Producing Good Honey loi 



Some of the advantages this uncapping-tank has over the cracker-barrel 

 tank, placed over a wash-tub, as we have been using in years back, are, 

 first, the greater capacity; second, larger drainage surface, thus leaving a 

 less per cent of honey in the cappings; third, sanitary, as the honey as it 

 drains from the cappings is enclosed, and away from the bees, etc., except 

 as it runs out into the pail under the gate; fourth, convenience. One of the 

 most disagreeable and "sticky" manipulations about the harvesting of a crop 

 of extracted honey, where cracker-barrels are used for uncapping-tanks, is 

 the lifting of the tanks, heavy with honey and cappings; then, each night, 

 sometimes oftener, the emptying of large tubs heavy with honey. 



UNCAPPING. 



After the honey is off the hives, and warmed up, the biggest part 

 of the remaining work is that of uncapping the combs. ' If they are 

 thick and "bulging," they can be uncapped much more easily. If only 

 eight combs are used in a ten-frame super they will be of this class, 

 when, by cutting deeply, so as to leave the combs only about one incli 

 thick, each side can be uncapped with one "fell swoop." It was hard 

 for me to get over the feeling that I ought to uncap as thinly as pos- 

 sible — that thick cappings were like thick parings from a potato — but 

 it really makes little difference whether the honey goes through the 

 extractor or drains from the cappings. 



Aery new combs or ver)- old ones do not tmcap as easily as those 

 that are between the extremes. An old comb that has recently been 

 drawn out thick — that is, the bees have lengthened the cells, partly with 

 new wax and partly with wax taken from the old comb, is about the 

 nicest comb to uncap. The lower part of the comb has a stiffness or 

 stability, while the upper part has sufficient softness to make it cut 

 easily. A man can aft'ord to go to a lot of pains and expense to get 

 exactly the right kind of combs to use in his supers — old combs spread 

 wide out^ — as the saving of time in uncapping is very important. 



To uncap a comb, rest one end upon the nail-point of the cross-piece 

 over the tank. Stand the comb in a nearly upright position. Hold it 

 with the left hand, grasping it near the upper end. Begin at the lower 

 end to uncap, giving the knife a sort of slanting, shaving movement, 

 such as a barber gives his razor, drawing it back and forth as it cuts 

 its way upward, at the same time slanting the comb slightly forward 

 (toward the knife) so that the cappings, as they break off, will drop 

 into the barrel instead of upon the surface of the comb. 



To do the best work when uncapping, the knife ought to be sharp, 

 hot, and wet. Only the man who has tried it can realize the difference 

 between such a knife and one that is cold, dull, and dry. I formerly 

 used a little two-burner oil-stove standing upon a barrel at m)- elbow, 

 and upon the stove a tin or pail filled with water. When through un- 



