46 



• Once the honey leaves the hives it should be handled as cleanly 

 and expeditiously as possible. Two or three zinc or tin trays are a 

 big help in disposing of drips, &c. ; one placed on the barrow which 

 conveys the supers to the honey-house, and another on the floor of 

 the house to receive the supers prior to uncapping, wiU save much un- 



FiG. 35. — Bbe-brush. 



pleasEintness to clothes and feet. These trays should have small blocks 

 or supports fastened in each comer to raise the supers a httle, so that 

 the drippings from burr-combs may be drained away from the bottom 

 edge of the supers. They are easily washed at the end of the day 

 and drained ready for the next using. 



Uncapping. 



One of the most important processes in the work of extracting is 

 that of uncapping. There are several kinds of knives for the purpose 

 on the market, imt the stiff-bladed double-edged Bingham is usually 

 first favourite. Two of these are necessary, and they must be stood 

 in a pan of water which is kept boiling on a small lamp. Each knife 

 as it becomes cold is returned to the boiling water, and the hot one takes 

 its place. Any contrivance which is used for an uncapping-can should 

 be provided with a cross-bar, through which to pass a screw or similar 

 article, driven point upwards, to form a pivot on which to rest and 



Fig. 36. — Steam-heated Uncapping Knife. 



Photo, F. A. Jacobsen.] 



