724 Preparation of Honey for Market, [march, 



Honey improves in flavour and density while ripening in the 

 hive, therefore the super-frames should not be removed until 

 they are well sealed over. If the bees are given all the 

 storage room they can occupy, so long as there is nectar to be 

 gathered they will bring it home quite irrespective of the 

 quantity already in store. It is a mistake to suppose that by 

 extracting unripened honey and returning the empty combs 

 the bees are induced to work more vigorously. 



Fermentation is the great enemy of extracted honey, but it can 

 only affect badly ripened honey or honey exposed to moisture 

 and warmth ; so, should it be necessary to extract unripe honey, 

 it should be returned to the bees for re-storing and ripening. 

 Extraction is done by means of a machine consisting of a 

 tinned-iron can, within which is a vertical spindle carrying a 

 pair of cages to hold the frames of honey-comb and made to 

 revolve rapidly by means of a simple hand-gear. Before placing 

 the frames of comb in the cages they must be uncapped. To do 

 this quickly and without waste special uncapping knives are used ; 

 • they should be heated in a tin of water kept hot over a small 

 spirit or oil lamp. The full frame, held by one lug in the 

 left hand, the other lug resting on a large dish and with the 

 top edge overhanging, has its capping removed with the sharp, 

 hot knife by a gentle, slightly sawing, downward cut, passing 

 just beneath the surface and removing as little as possible of 

 the honey. If held with sufficient overhang the detached sheet 

 of capping will fall clear of the frame. A pair of frames having 

 been uncapped they are placed in the cages of the extractor 

 and made to revolve rapidly with their bottom bars leading ; 

 the centrifugal force throws out the honey, and when one side 

 has been emptied the frames are reversed and the other side 

 treated in the same manner. 



The full sealed frames of comb having been carried into the 

 store-room should be sorted by holding up to the light, and all 

 those containing dark or second quality honey separated from 

 the better ones. 



Uncap and extract the contents of the best combs, and then 

 strain the honey through a bag made of cheesecloth which will 

 remove all loose particles of wax. Tin cans, with strainer and 

 honey tap, made to contain 561b. or 112 lb., can be obtained, 



