FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 143 



most bitterly disappointed to find that they looked even 

 worse than they did when I put them in, as the propolis 

 was more evenly distributed all over them. 



"T next tried scrubbing them with a broom in the 

 boiling water, but it would not work. I meditated awhile, 

 then concluded I would try concentrated lye, provided 

 Dr. Miller did not object. I did not know what effect the 

 lye would have on the tins. He said I might try it. I 

 put the boiler back on the stove to try once more. I did 

 not feel quite so sanguine as I poured in part of a can of 

 concentrated lye. 



"T did not leave it this time, but anxiously watched 

 to see what effect it would have. It brought it off pretty 

 well, but was not quite strong enough. I put in the rest 

 of the can of lye, and. Eureka ! the propolis disappeared 

 as if by magic. I stirred the tins with the poker to insure 

 the lye reaching all parts of them ; then with the tongs I 

 lifted them into a tub and rinsed them off with cold wa- 

 ter and set them up in the sun to drain, as bright and 

 clean as when they came from the tinner's. 



"T filled up the boiler with T tins again, and so on, 

 until the strength of the lye was all used up, when I 

 turned it out, filled up the boiler afresh, and began all 

 over again, continuing until they were all done. I used 

 a can of lye to a boiler of water. 



''Every time I fill up a super with the nice clean T 

 tins I feel more than paid for the work it took to make 

 them so. I am pretty sure that washing-fluid would clean 

 them almost if not quite as well as the concentrated lye, 

 providing it were used strong enough, although I have 

 never tried it. However, I think I should prefer the lye, 

 as it does the work most thoroughly and does not hurt 

 the T tins in the least, that I can see. 



"If you have a lot of dirty T tins I advise you to 

 clean them in this way, and see if you are not as delighted 

 as I was to see them come out so bright and clean. Be 

 sure to use plenty of water in rinsing them off." 



