THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 
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piston (the width -and depth of the box). This, 
approaching the block (d/), so presses the cell walls 
towards one another as to cause the honey to flow 
only from their mouths, the cappings giving way 
under the induced pressure, while the cell walls shut 
together like the Angers of an empty glove, retaining 
the pollen, which is thus, as it were, shut in. The 
honey, passing the perforations in the receiver, falls 
between the webbings into the strainer below. When 
the comb has been crushed hard against the block (d/), 
the screw^ is reversed a turn, and the block, or gate, 
lifted out, exposing an opening in the side of the box 
the size of the piston, which is again advanced until 
the wax and debris adhering to it in a flattened cake 
protrude beyond the receiver, and are easily removed. 
The perforated metal [st) is meant to allow any drip 
from the gate to find its way into the interior of the 
rim on which the press stands, and which should be 
fitted into a stool or table to give steadiness, and 
to which the cheese-cloth strainer may be hung. 
Mr. Raitt explains that large combs generally contain 
so much pollen near their upper edges that its resist- 
ance would prevent the lower cells from being 
sufficiently pressed ; he, therefore, prefers to operate 
upon pieces about half standard size, and such his 
press was designed to accommodate. He adds that 
“ the honey obtained by it, even from brood-combs- 
has been equal to the finest samples he ever drained 
from sections.” 
Surplus, as all must admit, whether in the form of 
comb or extracted honey, is unobtainable in large 
amount without a copious flow of nectar, and, at its 
