustf7tn aaidanl) which is found throughout
central China, from the Pacific to Tibet
sometimes the husbaudman finds tree which
the insects themselves have reached, but the
usual practice is TO stock them, which is effected
in spring with the nests of tic insect These
are about the size of a fowls head, and are re-
moved by cutting off portion of the branch
by which they are attached, leaving an inch
each side OF the nest. The sticks with the adj
herring nests are soaked in Unhusked rice water
for a quarter Of an hour, when they may be
separated, When the weather is damp or cool
they may be preserved for week; but if warm,
they are TO be tied to the branches of the tree to
be stocked without delay, being first folded be-
tween leaves. By sOme the nests are prohed
out Of their seats in the bark of the tree without
removing the branches. AT this period they
are particularly exposed to the attacks of birds
and require watching,
In a few days after being tied to the tree, the
nests swell, aud innumerable white insects the
size of nitS emerge and spread themselves on the
branches Of the tree, but soon with one accord
descend towards the ground, where, if they find
any grass, they take up their quarters tn nrn
vent this, the ground beneath it is kent bare
care being taken also that their implacablc enc
mics, the ants, have no access to the tree. Find
ing no COngenlal resting place below they re.
ascend and fix themselves to the lower surface
OF the leaves, where they remain several DAYS.
when they repair to tho branches. perloratin1
the bark feed fhp Amid wit
they attain the size Of lice; aud having COM
pared II TO this, the most familiar to them of all
insects, our Chinese authors deem further de.
scrption superfluous Early in June, they give
to the trees the appearance of boar Frost being
changed into wax, Soon after this they are
scraped off, being previously spriukled with
water. Ii the gathering be deferred till August,
they adhere too trmly 10 be easily removed
Those which are suffered to remain TO stock the
trees the ensuing year sccretc purplIsh enyel-
ope about the last of August, which at irst is
no larger than grain OF rice; but, as incuba
non proceeds, 1t expands and becomes as large
as fowls head, when the nests are transferred
in spring, to other trees, one or more of each
according to their size and vigor, In the manner
already described, In being Scraped from the
trees, the crude material is freed from its impu-
rites, probably the skeletons of the insects by
spreading it on strainer covering a cylndrical
vessel, which is placed in caudron of boiling
water; the wax is retained in the former vessel
ana, ON congeallng, is ready for market. The
pet-tdh or white wax, in its chemical proper-
ties, is analogous TO purified becswax, and
also spermaceti, but different from both, be-.
ing, in my opinion, an article perfectly
SUI geheriS. 1t is perfectly white, translucent.
shining, not unotuous to the touch inodorous,
nsipid, orumbles into dry, inadhesiye powder
between the teeth, with a fbrous texture resem.
Ding telspar; melts at 100 degrees Fahr.: in.
soluble in waters dssovcs in essential oils, and
is scarcely affected by boiling alcohol, the acids
or alkalies.
The aid of analytical chemistry is needed for
the proper elucidation of this most beautiful
material, There can heno doubt it would proye
altogether superior in the arts to purified bees
wax. On extraordinary occasions, the Chinese
employ 1t for candles and tapers II has been
supposed to be identical with the white wax of
Madras; but as the Indian has been found use
less in the manufacture of candles, it cannot he
the same. 1t far eXcels, also, the vegetable way
oil the United States from the Myricq Cerifera
Is this substance secretion2 There are Chi
nese who regard it as sucl-some representing
ii to be the saliva and Others as the excrement
of the insect. European writers take nearly
the same view; but the best native authorities
say that this opinion is Incorrect and that the
animal is changed into wax, | am inclined TO
think that the insect undcrgoeS what NAV he
styled eeraceous generation its whole bodv
being permeated by the peculiar product in the
same manner as the C0cus Cdcti is by carmine
1t costs at Ningpo from twenty-five cents TO
thrty-tiye cents per pound The annual pro-
duct OF this humble creature in China cannot
be far from 100000 pounds, worth more than
500 900,