/It I -I'etjiDif/ ill ]' ictdjid . 



locality I would recommend obtaining a two-frame Cowan reversible 

 at the start, as the difference between it and the Novice is not more 

 than 10s. to 12s. 6d. 



Whatever kind of extractor is used, the same general rules will 

 apply; but it should be borne in mind that the smaller the diameter 

 of the extractor the faster it has to be turned to remove the honey 

 from the combs, and the more liable are the latter to fracture, because 

 the nearer the comb is to the centre shaft the more divergence there 

 is in the direction of the centrifugal force acting on the comb at 

 different points. 



"When inserting uncapped combs into the extractor-baskets or 

 withdrawing empty ones, it should be done without brushing against 

 the wire screen, otherwise the cells will become burred, preventing 



Fig. 4. — Extracting Plant of Large Modem Apiary. 



the honey coming clean out of the cells, and causing unnecessary 

 work to the bees. This bruising of the cells will also occur in 

 uncapping the combs when the combs are tough and the knife blunt. 

 The uncapping knife should be as sharp as a razor. Extracting combs 

 should be straight, and present an even surface after being uncapped, 

 so as to rest evenly against the wire screen of the extractor-baskets. 



Before extracting is commenced the honey should be properly ripe. 



Unripe honey is inferior in density and flavour, granulates sooner, 

 and, when too thin and containing tannic acid, will even become very 

 dark M-hen it comes in contact witii iron. Most Australian hone.vs 

 contain tannic acid in traces; but, when properly ripe, the acid does 

 not act on the iron of the tins. No general rule can be laid down 



