50 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 
good cider vinegar if the other is not to be had. Honey vinegar is 
rather slow in working but of excellent quality, being a clear, almost 
white color and sells’ well in the warket. 
The cappings, after they are again drained, together with any 
other accumulations of bits of comb, may be rendered into wax. 
One of the most inexpensive devices for the rendering of comb into 
wax is the Doolittle solar wax extractor. This consists of a wooden 
box usually longer than broad, arranged with legs near one end so 
that it can be raised up at an angle toward the sun. The interior 
is fitted up with a concave tin lining to hold the bits of comb separ- 
ated by a wire cloth straining screen from the wax pan at the lower 
end of the box. The box is fitted with a double glass cover which 
concentrates the heat of the sun. Over this, when not in use, comes 
a wooden top covered with tin to protect the glass and keep out 
rain. It is best to remove the cake of wax after the first cooling, 
even though it be a small one, as each additional heating darkens 
the wax. Where there is a sufficient quantity of comb to be render- 
Fig. 14—Solar wax extractor. 
ed it is well to sort it out putting all the light pieces separate so 
that the light wax from these pieces may be kept separate. The 
cocoons and other impurities left in the extractor when melting up 
old combs may be removed to a box with a paddle and form excellent 
material for starting fires. . 
There are several types of steam, extractors. The essential 
