PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 49 
“less angle. Here the idea is to make the comb conform to the knife 
by shaving all down to the-lowest level. An example of this style 
is the Quinby knife. They both have their advantages, but for rapid 
work, the Quinby seems to serve better, although there is in its use 
the disadvantage of having a good deal of honey in the cappings. 
To hold these cappings and permit them to drain, some sort of an 
uncapping can must be provided. Where only a few hives are kept 
a milk strainer over a tin pail answers the purpose. Where more 
bees are kept, what is known as a Dadant uncapping can is a good 
investment. This consists of two parts. The lower portion is 
simply a can with a faucet in it to drain the honey off. The upper 
portion is another can but with a heavy wire cloth bottom to allow 
the honey to drain into the can below. To support the weight of 
the cappings a post is set in the center of the lower can. Across 
the top of the upper can is placed a wooden frame in which there is 
a pivot where the comb can be rested and turned as the cappings 
are being removed. This also provides a place where the cappings 
~can be scraped from the knife without danger of dulling the latter. 
After the cappings have drained long enough or until they cease to 
drip which would be several days or longer, they may be dumped 
into a pail or tub and washed, scrubbing the wax with the hands. 
Warm water, not hot enough to melt the wax, will dissolve off the 
thick honey better. Then the water can be drained off and utilized 
Fig. 18.—The Bingham uncapping knife. 
in the production of vinegar. As a simple test to see if it is of the 
right constituency, an egg may be floated in it, honey or water being 
added until the egg just floats. The proportion of honey for vinegar 
should be one pound of honey to a gallon of soft water, preferablv 
rain water. A vinegar barrel may be used filling it not more than 
two-thirds full and giving plenty access of air by placing it on its 
side in the sun and opening the side and end bungs, covering the 
openings with fine wire gauze to prevent the entrance of gnats. 
To hurry along the process of fermentation some mother of vinegar 
may be added or a gallon of previously made honey vinegar or 
