Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13
Wax Obtained From Plants.

v an important "A1 place "a in he eco;
nomic needs of the world, and
there are many indications that the
production of wax from certain plants
will increase as time goes by. 1t was
not long ago that the world supplied
certain of its needs with animal oils
and DEVELOPMENT of the vegetable OIL
industry, as well as the development OF
the mineral oil industry, has been re-
markable. The uses for wax have IN
creased, and number of Wax-produc-
ing plants are being employed on a
commercial scale. The industry OF
making high-grade wax from the can
delilla plant has made long strides IN
the last few years, and there are sew.
eraI big factories for the extraction OF
wax in the -candelilla-growing sections
of the United States. 1t has been est
mated that there are 100000 acres
of land on which candelilla is growing
wild and in great profusion in what Is
known as the upper border region OF
Texas 1t is believed that not only
may the candelilla- bearing territory be
enlarged. but that the wax-producinG
Qualities of the plant may be improved
by cultivation. There are also iarse
areas of the wild candelilla lands In
nothern Mexico.
The recovery of wax from the bay
berry was for centuries New Engla
household industry, and 1t has lateiy
become factory industry. the wax
of the plant being generally used in the
making of bayberry candles. heid IN
high esteem for use and ornament oy
New Englanders. A bushel or the per
ries yields. as rule, between FOUR ana
longing to the same genus Is the
..sweetgale' which grows abundantiy
in the bogs and marshes of Scotland
1t is a small shrub with leaves some
what like those OF myrtle or w,iiow
having fragrant odor and bitter taste
and Welding an essential oil by distiila-
ton. ;.
The wax of the candelilla plant Is
used in making candies. phonograpr
records, wood and leather pol1shes
floor wax, certain varnishes, l1noleum
rubber compounds and celluloid. and !,
also enters into use IN pharmacy ano
in the making of electrical insulation
The candelilla plant grows on the
poorest quality of soil. and before il
was found to have a commercial value
for the wax contained it was consid-
cred a pest.
Though candles are not SO generally
used as they were before the days OF
mineral Illuminating oils. gas and cleo
t-icity, they still constitute an i'm
portant article of manufacture. The
candle is an ancient form of lighting
The word comes from the Latin word
"candere," which means to glow"
Beeswax and tallow were used fol-
lighting purposes by the Romans
Lengths of cotton or fax fiber were
dipped in these substances and they
usually burned with much smoke and
SCOT and little light. The rush-lights
of the middle ages, and even of re-
moter times. were rushes that had beer
stripped nearly TO the dry pith and
dipped in wax or tallow. When can
dlepower' was adopted as the unit OF
light measure by the London gas act
of 1860 it was taken to mean the
amount of light which would be given
by a sperm candle, six of which would
weigh a pound, and which consumed
100 grains of the candle each hour.
Candles are made and have been made
for centuries by four distinct processes
called dipping" pouring" drawing
merce are now made of pure beeswaz
or tallow. but usually by combining
stearine. a trade name for mixture
of various animal and vegetable fats
paraffin wax, obtained from petroleum
spermacetti, obtained from the Sperm
whale: beeswax and mineral wax, OBJ.
tanned from ozocerite. Palm oil and
cocoanut OIL nre also extensively used
in the candle making trade.