88 
On Rational Bee-Keeping, 
CHAPTER XV. 
EXTRACTION OF THE HONEY— DESCRIPTION 
OF THE EXTRACTOR. 
The most favourable time for depriving a hive 
of its honey is that at which the h^es are able 
to replace it. This is also the time when honey 
is in its most liquid state, and when the warmth 
facilitates its separation from the comb by means 
of the extractor. 
When you wish to take honey from a hive, 
after having removed the bees, choose that 
comb which has least pollen in it — a fact which 
can be ascertained by holding it up to the 
light; the comb must then be placed on a 
closely platted wicker-basket, or on a sieve, and 
the back of a knife or the finger should then 
be passed over on each side without crushing 
it. It should then be placed in the extractor, 
and the honey, which will flow into the jar 
