The Country Gcntlcinaiis j\Iagazine 



^ gictionavn of %m\^ anti iin|jlcnient0 



FOR THE FARM, FOREST, AND GARDEN. 



UNDER this heading we purpose to 

 give, from time to time, in alpha- 

 betical order, a descriptive list of Tools 

 and Implements in use by the Gardener 

 and Forester, as well as the smaller ones 

 used on the Farm, which, when finished, 

 will i^form a complete dictionary of these 

 articles. 



^ADZE. — This very useful implement may 

 be'^called a percussive chisel or cutting tool, 

 having its edge at right angles to the handle. 

 In the Axe the edge is in the same plane with 



Fig. 



-Common Adze. 



the handle. Both tools are always used with 

 percussion, and hence differ from the chisel, 

 which acts by pressure. The instrument is 

 held in] both] hands by the handle, which is 

 from twenty-four'f to thirty inches long, while 

 the operator stands upon his work in a stoop- 



ing position. The weight of the blade is from 

 two to four pounds. The Adze is swung in a 

 circular path almost of the same curvature as 

 the blade, the shoulder-joint being the centre 

 of motion, and the entire arm and tool form- 

 ing, as it were, one inflexible radius : the tool 

 therefore makes a succession of small arcs, 

 and in each blow the ann of the workman is 

 brought in contact with the thigh, which thus 

 serves as a stop to prevent accident. In 

 cojirse preparatory works, the workman directs 

 the Adze through the space between his two 

 feet : he thus surprises us by the quantity of 

 wood removed. In fine works he frequently 

 places his toes over the spot to be wrought, 

 and the Adze penetrates two or three inches 

 beneath the sole of the shoe : and he thus sur- 

 prises us by the apparent danger, yet perfect 

 working of the instrument, which in the hands 

 of the shipwright in particular, almost rivals 

 the joiner's plane. It is with him the nearly 

 universal paring instrument, and is used upon 

 works in all positions. The small Indian 

 Adze, instead of being circular like the 

 European Adze, is formed at a direct 

 angle of 45 or 50 degrees. Its handle is only 

 twelve or thirteen inches long, and the tool is 

 used with great precision by the motion of the 

 elbow joint. It is grasped so near the head 

 that the fore-finger rests on the metal, the thumb 

 nearly on the back of the handle ; the other 

 fingers grasp the front of it, the nails approaching 

 the ball of the thumb. The wrist is held firmly, 

 the stroke being made principally from the 

 elbow, the inclination of the cutting face being 

 nearly a tangent to the circle described, by 

 the instrument round the elbow-joint as a 

 centre, the exact adjustment being made by 



