SEPARATION OF WAX AND HONEY. 217 



through it. If the weather be cool, this business 

 should be done in a room where there is a fire. 



The ordinary combs may be chopped up, or 

 broken down with the hands, and together with 

 the refuse combs after draining, may be thrown 

 into as much clear water as will cause the wax to 

 swim : the whole may remain in this state for some 

 days to dissolve all the honey for making common 

 mead ; or the combs may be spread out upon 

 broad dishes, and set before the bees in an evening, 

 as also the utensils which have been employed 

 during the process, first strewing them over with 

 short straws, to prevent the bees from smearing 

 their wings. The former is the best mode of dis- 

 posing of the refuse combs and utensils, as the 

 latter is apt to produce quarrelling and robberies. 



The combs having been cleared as completely 

 as possible, the finest should be boiled in water 

 enough to float them, till they are thoroughly 

 melted : the melted mass should be poured into a 

 canvass bag, made in the form of a jelly bag, with 

 a draw tape or string at the top, and then be sus- 

 pended over a tub or pan of cold water. The 

 strings of the bag being tightly drawn, the ex- 

 pression may be effected in various ways. Some 

 press the bag between two strong round sticks, 

 tied or strapped together at their ends, so as to 

 resemble a pair of nut-crackers, with which two 





