62 



MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTKALASIA 



Just alcove the lioney-gate the reader will notice a 

 dotted line. Before the eappings-melters came under 

 the notice of the bee-keeping world, a wooden rack 

 covered with strong wire mesh rested in the tank on a 

 level with the dotted line, and when so fitted made a very 

 fine uucapping-tank. Apart from the "melters" this is 



Draining Tank. 



the most convenient arrangement. Now having uncapped 

 enough combs and learnt something about how to manage 

 the knife, the next step is to the extractor. 



HAND EXTRACTORS. 



The honey-exti'actor, like the liicycle, having passed 

 through a period of evolution, has reached a stage where 

 it is extremely difficult to suggest any further reduction 

 or addition to its structure. Tlie extractors in general 

 use vary somewhat in the details, but the principle of 

 centrifugal force is adopted l)y all makers. The machines 

 are constructed in various ca]iacities from 2 to 8 frames, 

 and even larger sizes than these are used in America. 



For small a]:)iaries — u]) to fifty colonies — the two- 

 frame extractor (Fig. 35) will accomplish the work easily. 

 Tliese small machines are built on the same lines as the 

 larger ones. A reel working on a \nvot in the bottom 

 of the can or tank, is attached at the toji to a pair of 

 bevelled cog wheels set up on a strong cross-arm of 

 channelled steel. These gear wheels are operated by a 

 handle situated on the end of the siundle at the side of 

 the tank. Two wire cloth pockets or baskets are hung 



