PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 49 



less angle. Here the idea is to make the comb conform to the knife 

 by shaving all down to the lowest level. An example of this style 

 is the Quinby knife. They both have their advantages, but for rapid 

 work, the Quinby seems to serve better, although there is in its use 

 the disadvantage of having a good deal of honey in the cappings. 

 To hold these cappings and permit them to drain, some sort of an 

 uncapping can must be provided. Where only a few hives are kept 

 a milk strainer over a tin pail answers the purpose. Where more 

 bees are kept, what is known as a Dadant uncapping can is a good 

 investment. This consists of two parts. The lower portion is 

 simply a can with a faucet in it to drain the honey off. The upper 

 portion is another can but with a heavy wire cloth bottom to allow 

 the honey to drain into the can below. To support tbe weight of 

 the cappings a post is set in the center of the lower can. Across 

 the top of the upper can is placed a wooden frame in which there is 

 a pivot where the comb can be rested and turned as the cappings 

 are being removed. This also provides a place where the cappings 

 can be scraped from the knife without danger of dulling the latter. 

 After the cappings have drained long enough or until they cease to 

 drip which would be several days or longer, they may be dumped 

 into a pail or tub and washed, scrubbing the wax with the hands. 

 Warm water, not hot enough to melt the wax, will dissolve off the 

 thick honey better. Then the water can be drained off and utilized 



Fig. 13. The Bingham uncapping knife. 



in the production of vinegar. As a simple test to see if it is of the 

 right constituency, an egg may be floated in it, honey or water being 

 added until the egg just floats. The proportion of honey for vinegar 

 should be one pound of honey to a gallon of soft water, preferablv 

 rain water. A vinegar barrel may be used filling it not more than 

 two-thirds full and giving plenty access of air by placing it on its 

 side in the sun and opening the side and end bungs, covering the 

 openings with fine wire gauze to prevent the entrance of gnats. 

 To hurry along the process of fermentation some mother of vinegar 

 may be added or a gallon of previously made honey vinegar or 



