310 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 15 



question appeals to me, I would say further that 

 I have no desire that such a law shall ever be 

 passed; and this leads me to say that Dr. Miller 

 must have some good reasons for taking the po- 

 sition that he does that he has not yet made pub- 

 lic. I say "good reasons," for anybody know- 

 ing Dr. Miller is always assured of the fact that 

 any arguments advanced by him on any ques- 

 tions are unbiased, and free of any sinister mo- 

 tives or methods. 

 Mt. Joy, Ont. 



[In localities where the specialist furnished 

 large quantities of alsike seed at half price to the 

 local and near-by farmers, he would have a moral 

 right to all the nectar that the farmers might 

 raise from such alsike. Even the farmer himself 

 would have no right to that nectar by keeping 

 bees. Of course, this is a peculiar case. — Ed.] 



THE HATCH WAX-PRESS USED ON 

 THE HOT-WATER PLAN. 



The Hot-water Plan No More Rapid or 

 Thorough, but More Convenient. 



BY H. H. ROOT. 



In our November 1st issue for last year, page 

 1313, as our readers will recall, was an article by 

 E. D. Townsend on the subject of wax-render- 

 ing, in which a letter from Mr. W. J. Manley 

 was given, advising the use of hot water in an 

 itnheated press for rendering wax on an extensive 

 scale. Mr. Townsend mentioned using the 

 Hatch wax-press in this way; that is, he simply 

 kept a plug in the outlet at the bottom of the 

 press-can, confining the hot water so that he was 

 able to press the wax somewhat longer without 

 danger of chilling. We have just rendered six or 

 seven barrels of comb in this way; and while no 

 more wax was secured than by the old way of 

 allowing the wax and water to run out as scon as 

 pressed from the comb, and although the work 

 was no more rapidly done, yet it was rather 

 more convenient, and there was less danger of 

 chilling. 



In rendering these combs we pressed them 

 four or five times, raising the screw between each 

 pressing in order to allow the refuse to become 

 saturated again with hot water. However, even 

 with this number of pressings we found that not 

 all the wax could be secured by any means; and 

 we feel, therefore, that it pays, in most cases at 

 least, to boil the refuse again and give it the sec- 

 ond treatment. It takes but little over half as 

 long to run the refuse through the second time, 

 since rather more can be pressed at once. 



With the former method of using the Hatch 

 press the outlet tube at the bottom was left open 

 so that the wax and water ran out immediately. 

 With this plan we found it was quite necessary 

 to raise the screw, take out the plunger, and 

 shake up the contents of the burlap, and then 

 press again. After these two pressings we found 

 that the amount of wax still remaining varied 

 from eight to ten per cent. With the hot-water 

 method — that is, by leaving a plug in the outlet 

 tube, so that hot water surrounds the refuse, we 

 found that it was not necessary to draw off the 



FIG. 1. THE HATCH WAX-PRESS WITH THE PARTS 

 BELOW TO SHOW THE CONSTRUCTION. 



water and shake up the refuse, as by releasing the 

 pressure and allowing the contents of the burlap 

 to become saturated again with water at least 

 twice after the first pressing, about the same re- 

 sults could be secured. About as much time is 

 required as to work the press on the first plan; 

 but since it is not necessary to shake up the 

 refuse we find it rather more convenient to use 

 this hot-water plan. 



We tried this hot water plan in connection 

 with the Hatch press several years ago, but we 

 did not find it entirely satisfactory at that time, 

 since the wax would chill on the surface of the 

 water in the press can before the refuse was thor- 

 oughly pressed. Two plain wooden covers, 

 however, as shown, stop this chilling entirely, 

 and the wax remains in the liquid state because 

 the cold air is kept away. Many who use the 

 Hatch press may be interested in this method, 

 and we will give the plan of working in full. 



To begin, pour about two pailfuls of water 

 into the boiler and set it on the stove. As this 

 comes to a boil, keep adding old comb, stirring 

 frequently. As much as half a barrel may be 

 melted in one boiler at a time, or even more if 

 necessary; but it is best not to have too much 

 comb in proportion to the water used, since this 

 plan it essentially a washing-out process, and 

 good results, therefore, can not be secured when 

 there is not enough water. Keep stirring the 

 contents of the boiler until it has all been heated 

 through thoroughly and has boiled until the wax 

 has been reduced and the melted comb is of the 

 consistency of mush. Then push the boiler to 

 the edge of the stove, where it will keep hot, but 



