328 
EXTRACTING 
sions the heel of the knife should be used. 
Then reverse the comb, still keeping the 
top-bar away from you, and slice a thin 
layer also from the other side, using the 
cross-piece to scrape off any cappings that 
may adhere to the knife. 
The uncapped combs may next be placed 
one in each basket of the extractor, the 
top-bar being placed next to the hinge. It 
is quite important to use combs of about 
the same weight opposite each other in the 
extractor, for if not perfectly balanced the 
extractor will run unsteadily and become 
loosened from its support. In a two-frame 
extractor this is especially necessary. In 
the four-frame and larger sizes one need 
not be so particular. In case of old dark 
combs whose cell walls are strengthened by 
many layers of cocoons, there will be but 
little danger of the combs breaking. When 
new combs are extracted—those in which 
brood has never been raised—greater care 
will be necessary to prevent the combs 
from breaking out of the frames. Such 
combs should be extracted until about half 
of the honey is out of the cells of the first 
side. The combs should next be reversed 
and the opposite side entirely extracted, 
and then the remainder of the honey taken 
from the first side. 
The gate of the extractor should be kept 
closed until the honey comes almost up to 
the reel in the extractor; then, when the 
gate is opened the pail will fill quickly, and 
almost no time lost. Leaving the gate of 
the extractor open, so that the honey may 
run into the pail, as fast as it is extracted, 
is bad practice; for sooner or later one 
will let the pail run over on to the floor. 
After drawing the honey into the pail, 
from the faucet, it is then emptied into the 
straining tank, from which it is run into 
60-pound cans, or other receptacles in 
which it is to be stored. 
As fast as the combs are extracted they 
may be again placed in the supers and 
stacked up in the honey-house. Along to¬ 
ward night these may be piled five or six 
on each hive, over a queen-excluder, leav¬ 
ing the bees to clean out the honey still 
adhering. 
The best place for keeping honey is in a 
dry room of even temperature—about 70 
to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Honey should be stored in tin cans, and 
never in large tanks and left to candy, as 
it would be exceedingly difficult to remove 
it for bottling. 
EXTRACTING APPARATUS AND 
METHODS OF LARGE 
PRODUCERS. 
The apparatus and methods of the large 
producers differ from those of the small 
producers to such an extent that- it seems 
well to enter into a detailed description of 
extracting on a larger scale. See Ex¬ 
tractors. 
POWER-DRIVEN HONEY-EXTRACTORS. 
A few years ago a power-driven extrac¬ 
tor was a curiosity, only one or two such 
outfits being in use. Large extractors driv¬ 
en by gasoline engines have now become 
very common. Where access can be had 
to electric current, electric motors are also 
used, and in some localities water motors. 
However, on account of the fact that ex¬ 
tracting plants are usually in isolated 
places the gasoline engine is by far the 
most common source of power. The en¬ 
gines have been perfected to such a point 
that they are very reliable and efficient. 
Twenty years ago it took an expert to 
start, a gasoline engine, and sometimes an¬ 
other one to keep it running. Refinements 
in design brought about by experience of 
designers of automobile engines have ren¬ 
dered the farm gasoline engine a really 
practicable and reliable source of power. 
There are a number of makes of very good 
engines that can be bought for a very low 
price; and since a H/a-horse-power engine 
driving the largest extractor would not con¬ 
sume more than two or three quarts of 
gasoline a day, it can be seen that such ma¬ 
chines are very economical. 
While a l^-horse-power engine is ample 
to drive an eight-frame extractor, there are 
times especially if the honey is cold, that 
a H/^-horse-power engine is taxed to the 
limit. For this reason, and also because 
it is easier to keep a little larger engine 
running steadily without attention, it is 
sometimes advisable to use a two or even a 
three horse-power. 
The method of transmitting the power 
of the engine to the extractor is shown in 
the accompanying illustrations. 
In view of the fact that it is not practic¬ 
able to stop and start the gasoline engine 
