EXTRACTION OF HONEY, ETC. 185 



CHAP. XXIV. 



EXTRACTION OF HONEY AND WAX. 



X H E hives fhould be kept in a warm 

 room, till the combs are taken out ; fince 

 the honey will drain out the fconer while 

 in a fluid ftate. Turn the hive upfide down, 

 cut through the ends of the fpleets clofe to 

 the hive; then with a broad but thin knife 

 cut through the edges of all the combs, clofe 

 to the hive, and lift it on a clean board, or 

 mallow difh, having firft taken off" the ftraw 

 cover. Then, by a chiffel or wedge, force 

 the body of the hive up, which will be ef- 

 fected if the ends of the combs have been 

 properly loofened ; and by this means the 

 combs will all be preferved in their natural 

 order, as fixed at their tops to the frame of 

 bars : difengage thzm Jingly with the knife, 

 cutting a notch out of each, where it is faf- 

 tened to the fpleet (which keeps the combs 



all 



