The Honey Bee 1529 



Up to the present writing this method seems to give the best re- 

 sults, although the writer found that after all wax had apparently 

 been recovered from the mass a very good percentage could be 

 obtained by allowing the fire to die down and the mass gradually 

 cool which seems to allow the remaining wax to rise. 



The wax recovered from old combs by this method is of a dark 

 color and should be melted in clean water to cleanse it as well as 

 to lighten its color, always being careful not to use an iron vessel, 

 as it will stain the wax a dark shade. 



Steam may be used in connection with wax rendering by heat- 

 ing the water, but care should be taken not to bring too much 

 steam on the wax or it will cause it to granulate, when it is no 

 easy matter to cast it into solid cakes unless it be run through a 

 solar wax extractor which is a fine thing, especially in an out 

 apiary where waste combs can be placed in it as gathered and the 

 sun does the rest. This is not an economical way of rendering, 

 and the residue should be saved for the hot water and pressure 

 system. 



While New York State leads in agricultural matters it is a fact 

 that thousands of dollars in wax are wasted annually and it will 

 pay to gather up the slum gum or buy the combs from your 

 neighbors and save what is usually thrown away. 



