436 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[June ^, 1920. 



work, but where it is intended to hold for an improved market (usually the 

 winter) it is advisable to wait until near the time of dispatch, for the honey 

 may granulate while in store even after the first heating, and it is then 

 necessary to heat it again. This double heating process is likely to- 

 deteriorate the quality. 



The method used for heating liquid honey depends on the extent of the 

 production. Tf the apiarist is working on a fairly large scale and desires to 

 market early, it is advisable to install a patent honey heater, which can be 

 puichased. The object is to run the honey from the extractor through this 

 apparatus, and to heat it to about 150 degrees Fah. before it goes into the 

 tank. After such treatment the honey clears very quickly and is less likely 

 to granulate within a fair period. 



A simple type of honey heater 

 that would be useful to the small 

 apiarist is a double-walled vat, con- 

 sisting of two plain single vats, one 

 being made small enough to fit inside 

 the other, allowing a space or cavity 

 of 1|^ inches all round and under- 

 neath. When fitted these two vats 

 can be stayed so as to hold each 

 other in position. A honey gate 

 should be fitted to pass through 

 from the outside, so that the honey 

 can be drained from the inside. 

 Fig. 1 gives some idea of the con*- 



Fig. 1. — Small Double-Walled Vat for heating 

 extracted honey. 



struction. At the top of the figure 

 is represented a small cup, b}' means 

 of which the water is poured into 

 the cavity. 



The (Hitside vat can be made of gah anised sheet-iron, and the inside one of 

 tinned iron. A cavity-walled vat of this type, with a capacity of about 

 120 lb., can be set on blocks in the honey house, and when extracting is 

 proceeding the cavity can be filled with hot water. After it has been 

 ascertained by test that there is no leakage, the honey is poured into the 

 inside vat and a primus or blue flame lamp will supply the desired heat, 

 which should not lise above 150 degrees. To ensure that the heated water • 

 shall circulate and the heat not be confined to the one spot, the flame should be 

 kept at a fair distance from the bottom of the vat. As soon as the 

 honey is heated it can be drawn ort" through the gate or tap. If the 

 extractor has a large capacity the honey can be run direct into the heater 

 when the limit of the capacity of the extractor is reached, tliough to do so- 

 the extractor must be elevated a few feet to allow the honey to gravitate. 



