The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-06
COLUMN.
THE HONEY EXTRACTOR.

THE HONEY EXTRACTOR.
To old bee-keepers we expect this will be
ga twice told tale" "Still, perhaps, many ,
readers of the Rural are not aware that
there is a machine that will take the honey
from the comb without injury to either comb |
or honey. The common way few years
ago was TO birthstone The bees, and take the .
comb, honey, bee-bread and all, and strain
the conglomeration. This antique method |
gave a mixture that was very unpalatable, |
as it contained not only honey, but was
really a compound of pollen, bee stingsjuice
Of young bees, wax, and besides all this it
was highly colored and scented by old dirty
comb. 1t is easy to judge how unhealthful
honey obtained in this manner must be.
We are induced to write on this subject for
the benefit of those who are unacquainted
with the extractor, and also TO show what
an excellent article of food pure honey is.
The honey extractor was inyeuted some
resident of Venice, Italy. The first machines
were rudy constructed, but Yankee inge-
nuity hos been improving on them for sew
eral years'past As every new feature was
added it was received with equal favor on
both sides of the Atlantic, and to-day Am
erican extractors are nearly as common in
Great Britain as they are In our own coun-
try. We haYe chosen the latest improved
extractor to illustrate this subject with. 1t
the production of the editor of the Bee Keep
er's Magazine, Mr.. A. J. King, of New York
City, formerly Of California.
The can is larger than that of similar ma
chimes. By having it made SO, a larger
basket may be used and larger receptacle
at the bottom is had for the honey. This is
convenient for persons having few stands,
as well as for the bee keeper who counts
his hives by the hundred. 1t will not only
take the largest frame in use, but also the
smallest, and by simple device the cap
pings and all pieces comb can be freed from
honey. The revolving basket that receives
the combs, rests on a cone-shaped metal
stand, that rises from the centre of the bot
tom high enough to hold over FIFTEEN gal
Ions of honey before it reaches the pivot.
The pivot is out of the honey, thereby pre-
vent it from becoming dscolored. The las
ket is light but strongly made, and will
stand the severest strain required in ex-
tracing thick honey. The overmotion
gearing is of the best and strongest construc-
tion, and gives great ease in running and
facilitates operating. But few turns of the
crank are required to throw out the most
obstinate honey. The bottom slants from
all sides to the centre and q channel con-
ducts it to the faucet. When the honey is
allowed to remain in the bottom for any
length of time all specls of combs, etc.. will
come to the top, leaving it clear, and in this
state it may be drawn on,saving the trouble
some process of stnining. Lids that fit
tightly prevent dust and insects from enter
ing the can when not in use. This new ex-
tSactor Is highly commended by all that
have used it during the past season. 1t re-
ceiyed the first premium at the late Mich-
gan State Fair.
To those unfamiliar with the operation of
extracting, We will describe it as briefly as
possible for them. The comb is taken from
the hive; the bees are taken or brushed off,
carried to extractor, uncapped with a knife
especially made for the purpose two frames
are placed in at time; a few turns of the
crank throws the honey out of the comb by
centrifugal force without injuring it; the
frames are then reversed SO that the other
side may receive a similar "whirl." The
combs are now ready to be returned to the
bees to be reflled.
Thus it is seen that the comb is saved and
the bees woste no time or honey in making
new comb. 1t is generally conceded that
twenty pounds of honey are required to pro-
duce one pound of wax, thus it is plain that
by the use of the extractor twenty pounds
of honey is saved for every pound of wax
that would otherwise haye to be made, not
saying anything about the time that would
have to be consumed in making it. Again,
honey obtained in this way is perfectly pure
and IS not tainted with any foreign subs
tance, consequently it is more healthful than
strained honey or even comb honey-wax is
said, on good authority, to be indigestble.
The many uses to which it can be put, and
the many good results it will accomplish IN
the apiary, are too numerous to be named
in single article. Its use is becoming
worldwide, and no where are they more
required than in this state.
A good honey extractor should be owned
by all possessors of bees, from a half dozen
ofhives up. 1t will pay for itself in a single
season.-U. X. L., in Rural Press, San Fran
cisco, Cal.