102 



Bee-keepiin/ in Victoria. 



refuse. Tlie liquid wax and water run into a receptacle standing under 

 the spout, and are separated by means of a separating tank described 

 further on. 



There are several types of wax presses, and while a wood-slatted 

 one, as the one described, is preferable, its construction requires a certain 

 amount of skill and handiness with tools not possessed by every bee- 

 keeper. A press made almost entirely of metal is obtainable from 

 dealers in bee-keepers' supplies. Fig. 6 is the press ready to set up ; also 



two moulds for wax 

 cakes at the back, 

 lu Fig. 7 the differ- 

 ent parts are shown. 



The amount of 

 wax obtaiued from 

 old black combs by 

 means of a press, as 

 com])ared with the 

 old method, is as 

 three to one, while 

 the time occupied is 

 but one-tenth, and 

 the wax obtained is 

 ready for market if 

 drawn off into stiit- 

 ablc cooling vessels, 

 such as the moulds 

 shown in Fig. 6. 



About 75 per 

 cent, of the wax sold 

 by produce salesmen 

 is depreciated in 

 value through hav- 

 ing l)een wrongly 

 treated at the apiary, 

 Wax should never be 

 overheated; it should 

 always be melted or 

 boiled with water. 

 Wax boiled in rusty 

 tins or iron vessels 

 lias a dirty brown 

 appearance; contact with galvanized iron or zinc turns it grey, copper 

 green. Bright, new tin or tinned copjDer vessels are the only ones which 

 do not affect the colour and character of wax. Even the oldest comb 

 will produce wax of a clear yellow or orange colour if properly treated. 

 The size and shape of the blocks of wax seen on the market also leaves 

 much to be desired. The moulds used by many bee-keepers are buckets, 

 old milk-dishes, kerosene tins, wash-tubs, &c., into which the wax has 

 been poured, and left to set quickly in contact with the metal mstead 



Fig. 6. — Metal Wax Press, set up. 



