334 
EXTRACTING 
they are sliced from the combs so that the 
melted was and the honey by reason of 
their different weights separate at once, 
the wax floating on top of the honey. The 
devices which operate on the draining prin¬ 
ciple are usually called uncapping-boxes 
or cans, while those which melt the cap¬ 
pings are called capping-melters. 
In any method of draining cappings it 
is very important to stir up the cappings 
frequently with a stick. This serves to 
break up the small particles of comb, 
which would otherwise hold the honey and 
prevent it from draining out freely. The 
efficiency of the draining method depends 
upon the thoroness with which the cap¬ 
pings are stirred and punched with a good 
heavy stick. 
German Press. 
An uncapping-can which is provided 
with a plunger and schew, by means of 
which great pressure can be applied to the 
semi-dry cappings, is the German press. 
A burlap sack is supposed to be hung in 
the can and held in place by the comb-rest, 
which has notches cut to fit the top of the 
can. When the bag is full the top is 
pinned together with nails, the comb-rest 
removed, and the cross-arm carrying the 
screw and plunger put in position. The 
plunger is run down slowly, the honey 
gradually being pressed out so the cap¬ 
pings are made nearly dry. The plunger 
and screw are removed; a circular cleated 
division-board put on top of the first bag 
of cappings; another empty sack put in, 
and the process repeated. At the end of 
the day the pressure may be applied to 
two or even three sacks of cappings and 
left on all night. In the morning the bags 
of practically dry cappings may be re¬ 
moved, and later on if desired the cans 
may be set over a stove, steam generated 
in the lower part, and the cappings melted 
into wax. 
Several apiarists use for an uncapping- 
box a long square tank made of galvanized 
metal. It is six feet long, two feet high, 
and two feet wide. 
The slatted framework at the bottom is 
made a little smaller than the can so that 
it may be easily removed for washing. 
There is only l 1 ^ inches space under the 
cleats, so the gate at the end of the tank is 
left open all the time. ■ In this way nearly 
all of the space inside the tank is available 
for the storage of mappings. 
A tank of this size will hold all the cap¬ 
pings for one whole extracting of the aver¬ 
age-sized yard. A short-handle fork is 
used for handling the cappings, and each 
Townsend uncapping-box. 
