152 AUSTRALASIAN 



cally by simply reversing the motion of the gearing. A sort of 

 rachet movement is fixed in the upper arms, by which the 

 reversing is effected. 



PREPARING COMBS FOR EXTRACTING. 



As a rule the combs intended for extracting are left in the 

 hives until the cells are sealed or capped. This is a sure indi- 

 cation that the honey is in good condition, as the bees will not 

 seal up any which has not been properly " ripened." In cool 



CZ 



Fig. 68.-BOOI'S UNCAPPING KNIFE. 



and moist weather, when the nectar brought in by the bees is 

 very thin, it is hardly safe to extract the honey before it is 

 sealed, as it may, if not artificially ripened afterwards by 

 evaporation, show a tendency to ferment. In hot weather, 

 however, when the honey is pretty thick, it may safely be 

 extracted as soon as the cells are filled and before the bees 

 have had time to seal them over. When this can be done it 

 saves much valuable time, some labour, and some injury to the 

 combs, inseparable from the process called " uncapping." In 

 most cases, however, some portion, if not all the surface of the 



Fig. 69.— BINGHAM AND HETHERINGTON KNIFE, WITH 

 CAP-CATCHES. 



comb, will require to be uncapped before being put into the 

 extractor, and for this purpose an uncapping knife is necessary. 

 These are made of various forms, two of which are shown 

 above. 



The blade of the knife is of steel, thin, and sharpened on 

 both sides. The Bingham and Hetherington knife takes more 

 of the form of a trowel, except that it is much thicker in the 

 blade and has bevelled edges. After using both kinds I much 



