STJPERING, EXTHA.CTING, AND HARVESTING. 69 



labourers. When we remove a super and break up its beautiful tracery 

 in order to secure the honey, each pound of the wax, which may realise 

 about 3s., is all that remains of 151b. of honey at least, besides the labour 

 demanded in giving it its matchless shape. 



All the extractors hitherto brought before the public have depended 

 for their action on centrifugal force. A typical form is seen in our iUua- 

 tration (Fig. 45). Within a zinc or tinplate reservoir, which is commonly 

 supplied with a treacle tap at bottom for draw- 

 ing off the honey, revolves a cage, not unlike an 

 ordinary street lamp divested of its top, and 

 upon the aides of which is tightly strained 

 strong wire work. Through the centre of this 

 cage passes a spindle so geared that it can be 

 made to revolve rapidly. The usual cog-wheels 

 may, in a home-made extractor, be replaced by 

 a cord running round and fastened to the shaft. 

 Pulling the cord, so as to unwind it, will revolve 

 the whole apparatus, while inertia will re-wind 

 and put the cord in condition for a fresh puU. 

 The hive to be robbed is treated to a little smoke, 

 and opened as usual ; and as a precaution, which 

 it is wise never to omit, search is made for the Cehteii-ugal Extkactoe. 

 queen. During our hunt we become acquainted 



with the condition of things, and determine, according to date of year, 

 object in view, &c., the number of combs from which we will extract 

 honey. The outside comb is now removed, and the bees jerked or 

 brushed from it, into the hive at once, or on to the board (see page 33 

 and Pig. 32) so often recommended, the latter will save the young bees 

 "that would otherwise drop on the ground, and will make the loss of the 

 •queen, even with a careless operator, almost impossible. The few re- 

 maining bees may be whisked off with a feather as we walk towards our 

 •extractor. The brood should be disturbed as little as possible, but the 

 sealing from the honey cells, which encloses the nectar in an air-tight 

 case, must be shaved off before the honey can escape, and for this 

 purpose the correct tool is a double edged knife with a long narrow 

 blade, bent up near the point, and almost like a trowel at the handle- 

 Two of these are often employed ; one gets into condition by standing 

 in a narrow vessel of hot water, while the other is in the hand of the 

 operator. The uncapping complete, the frame is dropped into position 

 in the extractor, and the next taken from the hive to be treated as the 

 first, and then .placed opposite to its companion in the cage. This is 

 necessary, for when rotation commences so violent is the strain caused 

 by the effort of the comb to fly off at a tangent, that the whole appa- 

 ratus without this balance would rock and sway in a moat uncomfortable 



