CHAPTER XIII.
Description of a knife for cutting out the combs. (fig, 6,)
This knife, which is so simple in its construction, and so easily used, deserves to be made generally known. Gelieu, to whom Apiarians are much indebted, tells us, that in Switzerland it is commonly used, and that the combs from hives of any shape or materials are extracted without any difficulty. It is formed of a slip of steel (see fig. 6.) two feet long, by an eighth of an inch thick, the handle is twenty inches long, by half an inch broad, the turn-down blade of two inches in length, is spear pointed, sharp on the edges, and bent so as to form an angle of 90 degrees with the handle; the other blade is two inches long, by one and half broad, and sharpened all round; the broad blade cuts and separates the combs from the sides of the hive, and the spear point, which is also sharp on each side, admits, from its direction and narrowness, of being introduced between the combs to loosen them from the top of the hive.