218 MONEY IN" BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



with a number of steam and water pipes that control the 

 temperature of the various parts. The vat in the far 

 corner is capable of holding and treating about six 

 hundredweight of wax at one time. It is here that the 

 wax remains liquid from four to six hours, effectually 

 destroying any disease germs, and permitting all im- 

 purities to settle. The next step is to draw off the wax 

 into 60 lb. moulds; these are placed in a special 

 receptacle that retards cooling for a day or more. The 

 purified wax cakes are then stored away until the " off " 

 season permits their transformation into foundation. 



When in operation a wax cake is placed in the 

 elevated tank as shown, where a system of steam pipes 

 liquefies it, and gradually performs the 'task of making a 

 long wax "ribbon" % inch thick. The machine imme- 

 diately rolls this "ribbon" into a compact coil, which is, 

 when completed, transferred to the centre machine. The 

 function of this change is to reduce the wax ribbon to 

 the correct thickness to make foundation of the weight 

 required. The coiled wax is shown on the forepart of 

 the machine. The next process is the removal of the coil 

 to the right-hand jacketed tank ready to pass through 

 the foundation-rolls. 



After milling it is automatically cut into lengths and 

 a piece of tissue paper plaqed between each sheet. It is 

 then stacked ready for casing. The attendants at this 

 machine remove all defective sheets which are then 

 returned to the melting pot finally to complete the 

 process. Against the wall on the left will be noticed a 

 steam pump employed forcing cold water through the 

 various parts to maintain the necessary temperature. 



THE VALUE OP FOUNDATION. 



Foundation has revolutionised the practice of bee- 

 keeping. For some years many apiarists held the opinion 

 that the use of foundation in full sheets for the purpose 

 of getting good workable combs was a rather extravagant 

 method. They used starters — ^narrow % inch strips — 

 and availed themselves of every opportunity to induce 



