Sept. 1, 1911 



about 5 inches in length and -^ of an inch 

 in diameter; fit with a ring or collar of cork 

 or rubber, and fasten in the mouth of an 

 empty bottle, then pour enough of the melt- 

 ed sami)le into the test tube to fill it Vi full. 

 Suspend a previously warmed thermometer 

 so that the bulb will be wholly immersed 

 and swing freely in the liquid. When the 

 wax begins to solidify in the bottom of the 

 tube, stir the contents of the tube by giving 

 the thermometer first a circular movement 



i.O 'fO 60 80 



ip 7~jtsr Caused ^y Ac/(^//7a 

 Pa raff//? to Seesyvax 



three times to the right and then three times 

 to the left. Suddenly the mercury ceases 

 to fall, rises a little, and remains stationary 

 for about two minutes. This temperature is 

 taken as the titer; and, provided the same 

 apparatus is used and the same method of 

 working followed, the results are very con- 

 stant. 



The titer of a sample of known jiurity 

 should be taken before the sample is tested, 

 so as to calibrate the apparatus. The writer 

 obtained 140 to 142° F. on eight specimens 

 of beeswax from different sources; and as 

 this figure is about that given by other 

 observers, it may be considered as the titer 

 of pure .beeswax. For bleached wax the titer 

 is from 140 to 144° F. 



Rochester, N. Y. 



RENDERING WAX IN THE HATCH PRESS. 



BY HARRY LATHROP. 



Inasmuch as there are many more bee- 

 keepers who handle from fifty to two hun- 

 dred colonies than of those who have more, 

 the wax machine and method suited to the 

 larger number is important. I have recent- 

 ly been using the Hatch-Gemmel press, and 

 think it is just the thing for the larger 

 number of bee-keepers, if one knows how to 

 operate it properly. 



This is my simple method: Two copper 

 wash-boilers are placed over a furnace out 



521 



of doors. Select a warm quiet day; fill each 

 boiler nearly half full of soft water; start 

 the fire and keep it going as needed, with 

 small wood. Pile in old broken comb or 

 whatever you have to melt. Stir well with 

 an old broom-handle. Place the press on 

 a box of the i)roper height, and fasten on 

 with two hinges so that it can be turned 

 over to one side readily. For a press-cloth, 

 use a jnece of heavy burlap 26 inches square. 

 Push the cloth down in the press and make 

 the cavity as large as possible. Use a dip- 

 per hol'ling half a gallon. Dip about two 

 and a half dipjierfuls of the melted wax 

 and water, and pour into the press. Fold 

 the corners of the cloth over neatly; place 

 the follower, and run down the screw. The 

 spout in the bottom of the press should be 

 tightly stopped. Press gently at first; re- 

 lease, and press several times, applying 

 more force each time. The releasing is to 

 allow the water, which will be in the bot- 

 tom of the press, to saturate the cheese 

 again and thus wash out any remaining 

 wax. 



This is really the imjwrtant part in using 

 the Hatch press. At the last, put the screw 

 down as hard as the machine will bear, and 

 then tip the press and pour off all the water 

 and wax into a large can or pail. I use a 

 tin pail holding six gallons, and furnished 

 with a stop-cock at the bottom. 



Next release the press and remove the 

 cheese. Scrape the burlap, and use as be- 

 fore. I keep pressing and pouring until the 

 pail gets too full, then oi)en the cock and 

 let off some water. In this way a large 

 amount of wax is secured in the pail. When 

 I have finished my run I set the pail of 

 water and wax over an oil burner, and heat 

 until every particle of wax has become liq- 

 uid. Then I cover and wrap with cloths 

 and old bed-quilts, or any thing to keep in 

 the heat and make a sort of fireless cooker 

 of the pail of wax. Leave it thus for three 

 days, and the result will be a cake of wax 

 that should bring the highest price in the 

 market. 



I would suggest that, in putting out the 

 press, the spout be left off entirely. It is a 

 mistake to use it. Make the rim one inch 

 deeper and the screw a little stronger. My 

 modification of this for men having much 

 larger apiaries would be, simi)ly, larger 

 utensils — the method would be the same. 

 Unless one has a good warm shop to work 

 in, it is best to reserve the wax-making job 

 for warm weather. Then one can work out 

 of doors, and it is easier to keep every thing 

 warm. If honey is coming in, the work 

 can be done right in the apiary, and the 

 bees will not bother. Making wax is a very 

 unsatisfactory part of the work unless one 

 has learned the trick. The Hatch-Gemmel 

 press is, I believe, the handiest and best 

 thing for the purpose. 



Bridgeport, Wis., .lune 10. 



[The above agrees exactly with our own 

 conclusions after considerable experience 

 with this method of rendering. — Ed.] 



