76 AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 



of arranging some heating apparatus by which the 

 cappings shall be at once melted, and the honey and 

 wax separated as the work proceeds. Any apparatus 

 that can do this in a satisfactory manner will be a boon 

 to apiarists, for besides economy in time and labour, 

 it will also save a large quantity of honey that now 

 unavoidably goes to waste. 



Several cappings-melters have been introduced, but 

 they have either been unsatisfactory or too complicated 

 and costly to come into general use. The A. L Root 

 Company, after much experimenting, brought out the 

 melter shown in Fig. 46, which is sold at a reasonable 

 price, and is claimed to be a very satisfactory machine. 

 It is a double-jacketed can, the space between the inner 

 and outer w^alls being filled with water, the can is then 

 set over an oil stove and kept at a steady temperature 

 a little above the melting point of wax. A wire screen 

 is fixed at the back of the tap to prevent any unmelted 

 cappings running through. The cappings, as they fall 

 from the comb, melt, and the Wax with the honey runs 

 through the tap (which must always remain open), into 

 any utensil placed to receive them. On cooling, the 

 wax cake floats on the honey, and is readily separated 

 from it. Too much heat spoils the flavour of honey, 

 but I shall have more to say on this point later on. 



AXIOM. 



** A MODERATE INCREASE OF COLONIES IN ANY ONE 

 SEASON AVILL, IN THE LONG RUN, PROVE THE EASIEST, 

 SAFEST, AND CHEAPEST MODE OF MANAGING BEES." 



Langstroth. 



