lo Nov., 1911-] 



Extracting Honey. 



745 



During the summer months, in districts north of the Dividing Range 

 which have a rainfall not exceeding 30 inches, honey is considered ripe 

 when the combs have one-half to two-thirds of their surface capped over 

 by the bees. In the country south of the Divide, and in districts with a 

 heavy rainfall, it is better to leave the combs on the hives till nearly capped 

 all over. This also applies to the northern districts during early spring 

 and late autumn. 



On the other hand, during very dry weather, honey may become over- 

 dense and difficult to extract, even when not sealed. This sometimes occurs 

 when a cold change, without rain, follows hot weather with a good honey 

 flow. It is always best not to take off honey when the weather is cold, 

 unless it is unavoidable. The combs must then be stored and the extracting 

 done in a warm room. 



Biii|||ni!::iMW 

 COWAN 2 -FRAME EXTRACTOR. 



NOVICE EXTRACTOR. 



Beginners often have difficulties througii damaging the combs whilst 

 in the extractor. This mav result from sexcral (auses; the honey in the 

 combs mav lia\c hct n tod eold. tin- extr.ietor may have been turned too 

 fast at the start, the comlis may h:i\r hren too warm and soft, or the 

 frames may not fit evenly against the wires of the exti;u tor liaskets. 



Honey from the Red Box eucalypt is very dense, and it is almost im- 

 possible to extrac t it without damaging the combs onci' it lias Ix'cn allowed 

 to become cold in ilu' eomlis. In a lesser degree, this may also be said 

 of Yellow Box honey. To extract dense honey, without damaging the 

 combs, the extractor should l)e turned slowly till about half the honey 

 of one side of the combs has left the cells; the combs an- then reversed 

 and the speed increas.d till that side of the combs has Invn emptied. 

 Then the combs are aga'n reverseil and the honvy left in the cells on the 

 other side is thrown out. 



T'",xtracting combs should be straight, and present an even surface after 

 being uncapped, so as t<i rest eveiilv against the wire screen of the ex- 

 tractor baskets. 



