BEE MANUAL. 157 



half an inch thick, the bottom covered with perforated zinc, 

 fitting loosely in the top of the deep tin strainer, on the sides 

 of which it hangs by means of bent lugs. This coarse strainer 

 catches all dead bees, larva?, and large pieces of wax, and is 

 easily lifted out and cleaned without disturbing the fine strainer, 

 through which the honey passes more slowly into the tank. 



The tanks can, of course, be made of any size that may be 

 considered desirable. That shown in the sketches was consi- 

 dered large enough for an apiary of a hundred hives. It 

 was only 4ft. 2in. long, by 2ft. 6in. wide, and 1ft. 4in. deep 

 (outside measure), made of inch boards, with a division board 

 in the centre; each division lined with strong sheet tin, 

 soldered so as to be quite water-tight. Each division holds 

 upwards of 5001b. of honey. The tank is made in two divi- 

 sions in order to admit of the honey of any one day's extracting 

 remaining to settle all the next day, even if extracting be going 

 on every day. If more than 5001b. of honey be likely to be 

 extracted in any one day, the tank should be made larger. 

 The process of double straining and settling in the tank tends 

 materially to ensure the complete " ripening " of the honey ; 

 and being, as already observed, automatic, it saves all manual 

 labour, all waste of honey, and ensures perfect cleanliness. 



I have two double tanks at Matamata, of the following 

 dimensions (inside measure) : 6ft. x 4ft. x 18in. deep ; each 

 division will hold over 1,8001b. when level full of honey of the 

 specific gravity of l - 488. For a short time last season I found 

 I required both in use at one time, and had over 5,8001b. in 

 the two tanks. If the extracting house is large enough, two 

 such tanks can easily be placed across the room, with the 

 extractor stage between them ; so that when one tank is full, the 

 extractor will only require turning round to the other. They 

 are made of ljin. timber, lined with stout tin. 



Golden Rule. 



"Krep tour colonies strong.'" 



Oetti. 



