82 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



keepers of this state have kept 

 \yell up with tlie times in some re- 

 spects, though the tendency to use 

 as few superfluous things as possi- 

 ble is perhaps to be noted and com- 

 mended as well. But in style and 

 make of honey-extractors I can 

 safely say that apiarists in Santa 

 Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles 

 counties have been in advance of 

 those in any other state ; and, un- 

 til the invention of the Stanley 

 automatic extractor, there was none 

 as good as the California machine. 

 They are made to hold four, six, 

 or eight frames. Some are pro- 

 • vided with breaks that work nicely. 

 The case is generally of strong 

 galvanized iron. The comb-baskets 

 swing around like doors and there- 

 fore when the uncapped combs are 

 put in, they need not be taken out 

 till extracted from both sides. Be- 

 fore the Stanley extractor had been 

 invented, I saw a six frame ex- 

 tractor in which the combs could 

 be turned at one motion by means 

 of a peculiarly arranged rod. Ex- 

 tractors are rarely provided with an 

 arrangement whereby the operator 

 " winds up " a weight, sets the 

 machine going and ma}^ then turn 

 aside to uncap more combs. The 

 comb-baskets are strongly made ; 

 the size of the can gives it solidity 

 and stability, and enables the op- 

 erator to work rapidly by using 

 both hands at once while placing 

 or removing combs, thus accom- 

 plishing each in short order. For 

 a large apiary, an eight frame ex- 

 tractor is to be preferred. For 

 smaller ones the four-frame is large- 

 ly- used. It is hard to say how with 

 eight frame-hives, the six frame 

 extractor can be convenient ; but 

 with the Gallup hive it would be 

 just right provided twelve frame 

 hives were used. 



Gonzales, Cut. 



For the American ApicuUurist. 



FASTENING FOUNDATION 

 IN SECTIONS. 



GJenwood, Kew South Wales, Australia. 

 Editor Amekican '-api." 



Will yon request Mr. W. M. Woodward to 

 give his inetluxl of fastening- foundation in 

 sections both top and bottom, as lie recom- 

 mends on iiase 218, Vol. IV, of your journal? 

 I have tried tlie matter with PaVljer's founda- 

 tion fastener, but could not make it work to 

 my satisfaction. 



Yours etc., 



Major Shallard. 



ANSWER BT W. M. WOODWARD. 



In answer to Mr. Shallard, I 

 must say the fastening of founda- 

 tion at both ends in sections re- 

 quires a large amount of skill to 

 do it well ; but when well done is 

 to my mind far the most superior 

 way. 



Use the Parker fastener made 

 I inch less than the section inside ; 

 cut foundation | less than inside 

 of section, horizontally, and two 

 rows of cells (or three rows will 

 do) larger, perpendicularly ; have 

 a board large enough to lay four, 

 eight or twelve pieces upon it and 

 pick any one off without disturb- 

 ing the rest. Now for the 



MODUS OPERANDI. 



Select a da}-, if possible, when 

 it is very warm and clear, one when 

 the sun shines xevy warm. Place 

 the board before a window, with 

 all currents of air cut off, and 

 table, with fastener on, close before 

 it ; raise the back edge or lower it 

 until you receive just the amount 

 of heat required to warm the wax 

 as fast as you can use it. 



Now, when ready, sit down and 

 at first deliberately place the foun- 

 dation around on the board and 

 watch at first carefully, and as it 

 gets just as limp as you can han- 

 dle it (all over) it is ready. If it 

 turns white, it is too warm and 

 will break. 



