43 



The " receiver," into which the honey runs as the combs are pressed 

 (shown at bottom of Fig. 2), is 20| in. square and 6 in. deep, outside mea- 

 surement, formed of 6 in. by 2 in. boards. Two 6 in. by 2 in. bearers are 

 nailed across the inside, as shown, at equal distances from the sides, and are 

 chamfered on tops. They are tj help bear the weight of the body when 

 under pressure. A IJin. batten is nailed around the top edge to act as a 

 stop, inside of which the lower edge of the body fits when in place. The 

 bottom should be of 1 in. or 1 J in. timber, and should be leakage-proof, 

 and the honey should be free to run from each compartment to the spout. 



The "body" (shown in centre of Fig. 2) is 18 in. square and 15| in. 

 deep, outside measurement. Battens 3 in. by |in., chamfered on upper 

 edge, are nailed on edge across the bottom 1 in. apart, and in the opposite 

 direction or at right angles to the bearers in the receiver. Fillets | in. 

 square are nailed vertically j in. apart all round the inside, and over these 

 and the battens on bottom galvanised wire netting of ^ in. mesh is fastened, 

 and smallfillets are nailed over raw edges at the joints and around the top 

 edge. 



The " follower " (shown in upper part of Fig. 2, just under the screw) 

 is a large box 6 in. de p, a trifle smaller than the inside dimensions of the 

 body in the square. The top and bottom should each be in one piece, and 

 before nailing on the top a bearer the full depth should be nailed across 

 the centre. The whole of the follower is made of sound 1 in. timber. A 

 chain with hook and strap is attached to each side for the purpose of draw- 

 ing it out of the body after use, and the body should be secured from below 

 to keep it m place when lifting the follower. The two blocks on the ground 

 in Fig. 2 are 6 in. square and 12 in. long in one case, and 6 in. by 3 in. and 

 12 in. long in the other. These are shown in place on top of follower in 

 Fig. 1. 



Pressing : Before the combs to be pressed are put into the body, sufficient 

 <;}ieese-cloth is placed in the latter to hold the combs and lap over the top 

 under the follower. The latter is then placed in position, and the screw 

 brought into play. As the screwing proceeds the arm of the compound 

 lever rises, and when full pressure is on it can be left, as the lever then 

 acts and retains the pressure till the arm falls to its lowest point. 



Mr. Pearson stated that one man pressed out 75 lb. honey in an hour 

 a,nd a half. He also remarked that, if fitting up another press, he would 

 make the receiver 4 in. deep instead of 6 in., and the body 13 in. instead of 

 15^- in. deep. 



The press without the fittings cost, when new, about £5, but a second- 

 hand one in good order may often be got for much less. 



Pressed honey is not nearly so good as that extracted in the ordinary 

 way. It is not of so high a grade in the first place, and the flavour is not 

 improved by pressing. Honey to be pressed should be thoroughly ripe 



