Nov. 15, 1911 



693 



H. F. Holtermann's bees in winter quarters, showing the four-colony winter cases and eight-foot fence 

 to form a shelter from the cold winds. 



each in two hours. Warm honey requires a 

 longer time here in Imperial Valley. 



The wax-melter (that I will describe in a 

 later article) might be a little closer to the 

 extractor than shown. Close to the melter 

 is my separator referred to, which I will also 

 describe at a later time. This melts the 

 honey and cappings at a temperature of 

 about 150 degrees, and a trough is made at 

 one side and end to carry away the honey 

 through the three-inch pipe that conveys 

 the honey from the exti actor to the tank. 

 The gasoline-tank for the stove under the 

 melter is located outside the honey-house. 

 By having every thing conveniently ar- 

 ranged I save considerable time in walking 

 while I am working. The wheelbarrow is 

 only three feet from the extractor, and all I 

 do is to step sidewise or back, and then turn 

 to get more combs of honey. Every thing 

 is within reach, and is low enough so I can 

 work to advantage. 



In the morning, when I am ready to ex- 

 tract, I go to the honey-house, lift off the 

 melter, start the gasoline fire, then replace 

 the melter, making sure that it is full of 

 water. I then light the smoker and start 

 off with the wheelbarrow after a load of hon- 

 ey. I first bring in a load of from four to 

 six ten-frame supers that I have prepared 

 the day before. This gives me so much to 

 go on. The rest of the combs have to be 

 brushed and shaken to get the bees off. Mr. 

 George does not use excluders, nor can he 

 use bee-escapes without excluders, the weath- 



er being too hot to permit it. Besides, the 

 bees need all the ventilation which they 

 can get directly, and the y& entrances are en- 

 larged one-half inch by little wooden blocks 

 at each front corner between the bottom- 

 board and hive body. 



When I get my first load into the honey- 

 house I uncap four combs, as the knives 

 are not very hot yet. These I put in the ex- 

 tractor, throw the honey out of one side 

 while I am uncapping two more combs, 

 then reverse the baskets, and, while the 

 machine is still spinning, uncap two more, 

 which completes the four for the next load 

 in the extractor. At this point I take out 

 the four empty combs in the extractor, and 

 put them in the super ready to receive them, 

 then continue with the whole load in the 

 same way. When I return with the next 

 load, the first cappings are all melted, and 

 the knives are good and hot for the rest of 

 the day. After the second load, and from 

 then on, the melter heats the cappings so 

 fast that, when I get through with the last 

 comb, it is nearly dry, so that I have to 

 turn down the fire a little to keep it from 

 boiling over. There is thus nothing to do 

 except to bring in the honey, uncap it, and 

 extract, all the honey, wax, and slumgum 

 being taken care of safely and automatical- 



ly- 



The separator holds more wax than I can 

 uncap in ten or eleven hours. I begin when 

 every super is sealed two-thirds or quite full. 

 My best day's work was when, without help, 



