218 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



this case) the uncapping-can over which 

 he is working. In this respect the Day- 

 ton outfit is admittedly superior to the 

 Dadant; but from the manner in which 

 many extracted-honey producers work 

 we question whether the most of them 

 would take kindly to this m.ethod of bal- 

 ancingf the frame on the crosswise arm 

 while uncapping-. The great majority of 

 them usually prefer a sharpened nail- 

 point on which to pivot the frame while it 

 is being handled over the uncapping-can. 



Then we question whether it would be 

 wise for some bee-keepers to attempt to 

 scrape the knife on a hard steel scraper 

 rather than a wooden one. However, if 

 one works carefully there will be no dan- 

 ger of dulling the knife-edge on the metal 

 cleaner; and we can conceive how. when 

 so used, it might be more satisfactory 

 than a wooden device. 



But the uncapping-box has one distinct 

 advantage over any form of circular un- 

 capping arrangement, in that it can ac- 

 commodate a lot of uncapped combs pre- 

 paratory to being put through the extrac- 

 tor. A great majority of the extracted- 

 honey producers we have visited seemed 

 to prefer an oblong box having just enough 

 width to take in a frame that hangs on its 

 regular projections; or in other words, 

 this width is the same as the inside length 

 of the hive. The length of the uncapping- 

 box may be any thing to suit the requir- 

 ment of the producer. As fast as the 

 combs are uncapped they are set down 

 cornerwise; and if the uncappercan work 

 faster than the man with the extractor, 

 he has a place in which to put his surplus 

 combs. The man with the machine can 

 then pick them up as fast as he needs 

 them; or where there is only one operator 

 he can uncap twenty or thirty combs, set 

 them up cornerwise in the uncapping-box, 

 then extract them in twos, fours, or sixes, 

 according to the size of the extractor. 



The average uncapping-box is made so 

 that one can get his feet under it the same 

 as under the Dayton outfit; and it can be 

 made to have all the advantages of a 

 circular can except the one of lightness 

 and portability, with an additional advan- 

 tage of its own that of a reserve space 

 in which combs may be temporarily placed. 



The greatest objection to the plan of 

 heating the uncapping-knives has been 

 the lack of a satisfactory way of obtain- 

 ing the heat. Ordinarily, to keep a fire 

 going on a hot stove would prove a 

 nuisance on a hot day, and the expense of 

 keeping a gasoline stove going continu- 

 ously would be hardly warranted. A 

 small one or two burner kerosene stove 

 answers the purpose very well; but some 



sort of deep pan or tray is necessary to 

 hold the water. 



As a suggestion based on some ideas 

 we have seen in use, we designed an ap- 

 paratus for the purpose. The pan is 9 

 inches long, 6 wide, and 5 deep — the bot- 

 tom being an inch smaller each way than 

 the top. There is a notched division made 

 of >2-inch wood and held to the pan by 

 means of a small screw through the tin 

 into the wood very near the top on each 

 side. This piece of wood should be sawed 

 so that the grain will run vertically, in 

 order to avoid the danger of splitting. 

 The wood can be quickly removed so that 

 the pan may be used for some other pur- 

 pose if desired. 



To use, fill the pan with water up to 

 within Yz inch of the top. This amount 

 of water will last for a long time without 

 getting sticky fromi the honey, and at the 

 same time there is not so much but that 

 it can be heated to the right temperature 

 in half an hour, over an ordinary single- 

 wick oil stove. 



With this arrangement there is no dan- 

 ger of dulling the knives, even if they a're 

 put in carelessly. One knife is left in the 

 water while the other is being used. 



Such a pan could be made at any tin 

 shop for a few cents, and the wooden 

 part sawed or whittled out in a few min- 

 utes. 



I have used a heater for heating the 

 uncapping knife, and would not think of 

 doing without it, but I saw no need for 

 two knives nor for a wooden rest. I used 

 a common bread tin, such as are used for 

 baking bread in. After a comb is uncap- 

 ped, it is necessary to lay down the knife 

 somewhere whi'e the comb is being put 

 aside and another comb taken up, and it 

 is just as easy to lay the knife in the tin 

 of hot water as it is to lay it down any- 

 where, and I have found this period of 

 time sufficient to heat the knife to the re- 

 quired degree. 1 used a two-burner oil 

 stove for heating the water. -Ed. 



Bee-keepers, we can furnish you with the best 



at the lowest prices: and all other up to date goods. 

 Send for catalog and prices. 3-07-tf 



AUGUST LOTZ & SON, Cadott, Wis. 



