OR, MANUAl, OF XHK APIARY. 323 



Some of these early extractors, like the Peabody, ran without 

 gearing ; others, like Mr, Baldridge's, were of wood, while 

 Mr. Langstroth's, if we may judge from the engraving, was 

 very much like the ones of to-day. 



DBSIRABI^E POINTS IN AN EXTRACTOR. 



The machine (Fig. 146) should be as light as is consistent 

 with strength. It is desirable that the can be made of tin, as 

 it will be neater and more easily kept sweet and clean. The 

 can should be stationary, so that only a light frame (Fig. 147) 

 shall revolve with the comb. In some of the extractors (Fig. 

 147) the walls of this frame incline. This keeps the frames 

 from falling in when the machine is at rest, but varies the 

 centrifugal force at the top and bottom of the comb, which is 

 urged as an objection. Of course this difference in force is 

 very slight. Some of the extractors, like the United States 

 (Fig. 146), are made so that the whole center can be removed in 

 a moment, and with the central axis removed so that combs can 

 be reversed without removal from the extractor, both of which 

 are substantial improvements. But the most decided improve- 

 ment is seen in the automatic extractor. This extractor (Fig. 

 149) is so made that the combs can be quickly reversed without 

 removal from the extractor. This machine, although it costs 

 more than any other, will be especially prized in large apiaries. 

 By simply reversing the motion the combs are also reversed. 



It is desirable that the machine should run with gearing, 

 not only for ease, but also to insure or allow an even motion, 

 so that we need not throw even drone-larvae from the brood- 

 cells while in the act of extracting. In some machines the 

 crank runs in a horizontal plane (Fig. 146), in others in a ver- 

 tical plane (Fig. 148). Both styles have their friends. I think 

 there is little choice between them. The arrangement for exit 

 of the honey should permit a speedy and perfect shut-off. A 

 molasses-gate is excellent to serve for a faucet. I also prefer 

 that the can should hold 30 or 40 pounds of honey before it 

 would be necessary to let the honey flow from it. Large api- 

 arists, like Mr. Mclntyre, use power to run the extractor, and 

 let the honey run continuously into a large tank below. 



In case of small frames, I should prefer that the comb- 



