400 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



July 1 



THE CAKE OF WAX LIFTED FROM THE SEPARATING-CAN 



the work is done is very hot. We have al- 

 ways been able to keep the contents of the 

 separator from chilling, however, by wrap- 

 ping old carpets or sacks around the whole 

 can, with the exception of an opening near 

 one corner to admit the stream of honey and 

 wax from the melter. 



In our experiments we have used, with a 

 considerable decree of satisfaction, a separa- 

 tor made of a tive-gallon square can with 

 one side cut out, which open side then 

 served as the top. Near the bottom of one 

 end of the can a piece of pipe was soldered, 

 which extended up four or five inches be- 

 fore turning down again, as per illustration. 

 The principle involved here is the same as 

 that used in the Aikin separator; that is, the 

 honey, being heavier than the wax, settles to 

 the l)()ttom, so that honey only can pass out 

 of the pipe. The wax rises to the top, where 

 it is allowed to accumulate until it reaches 

 the level of a trough near the top of the can, 

 through which it overflows into a separate 

 vessel. 



We soon found that this plan worked per- 

 fectly so far as separating the wax and hon- 

 ey was concerned; but tne relatively large 

 amount of exposed surface caused too much 

 chilling, and we therefore had to wrap the 

 can with old sacks or carpets, as mentioned 

 before. The inconvenience of having the 



old sacks and carpets 

 around led us to inclose 

 the separating-can in a 

 wooden box made of half- 

 inch stuff, and provided 

 with a tight wooden cov- 

 er of the same material, 

 having an opening near 

 one for a funnel to catch 

 the stream of honey and 

 wax from the melter. 

 Since we adopted this 

 wooden jacket around 

 the can we have had ab- 

 solutely no trouble. The 

 wax does not chill, but 

 keeps in a liquid condi- 

 tion all day long. Dur- 

 ing the noon hour, or 

 during any other time 

 when the work may be 

 temporarily stopped, a 

 slight layer of hard wax 

 may accumulate on the 

 surface; but when the 

 work is resumed the 

 stream of wax and honey 

 coming in on top of it 

 soon melts this, so that, 

 at the end of the day, the 

 whole mass is entirely 

 liquid again. 



It can be seen that this 

 wooden jacket is on the 

 principle of-tlie "fireless 

 cooker;" that is, the heat 

 of the liquid is confined 

 so that the .^ax can not 

 chill. This ' plan, more- 

 over, is much more con- 

 venient than the carpets and sacks, and the 

 heat is also better confined. 



On referring to the first illustration it will 

 be seen that a Pettit honey-strainer is sup- 

 ported directly under the pipe leading from 

 the separator. By this plan the honey strains 

 as soon as it runs from the separator, so that 

 it can be allowed to pass directly into a five- 

 gallon can. Ordinarily, of course, a strainer 

 would not be necessary under the separator, 

 as the honey could be run into a large pail or 

 can, and emptied directly into the regular 

 strainer over the main honey-tank. We were 

 rendering a large quantity of candied comb 

 honey, and we arranged the strainer, etc., 

 as shown, so that the whole process would 

 be complete. This Pettit strainer is the best 

 one for honey we ever tried. There is a 

 very laroe amount of vertical straining sur- 

 face, and, as mentioned by Mr. Pettit on p. 

 143, March 1, it is not necessary to stop the 

 work when one cloth is clogged : it may 

 simply be drawn to one side and another 

 clotn put over it. In a short time the first 

 cloth may be lifted out, comparatively free 

 from honey, and washed, so that it may be 

 used again. The cheese-cloth is lield away 

 from the side of the can by coarse-mesh wire 

 screen, as shown in the second illustration, 

 so that there is a >^-inch space between the 

 cheese-cloth and the can all around, and 



