292 
Beekeeping 
and to brush or shake off the adhering bees. Bee-escapes 
(Fig. 31) may be used in removing bees from extracting 
supers but this is not usually practiced by extensive pro¬ 
ducers as it necessitates going to the apiary a day ahead 
and it is desirable to reduce the trips wherever possible. 
For the beekeeper with one apiary, these may often be 
used to advantage. A bee brush (Fig. 28) may be used 
for brushing off the bees or a bunch of grass or weeds will 
answer admirably. The combs practically free of bees are 
then taken to the house for extracting. For carrying these 
an ordinary hive-body with a cover answers very well and 
special handles may be put on it to facilitate carrying, or 
several bodies may be placed on a wheelbarrow or two¬ 
wheeled cart. Some beekeepers have arranged rails through 
the apiary on which trucks may be run for carrying full 
bodies in and for returning the empty combs. This is 
practical for fixed apiary locations but often the professional 
beekeeper wants to have no apparatus that cannot be moved 
if desired. 
The greatest care should be exercised while honey is 
being taken from the hives that the bees do not begin rob¬ 
bing. This is especially necessary if extracting is done 
after the honey-flow has ceased. Should robbing begin, 
it is often best to stop work for the day, as robbing is not 
only most annoying to the beekeeper but detrimental to 
the bees. The feeding of a thin syrup out of doors is some¬ 
times practiced to prevent robbing during extracting. 
House for extracting. 
The house where the extracting is done need not differ 
materially from the honey-house described previously (p. 
23). If the apiary is on sloping ground, it is preferable 
to have the colonies above the house, so that the heavy 
full hives are carried down hill and the empty hives up. 
To reduce labor, it is desirable that there be an opening 
for admitting the honey to the house convenient to the 
uncapping outfit and that the extractor be near at hand. 
