NOVEMBER 1, 1916 



latter ovei\ pouring all the water and wax 

 out. Leave the press tipped over a few 

 moments until all the wax drains out — Fig. 

 6. 



When no more wax will drain out, tip the 

 pi-ess back into its regular position and 

 pour the hot water and wax into an empty 

 can or barrel having a faucet at the bottom. 

 If a barrel is used which is smaller at the 

 top, the hot water must first be drawn off 

 after the work is over, and the wax run 

 into previously soaped molds tp harden. 

 It is more convenient to use an oval-shaped 

 can or round can that is larger at the top, 

 so that the wax may be left right in it to 

 harden in one large cake. There is no 

 difficulty in lifting the cake out, even tho 

 it be 8 or 10 inches thick. 



The idea of the faucet at the bottom is to 

 permit draAving off the hot water, so that it 

 may be used over and over again. There is 

 no object in using fresH water each time; 

 therefore when the first boiler is empty 

 enough hot water may be drawn off from 

 the supply-can to fill it half full again for 

 a fresh lot of combs. When first starting 

 out, it is a good plan to fill the boilers a 

 little more than half full so that there will 

 always be enough water for subsequent 

 meltings. 



If the work has been carefully done, when 

 the screw is raised after the water and wax 

 have been drained off, and the follower 

 taken out, the " cheese " will be dry, com- 

 paratively speaking ; and when it is dumped 

 out into the box or basket, if a handful is 

 taken up and pressed momentarily between 

 the fingers, no great amount of wax will 

 show. If only a very fine line of wax 

 appears in the ridges between the fingers 

 you can depend on it that you have done 

 your woi'k thoroly. It is hardly necessary 



to sa}' that it is convenient, if not absolutely 

 necessary, to wear a pair of canvas gloves 

 during the whole process; for when the 

 burlap is shaken out the refuse is exceed- 

 ingly hot — very much hotter than when a 

 jet of steam is not introduced into the press- 

 can. When shaking out the burlap, if the 

 refuse does not shake out clean, lay the 

 cloth over the box, inside down, and quickly 

 rub it between the hands. This will dis- 

 lodge the refuse still clinging. Now place 

 the burlap over the press again and repeat 

 the process. The same burlap should last 

 for a dozen pressings. Each time you shake 

 it out, however, look it over quickly to see 

 if there is any sign of a weak spot or the 

 beginning of a tear. If there is, discard it 

 and use a new cloth. 



A heavy rug or old sack should be thrown 

 over the unheated can containing the supply 

 of hot water and wax, poured in from the 

 can under the press ; for the more this heat 

 can be saved the shorter time it will take 

 to start a new boilerful of combs. 



The final waste of wax by this process 

 need not be over 3 per cent. There is no 

 process that we know of that secures all the 

 wax. The quality of wax from this press is 

 the every best, needing only a little scrap- 

 ing on the bottom to be ready for market. 

 The color is good, and there is no need of 

 refining it afterward. 



When diseased combs are rendered, espe- 

 cially those containing some honey, every 

 precaution should be taken to prevent the 

 bees from robbing. If the buildings can 

 not be made bee-tight, the work must be 

 done at night, and every tool and utensil 

 used thoroly scalded. The refuse from the 

 diseased combs should be burned, and the 

 water which was used poured where the 

 bees cannot possibly get access to it. 



SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN THIRTY YEARS 



BY N. SCHNETTLER 



In 1885 I bought a colony of bees in the 

 trunk of a tree; but having no success with 

 them I bought two more colonies in Lang- 

 stroth hives. I had three swarms that sum- 

 mer, and later on increased to 25 colonies. 



After that I moved to Nebraska, and 

 worked at the mason trade. I bought some 

 bees and started in again, but without suc- 

 cess, for there Avas so much wind, and in 

 this particular locality where I was there 

 was no white clover nor linden. In 1809 I 

 decided to come back to the old Badger 

 state. 



In the spring of that year I bought a 

 colony in a Langstroth hive for $7.00. 



Within seven years I had increased to 100 

 colonies. Now I have 225 colonies, and 

 that is my limit; for during the last few 

 j'ears I have made only enough increase to 

 atone for winter losses. 



MY EQUIPMENT. 



It is easy enough to control swarming 

 if the bees are given sufficient room in 

 time. I use the sectional or divisible-brood- 

 chamber hive, so that I can interchange the 

 upper and lower story. I use a flat cover 

 oveilaid with single - ply roofing - paper, 

 which makes a waterproof cover that is 

 inexpensive. 



The bottom-board is made of matched 



