166 ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 



reflected rays from the cover, to which is fastened a sheet of bright 

 tin, melt the wax, and it runs down to the lower end of the metal 

 shute where it drops off into a vessel set there to catch it. A small 

 solar wax extractor standing in an apiary is an excellent thing-, as 

 into it maybe thrown all scraps of comb that would otherwise be 

 thrown away, or perhaps be thrown into a box or barrel to stand 

 around until destroyed by the bee moth's larvae. 



All of these plans of rendering wax fall short of perfection, how- 

 ever, as too much wax is left in the residue. Pressure of some sort 

 must be used, or a large part of the wax is lost. For making small, 

 or ordinary quantities of wax, what is called the German wax press 

 answers the purpose quite well. This is a tall can made of heavy 

 sheet-metal, with a false bottom securely fastened to the sides a few 

 inches above the real bottom of the can, together with a screw and 

 follower above to bring pressure to bear upon the mass of combs 

 after the wax has been thoroughly melted by the steam that arises 

 from the water that has been placed below, previous to setting the 

 can upon a stove. For holding the combs, a wire cloth basket is 

 used and a piece of cheese cloth is placed inside the basket before 

 putting in the combs. The melted wax drips down upon a false 

 bottom and runs out through a spout that passes out through the 

 side of the can. The use of pressure while the slum gum is still 

 surrounded by live steam secures nearly all of the wax; and the 

 greatest objection to the use of the German press is its limited capac- 

 ity — it is too slow a process if much work is to be done. 



Extracting the melted wax from the slum .gum by means of 

 centrifugal force, the same as syrup is thrown from the sugar in a 

 sugar refinery, or water from clothes when dried in a laundry, has 

 been tried enough to enable us to say that something may be hoped 

 for in this direction. 



For making large quantities of wax, probably the most practical 

 plan is that of melting up the cappings or combs in a boiler or large 

 kettle, dipping off the wax from the top, and putting the slum gum 

 through a powerful press. It is difficult to say exactly who first 

 utilized screw-power for pressing the wax out of slum gum, but I 

 think C. A. Hatch, of Richland Center, Wisconsin, was the first to 

 bring the matter prominently before the public. He was followed 

 by Mr. F. A. Gemmill, of London, Ontario, Canada. One form of 

 press is, I believe, now called the Hatch-Gemmill press. Of course, 

 such presses may vary in detail, and I think the best form that I have 

 ever seen was illustrated and described in the Bee-Keepers' Review 

 by Mr. E. D. Townsend. Here is his description of the press and 

 w he would use it. 



