70 THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



second class honey — that spontaneously yielded is called virgin 

 honey, and is equal in purity to that obtained from the bell glass. 



Some have recommended heating the combs in order to pro- 

 cure an inferior, a third, description of honey ; but this is bad. 

 When you have obtained all that you can squeeze through the 

 cloth or bag, carefully cover up the two sorts, put the combs, 

 also well covered, into a vessel by themselves, and remove all the 

 other cloths, vessels, and other utensils, to the apiary, that the 

 bees may lick them clean. 



Your next object is to obtain the wax ; for this purpose, put 

 the combs into a clean vessel, and add as much soft water as 

 they will float in — distilled water would be best — but rain will 

 answer nearly as well. Place the vessel on a clear and not too 

 hot fire, and watch it, stirring occasionally until the combs be 

 completely liquefied. You then strain this through a fine canvas 

 bag, into a tub of cold water. The water first flows through, 

 and then the bag requires pressure to make it yield the wax. 

 The simplest p> ress is that recommended in Mr. Nutt's book : — 

 "Have ready then a piece of smooth board of such a length that, 

 when one end of it is placed in the tub of cold water, the other 

 end may be conveniently rested against, and securely stayed, by 

 your breast. Upon this inclined plane lay your dripping, reek- 

 ing strainer, and keep it from slipping into the cold water by 

 bringing its upper part over the top of the board, so as to be 

 held firmly between it and your breast. If the strainer be made 

 with a broad hem round its top, a piece of strong tape or cord 

 passed through such hem will draw it close, and should be long 

 enough to form a stirrup for the foot, by which an additional 

 power will be gained of keeping the scalding hot strainer in its 

 proper place on the board ; then, by compressing the bag, or 

 rather its contents, with any convenient roller, the wax will ooze 

 through and run down the board into the cold water, on the sur- 

 face of which it will set in thin flakes. When this part of the 

 operation is finished, collect the wax, put it into a clean sauce- 

 pan, in which is a little water, to keep the wax from being burned 

 to the bottom ; melt it carefully, for should it be neglected, and 

 suffered to boil over, serious mischief might ensue, liquid wax beino- 

 of a very inflammable nature ; therefore, melt it carefully over a 

 slow fire, and skim off the dross as it rises to the top ; then pour 

 it into such moulds or shapes as your fancy may direct, having 

 first well rinsed them, in order that you may be able to get the 



