120 PLEASUBABLE BEE-KEEPING. 



Mr. Meadows, who has earned fame as a manufac- 

 turer of these useful machines, introduced into the 

 cylinder pattern a special backing which prevents the 

 bulging and consequent breaking of the combs. This 

 has now been fitted to the latest pattern " Cowan " 

 extractor, as manufactured and sold by Mr. A. I. 

 Boot in America, and forms a machine which, com- 

 pared with its predecessors, is perfection. The cages 

 are moved by gearing fixed at the side of the extractor, 

 a much more convenient arrangement than if at the 

 top. In some extractors of the "Cowan" pattern 

 the cages are fixed on pivots, so that when one side 

 of the comb is emptied, a moye of the cage places it 

 against the next side of the square of ironwork, with 

 the other side towards the wall of the extractor, thus 

 doing away with the necessity for removing the combs 

 for reversal. The speed at which the cages must 

 revolve to effectively drive out the honey, without at 

 the same time breaking the tender combs, can only be 

 learnt by practice. 



Honey should be extracted from sealed combs only, 

 and in warm weather. It is a great mistake to leave 

 this work until late in the season, for then the bees 

 quickly decrease in numbers, and the internal heat of 

 the hive being thereby lessened, as well as the external 

 temperature, the honey becomes thick and difficult to 

 eject from the combs, even by turning the cages at 

 great speed. This is especially the case with honeys 

 that quickly candy. Therefore, though it is advisable 

 to leave the honey on the hive to allow of proper 

 ripening, it must not remain during cold weather. 



