The Bill-hook, Axe, &c. 87 



Southern India has a similar blade, but is usually 

 attached to a short handle. The best form for 

 general estate purposes is a moderately-curved 

 blade under a foot in length, sharpened on the 

 inner side, a cylindrical socket being provided, 

 into which a haft of any required length may be 

 inserted at pleasure. 



The axe most commonly used for felling has a 

 long, narrow head with a round socket, into which 

 the haft can be inserted axes made in the English 

 manner for ^a^-headed hafts being troublesome 

 to fit. For the planter these should be of better 

 material, if anything, than ordinary, many of the 

 trees to be operated upon being hard and close- 

 grained, qualities which very soon begin to break 

 up inferior implements. 



The crow-bar should be flattened into a sharp, 

 spade-like blade at one end, and be pointed at the 

 other. It is useful for picking out stones among 

 roots, for using as a lever in moving weights, loosen- 

 ing earth, and for excavating, cutting roots, &c., in 

 narrow, deep pits where there is not space for the 

 free use of the mammotie. 



Quintannies or mattocks will be found useful for 

 digging in ground more than usually hard and stony. 

 This should be in all respects similar to the mam- 

 motie, but of heavier metal, and deeper and narrower 

 in the blade ; more, in fact, resembling a carpenter's 



