50 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



good cider vinegar if the other is not to be had. Honey vinegar Is 

 rather slow in working but of excellent quality, being a clear, almost 

 white color and sells well in the warket. 



The cappings, after they are again drained, together with any 

 other accumulations of bits of comb, may be rendered into wax. 

 One of the most inexpensive devices for the rendering of comb into 

 wax is the Doolittle solar wax extractor. This consists of a wooden 

 box usually longer than broad, arranged with legs near one end so 

 that it can be raised up at an angle toward the sun. The interior 

 is fitted up with a concave tin lining to hold the bits of comb separ- 

 ated by a wire cloth straining screen from the wax pan at the lower 

 end of the box. The box is fitted with a double glass cover which 

 concentrates tbe heat of the sun. Over this, when not in use, comes 

 a wooden top covered with tin to protect the glass and keep out 

 rain. It is best to remove the cake of wax after the first cooling, 

 even though it be a small one, as each additional heating darkens 

 the wax. Where there is a sufficient quantity of comb to be render- 



Fig. 14. Solar wax extractor. 



ed it is well to sort it out putting all the light pieces separate so 

 that the light wax from these pieces may be kept separate. The 

 cocoons and other impurities left in the extractor when melting up 

 old combs may be removed to a box with a paddle and form excellent 

 material for starting fires. 



There are several types of steam extractors. The essential 



