Page:Bee-Culture Hopkins 2nd ed revised Dec 1907.pdf/25

 measurement, formed of 6 in. by 2 in. boards. Two 6 in. by 2 in. bearers are nailed across the inside, as shown, at equal distances from the sides, and are chamfered on tops. They are to help bear the weight of the body when under pressure. A 1⅛ in. batten is nailed around the top edge to act as a stop, inside of which the lower edge of the body fits when in place. The bottom should be of 1 in. or 1¼ in. timber, and should be leakage-proof, and the honey should be free to run from each compartment to the spout.

The ‘‘body’’ (shown in centre of Fig. 2) is 18 in. square and 15½ in. deep, outside measurement. Battens 3 in. by ¾ in., chamfered on upper edge, are nailed on edge across the bottom 1 in. apart, and in the opposite direction or at right angles to the bearers in the receiver. Fillets ⅝ in. square are nailed vertically ¾ in. apart all round the inside, and over these and the battens on bottom galvanised wire netting of ½ in. mesh is fastened, and small fillets are nailed over raw edges at the joints and around the top edge.

The ‘‘follower’’ (shown in upper part of Fig. 2, just under the screw) is a large box 6 in. deep, a trifle smaller than the inside dimensions of the body in the square. The top and bottom should each be in one piece, and before nailing on the top a bearer the full depth should be nailed across the centre. The whole of the follower is made of sound 1 in. timber. A chain with hook and strap is attached to each side for the purpose of drawing it out of the body after use, and the body should be secured from below to keep it in place when lifting the follower. The two blocks on the ground in Fig. 2 are 6 in. square and 12 in. long in one case, and 6 in. by 3 in. and 12 in. long in the other. These are shown in place on top of follower in Fig. 1.

Pressing: Before the combs to be pressed are put into the body, sufficient cheese-cloth is placed in the latter to hold the combs and lap over the top under the follower. The latter is then placed in position, and the screw brought into play. As the screwing proceeds the arm of the compound lever rises, and when full pressure is on it can be left, as the lever then acts and retains the pressure till the arm falls to its lowest point.

Mr. Pearson states that one man pressed out 75 lb. honey in an hour and a half. He also remarked that, if fitting up another press, he would make the receiver 4 in. deep instead of 6 in., and the body 13 in. instead of 15½ in. deep.

The press without the fittings cost, when new, about £5, but a second-hand one in good order may often be got for much less.

Pressed honey is not nearly so good as that extracted in the ordinary way. It is not of so high a grade in the first place, and the flavour is not improved by pressing. Honey to be pressed should be thoroughly ripe before removal from the hive—that is, all capped over, as it is so dense that there would be little chance of getting rid of any surplus moisture afterwards.