280 STRAINING HONEY AND WAX. 



honey and a portion of the wax will run out together. 

 The wax will rise to the top and cool in a cake. It is lia- 

 ble to burn and require care. Many prefer this process, as 

 there is less taste of bee-bread, no cells containing it being 

 disturbed ; but unless it is stirred, some of the honey will 

 not drain out. If desired, two qualities may be made. 

 Another way is to break the combs well in a colander and 

 allow the honey to drain out without much heat, and after- 

 wards skim the small particles of comb that rise, or pass 

 the honey through a cloth or piece of lace. 



But for large quantities, it is well to have a special ar- 

 rangement. Make a box four inches high, and sixteen or 

 eighteen inches wide, by four feet in length, with a wire- 

 cloth bottom. Put legs under, to raise it to a convenient 

 height. Under the strainer, place a board same in width 

 and length, elevated at one end, to catch the honey and con- 

 duct it into some vessel. Break up the comb with the 

 hands, but do not stir it unnecessarily, or the bee-bread 

 will be mixed with the honey. The box may be filled 

 with this, and will hold one hundred pounds or more. The 

 honey as it first runs through, will contain particles of 

 comb, but if left to stand for a day or two, these will all 

 rise to the surface. Through a hole near the bottom, the 

 pure honey may be drawn off. 



When you have obtained all that will readily drain out, 

 put the comb in a barrel or large box with a few holes in 

 the bottom. A large quantity will warm up of itself, and 

 another portion of honey will run out, of somewhat infe- 

 rior quality. 



Should the weather be somewhat cool, it will become 

 thickened too quickly to run out well, when a press of 

 some sort is of great advantage. Unless the weather is 

 warm, the bees should be removed only on the day the 

 comb is broken up. 



