DIRECT SOWING. 59 



the ordinary labourer gets through more and better 

 work by using the tools with which he is acquainted, 

 than, by substituting even an improved form of tool, the 

 use, of which he has first to learn. Moreover he will 

 take greater care of his own tools than of those provided 

 for him. 



Under these circumstances the introduction of novel 

 tools can only be recommended, when their use really 

 secures a considerable saving of labour. 



Some of the better forms of the principal tools here 

 in question are represented on page (JO. The following 

 few remarks will explain their use : 



Fig. 18 represents a scythe with a short strong blade, 



used for cutting heather, broom, &c. 

 ,, 19, a hoe used for the removal of ordinary weeds, 



grass, &c. 

 ,, 20, a three-pronged hoe, used for wounding the 



soil. 

 ,, 21, a narrow light hoe, used for superficial hoeing 



in light soils. 



,, 22, a broad hoe, used for clod hoeing. 

 23, a light hoe with a hatchet on the reverse (or 

 a miniature mattock), used for hoeing in soil 

 which contains roots from a former crop. 

 ,, 24, a two-pronged hoe, used for light hoeing or 



wounding the soil. 

 ,, 25, a simple pick, used in working stony or 



gravelly soil. 

 ,, 26, a strong hoe, used on soils with roots, or on 



stony ground. 



,, 27, a pickaxe, being a combination of figs. 25 

 and 26. 



