ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 169 



The follower (No. 3) is of the same size, and is made of two 

 thicknesses of J^-inch boards, with the grain running in opposite 

 directions. In the center of the follower, on top, is a 3 x 5-inch steel 

 plate, with an indentation in the top for the screw to work in. Two 

 screws fasten this plate to the follower. 



The form (No. 4) is 15 inches square, and five inches deep. 



In the rendering of wax, there is an excellent reason, which will 

 be given later, for rendering the cappings separately from the old 

 combs. At present I will describe the work of rendering the cappings 

 separately from the old combs. Put a pail of clean, soft water into 

 a No. 9 wash boiler, and set it over a slow fire. Fill the boiler full of 

 cappings; and, as they melt down, add more, until the boiler is as full 

 as it can be handled conveniently — say, within two inches of the top. 

 If the cappings are broken up fine they will melt much quicker. My 

 cappings are all stored in cracker or sugar barrels. I throw a bar- 

 rel into a box that will hold five or six bushels, take an old axe and 

 cut off the hoops and remove the staves, then chop up the cappings 

 with a spade. 



We will suppose that you have a boiler of wax on the stove. See 

 to it that the fire is not too hot. If you have a hot fire, leave the 

 griddles on the stove under the boiler. Keep the lumps broken up 

 with a long paddle — a barrel stave will answer — and keep constantly 

 in mind that the wax should never be allowed to boil. Just as soon as 

 the last chunk is melted, slide the boiler off the stove, upon a barrel 

 or box arranged the same height as the stove. The wax is now 

 ready for the press. See that the press-screw is clear up out of the 

 way, and the galvanized iron pan (with the spout end) is in place. 

 Next put in one of the slated frames, then the form, over which spread 

 a 30-inch, square piece of burlap of the thin, open kind. Press 

 the burlap down into the form, set a galvanized iron washtub under 

 the spout (you will need three or four of these tubs) then, with a 

 large dipper, having a long handle, dip the wax from the boiler to the 

 press. By the way, it is not necessary to put all of the melted wax 

 through the press. With a little care all of the slum gum can be 

 dipped off the top, leaving quite a quantity of wax, water and honey 

 that can be emptied directly into the tub. When the form has been 

 filled, take hold of the two opposite sides of the burlap, and move it 

 up and down; then do the same with the two other sides. This 

 works most of the water and wax through the burlap, out of the way, 

 so that we can handle the slum gum to better advantage. 



We will suppose that nearly all of the wax is out that will come 

 out without pressure; take hold of the burlap on two opposite sides, 

 bring them together with a good lap, and pin with a ten penny nail; 



