THE APIARY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4534, 2 March 1923, Page 1

THE APIARY.

EXPERT’S ADVICE. EXTRACTING. If the bees received adequate attention, and have been supplied with sufficient super accommodation, there should be some honey fit for extracting before the end or January. The’.’e will still be a flow of honey, however, and, consequently, more or less unripe honey in the hives ; it will therefore be necessary to make a point of seeing that any combs taken from the hive for-extracting purposes are sealed. While it may not be detrimental if an odd comb or two in an extracting is not fully sealed, the apiarist cannot afford to risk many combs with even a quarter of the honey unsealed. The safer course for the less experienced beekeeper is to take off nothing but fully sealed combs. Escape boards are sometimes a convenience in taking off honey for extracting. Boards made for the greater part of wire cloth are preferable, as they permit of the warmth . from the bees rising to the honey; such boards are obtainable from dealers in beekeepers’ supplies. It will be necessary to see that there is no brood' in the combs above the escape board; the bees will not go down if any of the combs contain brood. If the boards are inserted late in the afternoon all the bees will have gone down tp the brood chamber before the following morning, and the boriey can be taken off without disturbing them. When taking off honey keep a sharp lookout for foul-brood. The honey from diseased colonies should 'not be put through the extractor until all other extracting is finished. The combs from infected colonies should be destroyed after the honey has been extracted.

' i THE HONEY HOUSE. Most beekeepers who have only a few colonies of bees will make use of existing buildings for extracting. It will be necessary, however, to select a building that can be made beeproof. If nothing better offers, a tent may be used for the provided it is made bee-proof. If necessary floor space sufficient to take the extractor, uncapping can, and a few supers can be made to answer the purpose, but where it is practicable .a floor space of. not less than 100 square feet should be provided. THE EXTRACTOR. A extractor will answer the purpose for anything up to fifty colonies. If the apiary contains nothing but full-size frames an extractor fitted with lOin reversible baskets should be selected, preferably ( one m which the baskets are removable by simply withdrawing a hinge rod. While automatic reversing gear is essential in the four-frame extractors, it is rather a detriment in the twoframe size; there is not sufficient room for both baskets to reverse at the same time as in the larger sizes, and in following each other they frequently jam. It is more satisfactory tq reverse the baskets by hand. If half-depth frames are used, 12in baskets will be required. THE UNCAPPING KNIFE. What is known as the Bingham knife is the one in general use. It is necessary to make some provision for keeping it warm, and this can be accomplished by immersing it in hot water. The simplest arrangement for providing this consists of a shallow tray about 3in deep, made by cutting a benzine tin to that depth, heated by a single-burner Perfection lamp. It is an advantage to have two knives, so that one can be warming while the other is being used for uncapping the honey. A good steam knife is preferable when there is sufficient extracting to warrant the outlay. THE CAPPING MELTER. A capping melter' is not essential, but it is a very useful adjunct. There are several melters on the market. Some are designed to deal not only with cappings but also with full-size combs of thick honey. If pnly the melting of cappings tyas to be provided for one of the less expensive makes is all that is required. The makers of the melter selected will advise as to the best means of heting. If the) heat arising from the melter is found to the best means of heating. If the be uncapped over an uncapping can or box, and the cappings allowed to drain for twenty-four hours before being melted. A hive-body,, with strips %in square nailed a.t %in intervals across the bottom, placed in a tray with a lip provided at one end to drain off the honey, answers admirably as an uncapping box. It is necessary also to nail a strip across the top to rest the frame of honey on while uncapping.

HONEY TANK. It will be necessary to provide a vessel of some description as a container for the honey after it has been extracted; the size will depend on the crop expected to be handled. A round galvanised iron or tinned steel tank 34in in width and 36in deep will hold half a ton of honey, and is a Very convenient size for a small apiary. A strainer made of cheese-cloth or fine wire gauze will be required. The tank,, which should be fitted with a 2in honey gate, should be placed on a stand high enough from the floor to get a 601 b honey tin comfortably under the tap. The extractor should be placed on a similar platform, and securely anchored with anchor rods, usually supplied with extractors. The honey should be allowed to remain in the tank for forty-eight hours, for tfhe scuin to rise, before it is run into the export tins or other conainers.