An upright handle is placed upon this wheel, at a distance of about two inches from the edge of it. By turning this handle the extractor is set in motion, and a considerable centrifugal force obtained, the honey being flung by the motion against the sides of the tub.

Two minutes will suffice for extracting the honey from one side of the comb, which should then be reversed, and the operation repeated.

The section of the extractor, page 90, shows an incomplete drawing; for this reason, we have placed opposite to it a front view of the extractor, page 91.

This latter, however, does not show the rods which bind together the four uprights, and serve to keep the comb in a vertical position.

Lastly, we should add that, before placing the comb in the extractor, the thin coating of wax

with which the honey is sealed, should be removed with a knife made for the purpose.*

*This knife, in form of a trowel, has a very thin blade, in width and length like an ordinary table-knife (see figure).

The comb, when emptied of the honey, can immediately be restored to the hives; the bees will thus find new storehouses ready for them, which they will hasten to fill afresh.

As to super honey which is to be kept in the comb, put it in a cool and dry place in the receptacle in which it has been made, and in the same position as when on the hive. By hermetically sealing every opening, the honey will be preserved till the spring without becoming candied.

CHAPTER XVI.

ON THE MANUFACTURE OF WAX.

PUT some small, well-washed pebbles into a copper pot (for iron affects the colour of the wax), and place your comb in a bag made of fine canvas, tightly closed; put this into the copper pot filled with water, taking care that the bag be always immersed. Let it remain on a slow fire until it begins to simmer. The wax in melting will collect on the top. If there is still some pollen amongst it, warm it up gently a second time, and let it cool. The refuse, which will be found under the cake of wax, ought to be removed with a knife; the wax will then be in a fit state for the market. What remains should be melted up with some more wax on another occasion, so that none of the particles which it contains may be wasted.

ANOTHER METHOD.

After putting your comb in a sieve or in a wicker-basket placed on a vessel half full of water, put it in the oven after the bread has been taken out. The wax falling through into

method gives no trouble, but is less productive. Lastly, in order to work on a large scale, it is

H

a good plan to make use of a press, which, when working, is placed in a vessel of boiling water, and kept up to a temperature of a hundred degrees.

The combs are placed in this machine and gradually pressed down. The wax rises to the top, and you then proceed in the same way as we have mentioned before. (See illustration on preceding page.)