THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 215 



hand, over the top of the wax and close the barrels up tight. This 

 is done several times during the busy part of the season and in this 

 way I can keep it pretty w^ell until I have time to melt, or partially 

 melt, it in order to reduce its bulk so 1 can send it home along wdth 

 some other things that need hauling. 



At the end of the w^hite honey flow, after the comb honey has 

 been taken home, the barrels of cappings and comb containing honey 

 are tipped over on the honey-house floor and the door is left open 

 for about a week. When 1 come agam at the end of that time 

 everything is nice and dry, and the honey-house has been cleaned 

 up of honey and stickiness. The cappings are put back to be melted 

 in the winter and the rest of the wax and comb is melted up in 

 a large tub over a blue flame oil stove. This does not require much 

 looking after, except filling as the wax melts down, and can be done 

 in between while I am doing something else. 



When all is melted it is dipped into gunny sacks and after all 

 has drained out that will, these are hung up out in the air and sun 

 and left until I can take them and the cakes of w'ax home. 



In winter I melt and remelt all w^ax and refuse that I have on 

 hand, using a Hershiser press. As the wax rises it is dipped into a 

 boiler set on the back of the stove, where it keeps liquid while it 

 slowly settles and clarifies. 



Bee-keeping is largely a matter of little things, therefore a 

 mention of my wax molds may not be too trivial, especially not to 

 the busy Mrs. Bee-keeper wdiose dishes and pans have been called 

 into use to serve as w^ax molds, and which require quite a little 

 work to clean and scour for kitchen use again. 



CICrAB BOXES FOB WAX MOUI.DS. 



I use cigar boxes to mold the wax into cakes. All loose paper 

 is first torn out and the box then dipped in cold water. A spoonful 

 or two is left in the box, although this is really not necessary, as 

 it alw^ays leaks out. 



A\'ax at the boiling point is too thin and will leak out like water; 

 but leave it stand at the back of the stove for awhile and it becomes 

 thicker, though remaining liquid, and when cold the wax brick can 

 be readily turned out. 



The box can be filled eight or ten times. After that the wax 

 is liable to stick to the middle of the bottom unless the spot, which 

 has become waxy and will not take the water, is first thoroughl}^ 

 scraped out. I prefer to throw the box away and use a new one. 

 Yet I have spread a piece of paper, cut to fit and thoroughly damp- 

 ened and pressed down over the bottom when it was waxy with 

 good results. I think if the box were painted on the outside before 

 using and loose paper on the inside pasted down with- paint, it 

 w^ould last a lono- time. 



