48 



Jirr-l.-eejjiiifi in ]' irti.riii . 



honey. Cappings are, liowever, awkward and slow to liaiidle, and as the 

 solar extractor does not work on cloudj^ or hazy days, accumulations occur 

 during tlie busy season. By means of cappings melters, all handling of 

 this sticky material is dispensed with, the cappings are melted as fast as 

 I hey are sliced off, an<l honey and wax sejjarated. 



Several different types of reducers, as cappings melters are called, are 

 on the market. The simplest form is that shown in Fig. 1, and consists 

 of two metal cans, one inside the other, with a space for water between 

 them. It is heated from the bottom, by a kerosene stove placed under 

 the stand, a double wire screen prevents unmelted wax escaping by the 

 outlet gate, while the honey knife is kept hot in an oiiening between the 

 inner and outer can. Ploney and wax flow out into the receiving vessel 

 together, and separate owing to their different specific gravity. The wax 



Fig. 4.— New Perfection Oil Stove for Heating Capping Melters. 



is allowed to set on top of the honey, and thereby imparts a flavour to the 

 latter. This apparatus is known as the " Simple Cappings Melter." 



For apiaries of fifty colonies and over it is best to have the " Patent 

 Cappings Reducer," illustrated in Figure 2. It is composed of an 

 outer and an inner metal casing forming a jacketed space for 

 water between the two. Two opposite sides are connected 

 transversely by square tubes set -g inch apart forming a 

 grid. This apparatus is made of copper, which is tinned 

 where it comes in contact with honey or wax, while it is encased in 

 wood to conserve heat. It rests on an iron stand, and is heated by a 

 kerosene stove. The cappings, as they leave the honey knife, fall on to 

 the grid of tubes, on which they quickly melt in contact with the hot 

 metal, the resulting liquid passing through between the tubes into the 



