THE HONEY-EXTRACTOR OR SLINGER. 125 



may be used in the open air without much trouble, but 

 at other times the operation must 'be performed under 

 cover, or at least not very near the hives, or the Bees will 

 soon find out the prize to be recovered and interrupt 

 operations. The following instructions given by Mr. 

 Root are short and to the purpose. " The best time is 

 when they are busy in the fields, and if the yield is good, 

 you will hardly need any smoke. Carefully remove a 

 frame from the hive, and then with a series of sudden 

 jerks shake the Bees in front of the hive or on top of the 

 frames, as you may find most convenient. When you 

 have shaken off as many as you can, take a bunch of 

 asparagus tops, and gently brush off every Bee in front 

 of the hive. Now with the honey-knife carefully cut the 



Fig. 51- 



cappings from all capped cells : to do this quickly you 

 will slide the knife under the caps in such a way as to 

 have them come off in one entire sheet. When the 

 comb is uncapped it is to be placed in the Extractor ; 

 although you can extract one comb at a time if you 

 choose, it is much better to have two, as they then balance 

 each other, and the friction is less on the bearings. Turn 

 just fast enough (and no faster) to throw out the honey, 

 and there will be no danger of throwing out the brood ; 

 you will soon learn this by practice. Combs so full of 

 brood that there is but little room for honey had bettej 



