298 



Beekeeping 



Extracting. 



In extracting, care must be exercised not to run the ex- 

 tractor too rapidly as this may break or crush combs, es- 

 pecially new or unwired ones. It is a good practice to 

 extract some honey from one side, to reverse and extract 

 the other side clean and then go back to complete the ex- 

 tracting on the first side. With fragile combs, the honey 

 on the inner side may be forced against the midrib of the 

 comb so strongly as to crush it if the comb is revolved too 



FIG. 123. Honey strainer. 



rapidly in extracting the first side. In placing combs in the 

 extractor, those of about the same weight should be placed 

 opposite each other to prevent swinging of the extractor, 

 thus making it easier for the operator and less wearing on 

 the machine. The honey is thrown against the side of the 

 extractor can and runs down and out an opening provided 

 at the bottom, usually equipped with a honey gate (as in 

 Fig. 121) so that it may be quickly and securely closed. 



Straining the honey. 



Since particles of cappings naturally adhere to the comb 

 and since other foreign matter may get into the honey, 

 including an occasional bee, the honey should be strained 



