The process of extracting is extremely simple, and a little practice will enable an observing person to do it well (fig. 55). As indicated above, some judgment is required in the selection of combs, regard being had to the future condition of the colony. The filled comb-, as fast as removed, are placed in a light case the size of a hive, or a tin can made specially for the purpose, covered closely to prevent the access of robbers, and taken to the extracting room, which should be bee-proof. It is not always necessary to use such care in excluding all bees, but the novice should practice it until he learns to distinguish by the actions of the bees when such precautions may be dispensed with. Whenever possible the stories containing surplus honey should be lifted up and honey boards containing bee escapes slipped between them and the brood apartment early in the morning of the day before the extracting is to be done, in case the bees are still gathering, otherwise the night before will do. The combs will then be free from bees, or nearly so, when the operator wishes to remove them, and will contain no honey gathered within twenty-four hours, the last day's gathering having also been ripened considerably during the night preceding the insertion of the escapes. When the queen has not been restricted in her laying to the lower story by means of excluders, this plan of freeing the combs of bees will fail in case the escapes are placed on lower stories above which the brood and the queen may be. The only way then will be to remove the combs one by one, after smoking the bees to quiet them, and shake or brush off the latter into the top story. Italians can not be shaken off unless their bodies are pretty well filled with honey, but they may be safely brushed off after smoking. For this a single large feather from the left wing of a turkey is best. Other races can be shaken off after smoking. Eastern bees should never be brushed from the combs when extracting, nor at any time unless they are gorged with honey. They can all be shaken off easily, and will need less smoke than the European races.