292 Beekeeping 



and to brush or shake off the adhering bees. Bee-escapes 

 (Fig. 31) may be used in removing bees from extracting 

 supers but this is not usually practiced by extensive pro- 

 ducers as it necessitates going to the apiary a day ahead 

 and it is desirable to reduce the trips wherever possible. 

 For the beekeeper with one apiary, these may often be 

 used to advantage. A bee brush (Fig. 28) may be used 

 for brushing off the bees or a bunch of grass or weeds will 

 answer admirably. The combs practically free of bees are 

 then taken to the house for extracting. For carrying these 

 an ordinary hive-body with a cover answers very well and 

 special handles may be put on it to faciUtate carrying, or 

 several bodies may be placed on a wheelbarrow or two- 

 wheeled cart. Some beekeepers have arranged rails through 

 the apiary on which trucks may be run for carrying full 

 bodies in and for returning the empty combs. This is 

 practical for fixed apiary locations but often the professional 

 beekeeper wants to have no apparatus that cannot be moved 

 if desired. 



The greatest care should be exercised while honey is 

 being taken from the hives that the bees do not begin rob- 

 bing. This is especially necessary if extracting is done 

 after the honey-flow has ceased. Should robbing begin, 

 it is often best to stop work for the day, as robbing is not 

 only most annoying to the beekeeper but detrimental to 

 the bees. The feeding of a thin syrup out of doors is some- 

 times practiced to prevent robbing during extracting. 



House for extracting. 



The house where the extracting is done need not differ 

 materially from the honey-house described previously (p. 

 23). If the apiary is on sloping ground, it is preferable 

 to have the colonies above the house, so that the heavy 

 full hives are carried down hill and the empty hives up. 

 To reduce labor, it is desirable that there be an opening 

 for admitting the honey to the house convenient to the 

 uncapping outfit and that the extractor be near at hand. 



