STJPEEINe, EXTBiCTING, AND HARVESTING. 71 



at a short distance from the tube, a second and much finer grating may 

 be soldered to the sides of the fminel. For this a piece of the finest 

 wire netting, 4in. by Sin. is required ; it is bound with a narrow border 

 of tin, and soldered in its place. This finer grating will clear the honey 

 of any particle of wax, pollen, &o. The handle of the smielatore is 

 of thick iron wire, curved as shown in the figures, and fixed to the two 

 sides of the smielatore. 



"Sow to use the Smielatore. — Having taken a frame with honey in the 

 comb (if the cells are full and have been sealed up by the bees it will 

 be necessary to cut away the coverings so that the honey may flow freely), 

 lay it on the upper compartment, shut the smielatore, and hang it by 

 loop M on a stout stick, about 5ft. long, .^jr moving the stick, swing 

 the smielatore round a few times, then opaii, ^j turn the frame so as to 

 take the honey on the other side of the comb'i-again swing the smielatore 

 round the stick a few more times and then all the honey that was in the 

 comb will be found in the funnel, and may be drawn off through the 

 tap. Beplace the empty comb in the . hive and in a few days the bees 

 will have refilled it. The same operation may be repeated again and 

 again during the season." 



But little practice will be required before the smielatore can be worked 

 with comfort. Let the first attempt be made with the apparatus empty, 

 two persons holding the pole, L M, which should be of ash, and not less 

 than l^in. in diameter, between them. A circular motion given to both 

 ends of the pole will at once put the smielatore in rotation, and a trial or 

 two will enahle the experimenter to stop it as it comes to the upright 

 position, which is necessary in practice, by first slackening the motion 

 and then taking hold of the iron handle. The knack having been ac- 

 quired, one end of the pole may have the iron loop, embracing a con- 

 veniently placed staple, fixed at its end with screws. A small gi'oove at 

 M, about 20in. from the iron loop, should be out, but not so deeply as to 

 endanger the breaking of the pole. 



A few words must be devoted to those who would manufacture an 

 extractor at home. It is most desirable to make the running gear light, 

 and the can as small as possible ; but as the centrifugal power for the 

 same number of revolutions in a given time varies as the distance from 

 the centre, the middle part of the comb must not, by contracting the 

 cage, be brought too near to the spindle. And as the force acts radially 

 it will be found that, if a wide comb be so placed the strain at the top 

 and bottom of it wiU be as much upon the side of the cell as towards its 

 opening so that more force must be used, with a liability of damaging the 

 comb. The comb should always stand end downwards in an extractor, 

 leaning somewhat outwards above, so that it will keep in place before the 

 apparatus is started, and this position also assists in throwing out the 

 honey as gravity acts along with the centrifugal power. 



