MELTING WAX. 499 
clear water and not with the water already darkened by 
the washing. 
But as this method always leaves some wax in the resi- 
dues, for some of it goes into the cells during the melting, 
and it is impossible to dislodge it, a better result is obtained 
by crushing the combs before washingthem. But this pul- 
verizing can be done only in Winter, when the wax is brittle. 
861. The combs should be melted with soft or rain water, 
the boiler kept about two-thirds full, and heated slowly, to 
prevent boiling over. If the floor, around the stove, is kept 
wet, any wax that may drop will be easily peeled off. 
During the melting carefully stir till all is well dissolved. 
Then lower into the boiler a sieve made of a piece of 
wire cloth, bent in the shape of a box, from which the wax 
can be dipped as it strains into it. If the whole is thor- 
oughly stirred for some time, very little wax will be left in 
the residues. This is the cheapest and best method of 
rendering wax, without the help of a specially made wax- 
extractor. 
862. To obtain as much wax as possible from the 
combs, the large wax manufacturers of Europe empty tlie 
contents, of the boiler into a bag, made of horse-hair or 
strong twine, and place the bag under a press while boiling 
hot. All the implements used, as well as the bag, are pre- 
viously wetted, to prevent their sticking. 
863. Some bee-keepers use a wax-boiler in which the wax 
is melted by steam. 
But the best wax can be rendered by a solar extractor 
(fig. 197), yet, by its use, some wax is always left in the 
refuse, for the cocoons, skins of larve, ete., being dry, 
always absorb more or less of it. This implement however 
is destined to overthrow all others for the rendering of wax 
in all countries where the heat of the sun is sufficiently 
powerful. At this latitude, the 42°, sun-extractors can be 
efficiently used during the months of May, June, July, and 
