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, larve, 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 lft. 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 500lb. 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 500Ib. 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 wil] hold over 1,800lb. when level full of honey of the 
specific gravity of 1-488. For a short time last season I found 
I required both in use at one time, and had over 5,&00lb. 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 14in. timber, lined with stout tin. 
foLDEN RULE. 
* 
‘‘K REP YOUR COLONIES STRONG.” 
Oetil. 
