18 STIRRING THE SOIL. [CHAP. I. 



out of the soil by the thrust hoe, or torn out of 

 it by the draw hoe. Both kinds may also be 

 used for pulverising the soil, or a draw hoe with 

 two prongs may be substituted. In all these 

 operations, the thrust hoe is best adapted for a 

 lady's use, as requiring the least exertion of 

 strength, and being most easily managed ; but 

 the draw hoe is best adapted for making a drill 

 or furrow for the reception of seeds, and also 

 for the last and most important use of hoeing, 

 viz. the drawing up of the earth round the 

 stems of growing plants. 



The operation of hoeing up, though very 

 commonly practised, is only suitable to some 

 kinds of plants ; and it is intended to afford 

 additional nourishment to those which require 

 abundance of food, by inducing them to throw 

 out more lateral fibres from their main roots. 



The plants which will bear to be hoed or 

 earthed up are those that throw out fibrous 

 roots above the vital knot, like the cabbage 

 tribe, &c. ; or that are annuals with long bushy 

 stems, and very weak and slender roots, like 

 the pea. Ligneous plants should never be 

 earthed up, to avoid injuring the vital knot, 

 which forms the point of separation between 

 the main root and the stem, and which gar- 

 deners call the collar, crown, neck, or collet. 

 This part in trees and shrubs should never be 

 buried; as, if it be injured by moisture so as to 

 cause it to rot, the plant will die. A deciduous 

 tree may be cut down close above the collar, 

 and it will throw up fresh shoots ; or the roots 

 may all be cut off close below the collar, and if 

 that part be uninjiired fresh roots will form; 



