Bee-lieepiiig in Victoria. 4S 



receiving tray in tlie lower part of the machine. This receiver is made 

 of stout tin, in the shape of a drawer, with a board front. At its lowest 

 point it connects with an elbow swivel tube on the outside, which is set to 

 the correct elevation to keep the level of the liquids in the tray slightly 

 below the wax outlet tube on the upper part of the receiver. Before 

 commencing work sufficient honey is put into the receiver to cover the 

 end of the honey tube inside the tray. As liquid wax and honey accu- 

 mulate, and the level of the upper and outside end of the tube is reached, 

 honey will commence to flow from the elbow tube, while the liquid wax, 

 owing to its lesser specific gravity, floats on top of the honey, and 

 gradually rising overflows into a mould placed underneath the wax outlet 

 tube in front of the machine. 



The elevation of the honey tube should be such that while a con- 

 tinuous overflow of honey and wax is maintained during uncapping of 

 combs, both liquids should run from the machine free from impurities, 

 the dross, of which there is a considerable quantity when old black combs 

 are uncapped, should remain in the tray. Before uncapping the 

 last super of combs the honey-tube may be slightly raised to force as 

 much wax out of the wax tube as can be got out clean ; when all the cap- 

 pings have disappeared through the grid the honey tube is gradually 

 lowered, and the honey allowed to run till the first indications of impuri- 

 ties appear, when it is turned up. The cake of dross, which still con- 

 tains a little wax, is removed from the tray when cold, sufficient honey 

 generally remains to cover the end of the honey tube ready for further 

 work. From what has been said, it will be seen that the well-known 

 U tube principle is employed to effect continuous automatic separation 

 of liquids of different specific gravity ; the receiver representing one arm 

 of the tube and the elbow tube the other. 



A stove is needed to keep the water in the machine at boiling point. 

 A Primus stove may be used, but, while it will work quickly, it will give 

 rather too much heat when used in full blast, and requires occasional 

 pumping up and pricking. The ISTew Perfection Blue Flame Oil Stove, 

 illustrated in Figure 4, will be found the most satisfactory means of 

 heating cappings melters. It takes somewhat longer than the Primus 

 stove to bring water to the boiling point, but the heating power can be 

 adjusted to a nicety, and, if handled according to the instructions sup- 

 plied with it, requires no attention whatever. Fnder the Patent Cap- 

 pings Eeducer it is used without the iron stand supplied with it, so that 

 the funnel may project through the circular opening in the top of the 

 Reducer stand. Under this Eeducer the stove rests on a support, as 

 shown on the left of the illustration (Figure 4). For other purposes 

 it is used in the stand shown in the centre. 



XF.— Treatment of Honey After Extracting. 



Clear honey realizes a better price than cloudy or congealed 

 samples; the latter is the trade term applied to candied honey. Pro- 

 ducers should, therefore, aim at having their honey remain clear and 

 liquid for as long a time as possible. This can be accomplished by 

 the removal of the factors which hasten granulation, namely, excess 

 of moisture, pollen grains and air bubbles. 



