1893 



GLEANINGS IN liEE CULTUKE. 



759 



steel sprocket-chain passes around these wheels, 

 and also around a 5-inch whepl on the center- 

 axle when the baskets are turned : i. e., the 

 center-wheel is locked by a key wnich runs up 

 the center-axle, and connects with the lever 

 above. When we think the tirst side is extract- 

 ed clean, this lever is raised, which draws the 

 key and liberates this center sprocket-wheel, 

 when all the baskets whip around to th(! out- 

 side of their own axle as quick as a wink. The 

 combs do not let go of ihe wire cloth instantly, 

 consequently much of the honey is out before 

 the combs jump to the outside of the basket. 



The outside, or, rather, the last side extract- 

 ed, is not bruised a fourth as much as the tirst 

 side extracted. The little levers on the upper 

 end of the basket-axles are to turn the baskets 

 in before starting. This is done with the left 

 hand while the right hand is raising the water- 

 lever. A machine built on this principle should 

 be strong and well made, and will require a 

 larger can than the Stanley. A four-comb ma- 

 chine requires a can about as large as a six- 

 comb Stanley. The can should also have a rim 

 around the top. extending in about four inches 

 to prevent any thick honey from flying out of 

 the can. 



Since the honey season closed I have spent a 

 whole day experimenting on centrifugal force. 

 I can run my extractor at any desired speed by 

 turning on more or less water, and I had a 

 splendid opportunity to test this force at differ- 

 ent rates of speed and at different distances 

 from the center. I took a piece of lead weigh- 

 ing exactly 1 lb., and attached it to a spring 

 balance fixed to register in beeswax the number 

 of pounds which it drew out, which would 

 show exactly the number of times centrifugal 

 was greater than the force of gravity. I tried 

 it at four different distances from the center, 12, 

 1.5. 18. and 31 Inches, and at four rates of speed 

 at each distance: namely. l:.>0, 140, 160, and 190 

 revolutions. The following table shows the 

 result: 



Estimating a comb-basket to weigh ."$ lbs., 

 and a comb with one side full of honey at 3 lbs. 

 more, we have lbs. for each basket. With 

 eight baskets revolving IS inches from the cen- 

 ter at 190 revolutions, we have 6x8x18=8(54 lbs. 

 centrifugal force on the baskets, and combs 

 half full of honey. Can you not see how im- 

 practical it would be to turn a set of combs in 

 full motion against this force? It would take 

 the strength of a horse to turn four combs. 



One interesting thing about this table is the 

 fact that, with the machiiK^ running at 190 

 revolutions per minute, the centrifugal force 

 increased one pound for every inch the weight 

 was moved from the center-axle. 



Before closing I will say that this extractor 

 cost me over .f")0.00. and I don't know how 

 many days" work The reservoir and pipe cost 

 me over S](X), and the motor ?!50.00. Now don't 

 write me to know where they are made, and 

 how much the various sizes cost. They are 

 not manufactured at present at any price. I 



am not in the business, and the only way I, 

 know of for you to get one is to make it your- 

 se'f. or persuade A. I. Root or some other man- 

 ufacturer to make one foi- you. 

 Fillmore, Cal., Aug 29. J. I\ McIntyke. 



[The reader will readily understand the prin- 

 ciple on which the extractor reverses at full 

 motion by referring to the engravings. The 

 baskets are pivoted in such a way that, when 

 the honey is thrown out of the combs on the 

 first side, it is nearer the center-shaft by two 

 inches or so than when the honey is thrown 

 out from the other side. The baskets them- 

 selves, being pivoted on one side, when turned 

 as shown in Fig. 1 will fly outward, as shown 

 in Fig. 2, unless held by something. \Vell. that 

 something holds the baskets until the honey is 

 extracted from that one side. Then it releases 

 them and allows them to present the other sur- 

 faces of the comb. 



There is no doubt in our mind but this is a 

 most practical device for reversing under full 

 motion. It is practical, because it has been 

 thoroughly and carefully tried; and for those 

 who have a large lot of extracting, probably 

 such a machine would be the most serviceable; 

 and yet, after all, the hand machines will ex- 

 tract a tremendous amount of honey. Said 

 one of our extracted-honey men one day, while 

 we were talking about extractors. "I can ex- 

 tract more honey with one of my small ma- 

 chines than I or any three or four bee-keepers 

 can raise." But Mr. Mclntyre can easily say 

 that it is not a question how much you can ex- 

 tract, but how much you can extract with the 

 least labor and expense. If any of the large 

 extracted-honey men would like an extractor of 

 this kind we would undertake to make one; 

 but at present we are not in position to say just 

 what the cost would be.] 



In another column, " Rambler " speaks of the 

 great difference between the comb-foundation 

 mills we first made and those we are now mak- 

 ing. We do not wonder that the difference was 

 discovered; for the fact is. another mechanic is 

 now making the mills. They are now made 

 under the direct supervision of Mr. A. Wash- 

 burn, the one who made the first successful 

 roller comb-foundation mill. 



We have had unusual success in sending 

 queens by mail this year, not only to points in 

 the United States, but even to the more distant 

 ones across the great oceans — to Australia, 

 Sandwich Islands, and elsewhere. We attrib- 

 ute oiu' success entirely to our present method 

 of making the Scholtz (or what is more com- 

 monly called the Good) candy. In the early 

 part of the season we were experimenting with 

 candies of a different nature altogether — some 

 having a slight amount of the white of an egg, 

 some with glycerine, and some with other in- 

 gredients calculated to keep candy soft: but 

 after having tested all of these it is the same 

 experience all over again — that the Good candy, 

 when properly iiuule, is far ahead of any thing 

 else. But why our unusual success with this 

 candy over the same candy used in previous 

 years? Simply in having a good strong man 

 to knead it for a couple of hours. Heretofore a 

 woman has mixed the sugar and honey, and 

 kneaded it into a good stiff dough ; but we 

 always discovered that, sooner or later, this 

 candy would vary under different conditions. 

 A good strong man with brawny muscles now 

 handles the chunks of dough, and kneads it 

 continuously with all the strength he can bring 

 to bear for a couple of hours. When thus 

 treated, the candy will remain soft and moist 

 in hot. moderate, and cool weather ; and it 



