THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 
479 
a board, or, better, a permanent iron thimble (^, C). 
The whole now receives a whirling motion, by a sway 
of the hand, which grasps the loose handle {Ih, B). 
As the velocity increases, the honey [li, C) is thrown 
out into the side can, where centrifugal force keeps it 
heaped up. It may from time to time be drawn off from 
the neck {n). For portability nothing can equal this 
little extractor, which does its work perfectly, although 
at a rather heavy expenditure of labour, as the honey 
has to be kept going together with the comb ; it is, 
in the hands of the novice, a little likely to fly from 
its socket ; the iron thimble is therefore strongly 
recommended. 
Extractors, and all vessels used to hold syrup, should 
under no circumstances be made of galvanised (zinc- 
coated) iron (page 382), as the zinc and iron form a 
galvanic* couple favouring an attack by the acid of the 
honey. Sugar also has a reducing action, and is capable 
of replacing five atoms of its hydrogen by the metal, 
forming a poisonous compound, which in large quantity 
in the honey is dangerous, and in small amount is 
abolutely fatal to delicate flavour. Zinc vessels are 
nearly equally unsuitable, and syrup kept in such, 
especially if it be thin, is liable to become so impreg- 
nated as to poison bees fed with it. I have had 
such cases under microscopic examination. The can 
may with advantage have a sufficient space beneath 
the cage to hold qolb. or 501b. t before emptying 
becomes necessary ; and if the material be tinned iron. 
*F. Cheshire, in British Bee-keepers' Journal, Vol. XIV., pages 532, 
573 - 
t An I Sin. can holds I2lb. for ever}'^ inch of its depth. 
