THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 
48 
back run cross wires, upon which are soldered squares 
(.s-^) of wire cloth, the edges of which have been turned 
back so that the squares stand up about iin., as seen 
in the section B. They are so small that they 
need no stiffening. The section box runs back, and 
brings the half-thickened comb (c) into contact with the 
wire, so that, as the frame stands within the revolving 
cage, it can be extracted in safety. Broken pieces of 
comb may be stood against the wire net of the 
extractor, but a comb-basket is frequently useful. It 
is simply two frames of coarse wire cloth, hinged 
together at about the thickness of natural comb. 
The removal of the sealing (uncapping) is accom- 
plished by a knife, the handle of which is raised 
above the general level of the blade, like that of a 
trowel. The sealing has, all but invariably, behind it 
a film of air* (page 174, Vol. I.), and the object should 
be to cut through this, and so, as far as possible, 
escape actual contact with the honey, the viscosity of 
which so holds the blade, if wide and flat, that good 
work is extremely difficult. Thin-bladed knives, turned 
up near the end, to permit of cutting into hollows, 
are frequently used, but the Bingham - Hetherington 
Knife (A, Fig. 119), is justly the favourite. The 
stout blade is so bevelled (C) that it must be kept 
up from the comb, whereby the “cling” is greatly 
reduced. The edge should be keen, and the hollow 
front {/) permits of sharpening on a hone. It 
* This film of air in part exists in sealing by Cyprian and other 
eastern bees, as may be seen by uncapping under water; but in the 
work of Blacks and Camiolans it is general over the face of the cell, 
and adds much to the beauty of the comb. 
Vol. II. 2 I 
