67 



(4.) Care should be taken to avoid feeding syrup showing the 

 slightest sign of fermentation. 



(5.) Wooden feeders before using should be well waxed inside with 

 a mixture of resin and paraffin. 



WAX-EXTRACTORS. 



The conversion of old and broken combs into commercial beeswax 

 is a problem that presents itself to those engaged in practical apiculture. 

 Working under old methods the process was disagreeable and unsatis- 

 factory, but the improvements which have lately been made in wax- 

 presses have obviated a great deal of the unpleasant work, and the 

 difficulty of reducing old combs into wax is no longer a serious trouble. 

 Many good presses can be obtained for the purpose. The following 

 are favoured by the majority of beekeepers: — 



The Solar Wax-extractor. 



The Solar wax-extractor is a useful appliance in the apiary, but 

 requires a good deal of sunshine to work it properly. It is very handy 

 for throwing in odd scraps of wax and pieces of broken comb, but it 

 can hardly be recommended to put in brood-combs or those that have 

 any trace of disease. 



The dimensions outside are — Length, 5 ft. 3 in. ; width, 2 ft. 8 in. ; 

 depth of main part of body, 4i in. ; wax-receptacle at lower end of 

 body, 9 in. wide by 8 in. deep. The sash is furnished with two sheets 

 of glass with an air-space of i in. between them. The wheel on which 

 the extractor is mounted is 4 ft. 6 in. diameter, and works on an axle 

 about 2 ft. long, driven into a block of wood in the ground. The 

 body of the wax-extractor is lined with black sheet iron turned up at 

 the sides, and fitting loosely in the extractor. A long tin divided into 

 three compartments fits in the lower part for catching the wax as it 

 runs from the combs. The tin and the divisions should run smaller 

 at bottom than at the top, to facilitate turning out the cakes of wax, 

 and the tops of the two divisions should be | in. below the top of the 

 tin. The middle compartment will then retain any dirt or foreign 

 matter running in with the wax, while the clean wax will flow over 

 into the outside compartments. 



With the exception of perhaps the sash and the metal parts, there 

 is nothing difficult about the making of such an extractor to a man 

 handy with tools. The woodwork must be substantial and thoroughly 

 well seasoned to stand the great heat, and must also be well put 

 together, otherwise it would soon fall to pieces. Screws are better 

 than nails' in the woodwork. It is advisable to bind the edge of the 

 sashes with ij in. angle-iron. The depth inside from the lower sheet 

 of glass to the iron lining should not exceed from 2^ in. to 3 in. The 

 wheel, of course, is handy for turning the extractor to the sun, but is 

 not absolutely necessary if one cares to lift it round when required. 



If in a warm corner of the apiary and well sheltered, the extractor 

 would work at almost all times when the sun is shining. Such an 

 appliance wiU soon pay for itself in a fair-sized apiary, for every 

 particle of comb can be put in at once and converted into good 

 commercial beeswax instead of being wasted. 



