SEPTKMRRR 1, lOir. 



725 



A heavj' jacket was built around the tank. 



al the end of the ninth season the product 

 would be 512 colonies. That ought to be 

 last enough increase to satisfy almost any 

 beginner. 



I'se the Division of Apiculture, U. S. 



Department of Agriculture, frequently, in 

 determining the cause of death of larvae. 

 If your state has an inspectoi", use him — 

 that's what he is for. 

 Madison, Ind. 



MELTING AN SSOO-POUND TANK OF CANDIED HONEY 



BY E. F. ATWATER 



As our crop last year was light we 

 bought several lots of honej' to supply our 

 demand, and among these lots was a tank 

 containing 8500 poiuids of alfalfa and clo- 

 ver honey, candied in one solid, cold, stub- 

 born mass. This honey was to have been 

 delivered to our shop, where we have our 

 melting and botiling plant, but was found to 

 1>€ so hard that it was considered unprofit- 

 able to try to dig it from the tank. 



Finally, 1 x 4 x 4-ft. boards were made 

 into a wall around the tank, about four 

 iuciies froni it; then, six inches away, an- 

 otlier wall was built of the same material, 

 and the space between the walls was filled 

 with dirt, leaving the air space around the 

 tank. Then canvas was laid on top of thr- 

 wall and against the tank, and covered with 

 dirt. 



The honey-gate was removed and a pipe 

 four foot long was screwed on to the end of 



this pipe. Around the tank, before build- 

 ing the wall, half-inch pipe was bent, with 

 openings at intervals, and a pipe extending 

 out to receive the steam. The tank rested 

 on pieces of inch boards, not too close to- 

 gether, so steam could get beneath. When 

 all was ready a traction engine was hired, 

 and steam was shot into the air-space 

 around and beneath the tank. 



The honey around the sides soon melted, 

 and the chunk settled a little. Two or three 

 men were kept busy chopping at the chunk 

 with spades. The small pieces slid down 

 the sides and were soon melted. The honey 

 was allowed to accumulate, for bj' stimng 

 there was no overheating. 



Occasionally a few hundred ])ounds were 

 drawn off. strained, and canned. In about 

 lY:^ days the entire lot was melted without 

 injury. 



^feridian. Tdahn. 



