222 



gear. Before placing the frames of comb in the cages they must be uncap- 

 ped. To do this quickly and -without waste special uncapping knives are 

 used : they should be heated in a tin of -water kept hot over a small 

 spirit or oil lamp. The full frame, held by one lug in the left hand, 

 the other lug resting on a large dish and with the top edge over- 

 hanging, has its capping removed with the sharp, hot knife by a gentle, 

 slightly sawing, downward cut, passing just beneath the surface and 

 removing as little as possible of the honey. If held with sufficient 

 overhang the detached sheet of capping will fall clear of the frame.. 

 A pair of frames having been uncapped they are placed in the cages 

 of the extractor and made to revolve rapidly with their bottom bars 

 leading ; the centrifugal force throws out the honey, and when one 

 side has been emptied the frames are reversed and the other side trea- 

 ted in the same manner. 



The full sealed frames ot comb having been carried into the store" 

 room should be sorted by holding up to the light, and all those con- 

 taining dark or second quality honey separated from the better ones. 



Uncap and extract the contents of the best combs, and then strain 

 the honey through a bag made of cheesecloth in order to remove all 

 loose particles of wax. Tin cans, with strainer and honey tap made to 

 contain 56 lbs. or 112 lbs., can be obtained, in which, if the honey is 

 allowed to stand for twenty-four hours after straining, it will be freed 

 from air bubbles, and can then be drawn into whatever bottle, jar, or 

 tin will best suit the local market. Best honey is usually put into 

 1 lb. or \ lb. glass jars, with metal screw lids having a cork wad inside 

 the lid. To prevent any leakage the cork wad should be dipped in 

 melted wax and placed on the jar while still warm, the lid being 

 screwed down upon it. A neat label (of which a variety are always 

 obtainable from the appliance makers or of the Secretaries of many 

 of the County Bee-keepers' Associations) will set off the honey jar and 

 and make it more attractive. The darker honey is more suitable 

 for marketing in its granulated state; when extracted and strained it 

 it should be run into 14 lb. or 28 lb. tins, the contents of these being 

 stirred gently, now and again, while granulating ; the stirring tends 

 to produce a more even and finer grained honey. It may also be run 

 into wide-mouthed glass or earthenware jars covered down with parch- 

 ment paper, and stored in a cool, dry place. Dark and coarse-flavoured 

 varieties may be sold for manufacturing and confectionery uses, or 

 for that now almost forgotten purpose, the making of mead. — Leaflet 

 No. 141. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4, Whitehall Place, 

 London,' S.W., May, 1905. 



722.-THE "RIND FUNGUS" OP THE CANE. 



The West Indian Section of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition 

 was decorated with a screen constructed with full grown sugar canes 

 received from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados, in the month of 

 May, 1905. 



In the mouth of July, some two months after erection these canes 

 were seen to be covered with a thick growth of " Kind fungus," so 

 much so, as to blacken the hands whenever they were touched. The 



