82 THE BOOK OF THE HONEY BEE 



Before the combs are placed in the extractor, it is 

 necessary to remove the cappings. Various knives 

 have been devised for the purpose. An ordinary- 

 Christy bread-knife answers admirably. Whatever 

 form of knife be used, it must first be immersed in 

 hot water and wiped dry. To uncap, firmly grasp a 

 frame by one end of the top bar, resting the other end 

 on a dish, taking care that the comb is inclined out- 

 wards. Now commence with the warm knife to cut 

 upwards, and the sheet of cappings will fall clear of 

 the comb. Reverse the comb, and in the same manner 

 uncap the opposite side. When two combs are un- 

 capped, place them in the extractor. Seeing that the 

 cells incline towards the top bar, the frames should be 

 so placed that the bottom bar travels foremost. Ex- 

 perience will soon indicate the amount of speed neces- 

 sary to thoroughly extract the honey. To avoid all 

 risk of breaking new combs, only partially extract from 

 one side at as low a speed as possible. Reverse and 

 extract as much as possible from the other side, again 

 reverse and complete the extraction from the side first 

 operated upon. By this mode of procedure we avoid 

 the pressure exerted by the full inner side of the comb 

 upon the outer empty side. 



After extraction, replace the combs in the surplus 

 chamber, and when this is full, replace in the hive at 

 night, when the bees are quiet. Withdraw the tin 

 slide in the super clearer. The bees will ascend, and 

 during the night thoroughly clean up the dripping 

 combs. In the morning put in the slide, and by even- 

 ing the super will be found clear of bees and the combs 

 perfectly clean and dry. 



Heather honey, owing to its greater consistency, is 

 difficult to extract. In consequence, in heather districts 

 it is better to secure the crop in the form of comb 

 honey. If, however, extracted honey is required, the 



