102 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan, 15 



be a good plan to have all the apparatus ar- 

 ranged in order — that is, have the press 

 near the stove and a large can for holding 

 the hot water and melted wax, after it 



Fig. 5. — Showing can slid forward on the platform 

 and the hurlap spread out ready for the melted combs- 



comes from the press, near both. An ordi- 

 nary wash-boiler on a stove may be used for 

 melting up the comb; or a faster work can 

 be done if there are two such boilers — the 

 second one to be used for heating fresh comb, 

 while that which has already been melted in 

 the first one is being rendered. 



The press should stand as near the boiler 

 as possible in order to avoid the drip when 

 the melted comb is dipped from the boiler 

 into the press. A cleat should be nailed each 

 side of the press (Fig. 4) to keep it from twist- 

 ing ai'ound out of place when the screw is 

 turned down, and still allow it to be tipped 

 up on edge when necessary, to let the wax 

 and water drain out. It is best to have the 

 back of the press a little higher than the 

 front at all times. 



To begin the work, pour about two pail- 

 fuls of water into the boiler and set it on the 

 stove. As this comes to a boil, keep adding 

 old comb, stirring freqviently. 



As much as half a barrel maybe melted in 

 one boiler at a time, or even more if neces- 

 sary, but it is best not to have too much comb 

 in proportion to the water used since this 

 plan is essentially a washing-out process; and 

 the best results, therefore, can not be se- 

 cured when there is not enough water. Keep 

 stirring the contents of the boiler until it has 

 all been heated through thoroughly and has 

 boiled until all the lumps have been reduced 



and the melted comb is of the consistency of 

 mush; then push the boiler to the edge of 

 the stove so that the wax may not burn or 

 Ijecome discolored from too high a tempera- 

 ture. Next put a wooden plug in the spout 

 or tube at the bottom of the wax-press can; 

 and after putting the folded-up burlap and 

 follower in the can, fill it with hot water. 

 This is to heat thoroughly the press and all 

 the parts that would come in contact with 

 the cheese, in oriler to prevent chilling. Then 

 remove the wooden plug, draw off the wa- 

 ter, and pour it into the second boiler on the 

 stove, which, as before explained, should be 

 used for melting up the second lot of comb 

 in case it is necessary to do rapid work. Now 

 slide the (^an forward on the platform, as 

 shown in Fig. 5, and spread the piece of bur- 

 lap over it. Dip about a gallon of melted 

 comb and water into the press and fold the 

 burlap neatly over it. Fig. 0. In doing this 

 don't get the idea that a strainer or dipper 

 with a wire-eloth bottom should be used, for 

 the idea is to transfer plenty of water with 

 the comb in order to keep the wax from 

 chilling and also to aid in washing it out. 

 Use an ordinary dipper, then, of pretty good 

 size. 



The square piece of burlap should be of 

 such a size that there will be plenty of cloth 

 on top to keep the slumgum from squashing 

 out; but, on the other hand, there should not 

 be so much as to make a great roll of useless 

 cloth that will only be in the way. A foot 

 on each side to fold over is enough. If this 

 burlap cloth be folded over neatly, as one 

 would fold paper in tying up a package, 



k 



Fig. 6.— All ready for the pressure, 

 breaking any thing. 



No danger of 



