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 
AUIS 
we 
Fig. 68._ROOT’S UNC 
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-CATCHER,. 
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 
