EXTRACTING.—Chapter XIII. 
cleats nailed on lengthwise of the 
box. The box and tray are placed 
at the right height for easy uncap- 
ping, the outlet end of the tray be- 
ing somewhat lower than the oppo- 
site end,.and just above the recep- 
tacle into which the honey from 
the cappings is to drain. 
Not far from the extractor 
should also be a straining-can in 
which is suspended a large cheese- 
cloth bag attached to a hoop sup- 
A plain box with a screen on the bottom, ported’by the top of the can. Too 
the box resting on a metal tray, makes a much honey should not be drawn 
good capping receptacle. from this can. There should always 
be enough left to cover the bottom: 
of the strainer at least; for, if the honey gets low, the cappings that would 
otherwise float on the surface of the liquid will collect on the strainer and 
soon clog it. 
Actual Process of Extracting. 
The supers of combs to be extracted should be placed within easy reach 
of the uncapping receptacle that is to catch the cappings as they are cut 
off from the combs. Then one at a time the combs are removed and held 
with the top-bar away from the operator, and the end-bar resting on the 
nail-point of the cross-bar. Holding the upper end of the frame with the 
left hand, and tilting the upper end slightly to the right so that the cap- 
pings may fall freely, begin at the lower end of the comb with an ordi- 
nary uncapping-knife heated by dipping in hot water (if no steam-heated 
knife is to be had), cut 
the cappings from the en- 
tire right side of the comb, 
performing the operation 
with a kind of sawing 
motion. If the comb con- 
tains any depressions, the 
heel of the knife should 
be used to remove the 
cappings in such depres- 
sions. Then reverse the 
comb, still keeping the 
top-bar away from the 
operator, using the cross- 
piece to scrape off any 
cappings that may ad- 
here to the knife. 
The uncapped combs 
may next be placed one 
in each basket of the ex- 
tractor, with the top-bar Uncapping combs with a steam-heated uncapping-knife. 
81 
