846 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



tion occasional delays, the average rate while 

 I was there was about 700 pounds an hour.* 



Mr. Holtermann himself works in the 

 yard, having two helpers to assist him. Fig. 

 3 shows the process of removing the honey 

 from the hives. One helper is provided with 

 a smoker, and the other with two brushes. 

 The one with the smoker removes the cover, 

 loosens tlie frames, and handles the smoker, 

 while Mr. Holtermann shakes the frames 

 one by one, then holds them momentarily 

 while the second helper brushes them clean 

 of the lew bees remaining, both sides being 

 brushed at one stroke. On several different 

 occasions the three men removed from the 

 hives, cleared off bees, and brought to the 

 honey-house, eight twelve-frame supers in 

 ten minutes. This, however, is a trifle les^ 

 than the average time taken. 



At some of the yards a small push cart on 

 a wooden track is used. Fig. 4. Mr. Holter- 

 mann is greatly pleased witli this arrange- 

 ment, and expects to install a similar cart 

 and track at each yard. At some of the 

 yards the " democrat " is used for convey- 



* I have learned since writing the above that Mr. 

 Holtermann's entire crop this past season ran some- 

 thing over 80,000 pounds. One apiary averaged over 

 160 pounds to the colony; another, 150 pounds, etc. 

 He fed sugar this fall at the rate of 5 pounds per 

 colony. 



Pig. 3. — Mr. Holtermann and two helpers removing honey from the 

 hives. One helper opens the hives and manipulates the smoker. Mr. H. 

 shakes the combs, then holds them while the second helper with two brushes 

 clears off the few remaining bees. 



Fig. 2.^Gasoline-engine located outside the building, 



and belted to the extractor through a 



hole cut in the wall. 



ing the honey up to the extracting-house. 

 Fig. 5 shows the vehicle in question with 

 empty supers ready to go back to the hive. 

 Each extractor-house has an opening in the 

 side through which the full and empty su- 

 pers are passed to do away with the loss of 

 time and greater danger of robbers caused 

 by opening and shut- 

 ting the regular door, 



THE UNCAPPING - CAN 



VS. THE CAPPING- 



MELTER. 



Mr. Holtermann has 

 never used a capjDing- 

 melter, but has seen it 

 in use enough to make 

 up his mind that he 

 does not want such an 

 outfit for his own use. 

 He figures that the 

 capping-melter, while 

 it melts the wax and 

 separates all of the 

 honey, requires much 

 more attention than an 

 uncapping-can, which 

 time could be used to 

 better advantage at 

 something else during 

 the height of the ex- 

 tracting. Furthermore, 

 while the flavor of the 

 honey need not be in- 

 jured if the meller is 

 properly constructed, 

 yet the color is apt to 

 be darkened slightly. 



The uncapping-cans 

 are shown in Fig. 1. 



