36 AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 



then retain any dirt or foreign matter running; in with 

 the wax, while the clean wax will flow over into the 

 outside compartments. 



The woodwork of the Extractor must be substantial 

 and well put together to stand the great heat, and it is 

 well to have the edge of the sash bound with i^ inch 

 angle iron. The depth inside from the lower sheet of 

 glass to the iron lining should not exceed from 2^ to 3 

 inches. 



If in a warm corner of the apiary and well sheltered, 

 the Extractor will work at almost all times when the 

 sun is shining. Such an appliance will soon pay for 

 itself in a fair-sized apiary, for every particle of comb 

 can be put in at once and converted into good com- 

 mercial beeswax, instead of being wasted. Mounting 

 the Extractor on a wheel is for convenience of turning 

 it to the sun. 



SULPHURIC ACID FOR CLEANSING DIRTY WAX. 



Opinions differ as to whether it is advisable or not 

 to use sulphuric acid in cleansing wax; the A. I. Root 

 Company use it and recommend its use. On the other 

 hand, C. Dadant says " Don't use any acids as it takes 

 the smell of the bees out of the wax." The two firms 

 are the largest makers of comb-foundation in the world, 

 so should be good authorities — it seems to be a case of 

 "When doctors differ, etc." The Root Company say 

 there is no satisfactory way of cleansing dirty wax than 

 by treating it with acid. 



A suitable boiler half filled with water is placed over 

 a fire ; when the water boils put in the cakes of dirty 

 wax. When all is melted, add the sulphuric acid, then 

 let the fire gradually die down. When the dirt has 

 time to settle the clean wax may be dipped off the top, 

 taking care not to disturb the dirty water underneath. 

 The proportion of acid to use is a half pint to 125 lbs. 

 of wax. 



Doolittle recommends one pint of strong vinegar in 

 one quart of water to each 10 lbs of wax — the acid is 

 far cheaper. 



