THE HONEY EXTRACTOR. (Agricultural Gazette.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 408, 24 December 1874, Page 2

THE HONEY EXTRACTOR. (Agricultural Gazette.)

This machine, which throws honey out of the cells of combs by rapid centrifugal motion — was invented a few years ago by a German, and it is extensively used in America, where it is called slinger. It was introduced to England in 1668, but its merits owing to unfavourable seasons, have not until very recently been fully appreciated. When first given to the public it lacked many improvements which it now possesses, greatly enhancing its value. The purpose which its inventor had iv view was the obtaining of honey from combs without destroying them, in order that they might be ussd again. Having tested the machine, we are in a position to say it answers the end admirably, and that honey extracted by it hof great parity, and quite free from any admixture of bee bread. For frame hives it is invaluable, as with proper care the tenderest combs can without injury be divested of their contend in a very few minutes. Before putting the combs into the machine, the cell coverings require to be shaved off with a very sharp thin bladed knifr, having, for convenience, a bent handle in the form of a mason's trowel. If the knife become clogged, it is dipped in a vessel of hot water, which immediaiely cleanses it, and makes it again ready for u&e. Two frames with combs are put into the machine at a time, and when their outer sides are emptied by a few rapid turns of the cage the frames are lifted out and turned, and have what were their inner sides emptied. Unfortunately the advertised price of the Slinger, from £3 to £s—is5 — is such as to preclude numbers from obtaining it. We would like to see it in the hands of all, and wish it had been procui'ed at less cost ; but anyone practically acquainted with the elements of carpenter work may furnish himself with thia adjunct to his apiary at very Uttle expense. Of course it will not be equal to one of superior manufacture, but it would meet the requirement of preserving his comb entire, and getting their honey. Most apiarians know that a large proportion of what bees in an unfurnished houst collect goes to the making of comb, and > that a swarm lodged in a hive containing empty combs, stores in a tjiven time about double the quantity of honey that another swarm, equally large, stores, which has its rooms to build. Consequently it is of great advantage to bees not to have their preci ma moments taken up with work that can be dispensed with, and interferes with more important labour. For a home made extractor, then, let a barrel, or the lower half of a barrel, be procured, measuring internally about twenty-one inches in diameter by two feet in height. Across the bottom of the barrel fix a 2 inch bar, making a hole in its centre for a spindle to revolve in. At right angles with this bar I fasten on the top of a barrel another bar, having a hole also in the centre, through which the upper end of the spindle is to pass. This is all that ia necessary for receiving what is called the cage, in which the combs are placed. T-> form l lie cige, whi h must be of such a size us to admit the hive frames, and ievo vo with freedom inside the barre.l, make two frames hii inoli or so •larifer mid br «ad»-r titan comb frame*, and t > tiic wdes of end) tick a f-inch wire "etto"us£. Than stand the frame* iv position nbont 10 inches apart, in >t perpendicular, but slightly h anting outward, and connect them at. their t<>|> and bo* torn en Is by bars of i lie same thickness as those which compose thr fra lies. This i^ives a oiije very like a ouimn >n bird-cage, both in form and weight. mid to it stienurtti, as well jib tor receiving a spin lie £-inuh bars must be nailed across the t>|> ami h oitirn of tlio cage, and connected icj^etl er l>y end pieces. The spindle, it ol iron, may be £- inch aqunre, and the pans that are to act in pivot hoes can bn lounded with afi c. The u per und of the spijidle ■mint |>ioje(Jf, mid motion may he q yen bv a Hhort 3-inch handle oF strong 1 fencing w.re t.visted lound if, or by tha orignal pi vi of a cord rolled rouud it and nip dly unt; liled. We have seen a rude construction of the aboro description and we e.itt testify tint it d d tta vr.uk well No one, then, on the so >re of expense no d be without a simmer Bib there in sin injudicious u><e of ifc which wo "i>h our render-, to gu ird Htfuin.st. For ex i mole, some persons are in the habit of operating 1 u<on the ■ me hive every week, mid sling c tilths tiled with brooJ or uuaua ed honey. Novr c >rnbs with much brood nn ht not to be made to pass through the slinging orde.tl. and to h iittr tlu-in with t>ro >d in * larval state in rerv objecti nable Neither ahou'd scaled and unsealed Money by thrown out together mid mixed Un-eiled honey contains » laige amount of water, and is cou-tqueiiily poor in quality. We lure pro- ed tli it* btnonil a doubt hat shall iieie take it for I Wnai we recommend is — fist sling out all the! uu>ealed honey before cutting away t ho coverings n the se ilt'daudiun it off for f oding purposes. Wneu i his has been done slmjf oat the seak-d, and not. only honey, hut honey of the • est will be obtained Many hires thin year h«v» too roqeh honey.

remove one or two from oaoh. and pat them »*idV in a dry place till spriujf. From such frames left the ari-e.ile<i honey be taken out by the extractor anl u'i i->&! f-r <f left in the cell* it become euniied and u->e e-«s.