go PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 



although' for my own part I much prefer a good 

 honey, of a medium colour. However, the fact 

 remains that light honey is synonymous with high' 

 prices, and in this respect there is no dark honey 

 that can compete with it save and except the 

 incomparable heather honey of the Scottish moors. 

 This grading of honey must be done very care- 

 fully, for a very little dark honey will spoil the 

 colour and bring down the price of a large quan- 

 tity of light. The combs should be tested in a 

 good light. After grading the extracting must 

 be proceeded with, and for this purpose an jex-, 

 tractor will be required, and also a few other 

 necessary articles. The honey extractor consists 

 of a metal cylinder, within which revolve two 

 or more cages fixed to a vertical central shaft. 

 The honey is extracted by uncapping and placing 

 combs in the cages, which are then caused to 

 rotate swiftly / by means of a handle at the top 

 or side, which handle in most cases is fitted with 

 chain or cog gearing. The honey is thrown out 

 by centrifugal force against the sides of the 

 cylinder, and runs to the bottom, whence it is 

 drawn off by means of a honey valve. All ex- 

 tractors work on this principle, and the machines 

 run in different sizes, taking either two or four 

 combs as a rule to each filling. As to which' 

 size is necessary depends on the amount of work 

 which has to be performed and the price which the 

 buyer wishes to pay, which may be anywhere 

 from fifteen to fifty, shillings. 



