47 



There are " division-board " feeders to hang in the hive like frames, 

 and others to place over the frames, such as the " Miller " and " Sim- 

 plicity " feeders; also the "Alexander" feeder under the bottom board, 

 either of which will answer the purpose, provided attention is given to 

 replenishing the food when needed. The inexperienced should always 

 feed within the hive, and in the evening. 



With regard to the Alexander feeder, its position outside the hive makes 

 it less suitable for feeding in cold weather than an inside one. The syrup 

 would get about as cold as the surrounding atmosphere, which would chill 

 any bees that might go for it when the temperature is low. Small quantities 

 of warm syrup might be fed at such times, just so much as could be quickly 

 carried away. 



Finally, remember that a little food given in the spring to tide the bees 

 over a spell of bad weather will save them to give you a large return in honey 

 later on, whereas neglect in this respect will result in their loss. 



V. THE SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOR. 



This is an appliance which, speaking from experience, I consider should 

 have a place in every large apiary. The conversion of old and broken 

 combs, &c., into commercial beeswax is as a rule very disagreeable and 

 unsatisfactory work with the water and steam appliances generally used. 

 A fair quantity of wax-material must be allowed to accumulate before it 

 is worth while to start work. This gives an opportunity for the -i^-ax-moth 

 to start its work first, with the result of waste, beside the propagation in 

 vast numbers of an enemy of the bee. Seeing that we have the large wax- 

 moth with us, every scrap of old and broken combs, when of no further use, 

 should be melted up at once, and there is no appliance so suitable for doing 

 this right ofi than a properly constructed Solar wax-extractor. 



The one shown in Plate XVI was in use at the Exhibition Model Apiary, 

 Christchurch, and it acted splendidly. My previous experience of these 

 wax-extractors had not favourably impressed me ; they worked satisfac- 

 torily with new combs, but failed to extract more than about 50 per cent, 

 of wax from old-brood combs. I subsequently discovered the cause of 

 failure : they were made too deep—about four times the depth inside of 

 the one shown, which is made on the " Boardman " principle :— 



The dimensions outside are— length, 5 ft. 3 in. ; width, 2 ft. 8 m. ; 

 depth of main part of body 4^ in. ; wax-receptacle at lower end of body 

 9 in. wide by 8 in. deep. Sash (not shown in plate) is furnished with two 

 sheets of glass with an air-space of 1 in. between them. The wheel on which 



