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18 ‘a STIRRING THE SOIL. 
which ought to be picked out and thrown into a small, light wheel- 
barrow, which may easily be moved from place to place. 
Lady’s Wheel-barrow. 
A wheel-barrow is a lever of the second kind, in which the weight 
is carried between the operator, who is the moving power, and the 
fulcrum, which is represented by the lower part of the wheel. If it. 
be so contrived that the wheel may roll on a plank, or on firm ground, 
a very slight power is sufficient to move the load contained in the bar- 
row ; particularly if the handles be long, curved, and thrown up as 
high as possible, in order to let the weight rest principally upon the 
wheel, without obliging the operator to bend forward. When, on 
the contrary, the handles are short and straight, the weight is thrown 
principally on the arms of the operator, and much more strength is 
required to move the load, besides the inconvenience of stooping. 
All the necessary implements for digging being provided, the next 
thing to be considered is the easiest manner of performing the opera- 
tion. The usual way is for the gardener to thrust his spade perpen- 
dicularly into the ground, and then using the handle as a lever, to 
draw it back so as to raise the whole mass of earth in front of. 
spade at once. This requires great strength ; but by inserting 
spade in a slanting direction, and throwing the body slightly frei 
at the same time, the mass of earth to be raised will not only be much 
less, but the body of the operator will be in a much more convenient 
position for raising and turning it; which may thus be done with 
perfect ease. 
The time for digging should always be chosen, if possible, when the 
ground is tolerably dry; not only on account of the danger of taking 
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