The Production of Extracted-Honey 293 



These should be on a high level in the house, if practicable, 

 so that from the time the honey runs from the extractor, 

 its course is down hill to the final container. It is worth 

 the effort to pay considerable attention to this feature, for 

 if the honey must be lifted at any part of its journey a great 

 amount of labor is involved in large apiaries where tons 

 of honey are extracted in a season. If such an arrangement 

 is not feasible, a honey-pump (Fig. 122) may be used, as is 

 described later. 



Portable extracting outfits. 



In sections where at times it is desirable to move apiaries 

 or where several out-apiaries are under one management, 

 it is occasionally advantageous to have a portable extracting 

 outfit which is virtually an extracting house on wheels. 

 A well-screened wagon is fitted with uncapping cans, ex- 

 tractors (with power if desired) and all the necessary equip- 

 ment. As the honey is extracted, it can be run into a tank 

 under the wagon bed or into barrels or cans. If desired a 

 tank wagon to carry the honey may accompany the outfit. 

 Some beekeepers have found portable buildings (built in 

 sections) preferable, in which case one is put in each apiary. 

 If these are used, it is better to have a full extracting outfit 

 at each apiary. 



Uncapping. 



When the full combs of honey reach the extracting house, 

 the first manipulation is uncapping. This is done with a 

 specially constructed knife, 

 of which there are several 

 types (Fig. 116). Of these 

 the Bingham knife with 

 heavy wide blade is best. 



The knife should be kept ^'°- "6. -Uncapping knives: upper, 

 '^ Novice; lower, Bingham. 



sharp, clean and hot, and 



when the usual knives are used, each operator is pro- 

 vided with two so that one may be kept in hot water, to 



