19 
It should also be taken promptly, in order to keep the various grades 
or kinds separate. However, when the combs of a given super are 
completely filled and sealed it may be marked and left on the hive if 
more convenient to be extracted later. 
The cells are uncapped by means of a sharp knife, made especially 
for this purpose (fig. 9), and the combs are then made to revolve rapidly 
in the honey extractor (fig. 10). 
The centrifugal force exerted on 
the honey throws it out, leaving 
the comb cells uninjured, or so 
slightly injured that they are 
wholly repaired withiv an hour 
or so after the return of the comb to the hive. The chief advantages of 
this method of harvesting over that of crushing the combs are at once 
apparent when it is known that each pound of comb saved represents 
several pounds of honey (consumed in its construction), and may, with 
care, be used over alinost indefinitely in securing surplus honey. Fur- 
thermore, extracted honey is of much finer quality than that obtained 
by crushing the combs and straining out the liquid part, since it is free 
from crushed bees, larvie, pollen or ‘bee bread,” ete., which not only 
render strained honey dark and strong flavored, but also make it liable 
to ferment and sour. 
The extracted honey is run into open buckets or tanks and left to 
stand a week or so in a dry, warm 
room. It should be skimmed each 
day until perfectly clear, and is 
then ready to be put into cans or 
barrels for marketing, or to be 
stored ina dry place. Square tin 
cans, each made to hold 60 pounds 
of extracted honey, are sold by deal- 
ers in apiarian supplies. This style 
of package is a convenient one to 
transport, and is also acceptable to 
dealers. Wooden shipping-cases 
are usually constructed so as to 
hold two of these cans. Barrels 
and kegs may be used, especially 
for the cheaper grades of honey 
Fia.10.—The Williams automatic reversible used chietly in the manufacture of 
honey extractor. other articles. They should be dry, 
made of well-seasoned, sound wood, and the hoops driven tight and 
secured, as well-ripened honey readily absorbs moisture from wood, 
causing shrinking and leaking. They should also be coated inside with 
beeswax or paraffin. This is easily done by warming the barrels and 
then pouring in a gallon or two of hot wax or paraffin, and, after hav- 
ing driven in the bungs tightly, rolling the barrels about a few times 

Fic. 9.—Quinby uncapping knife. 












