PLANTING. 



87 



a small horizontal plate up to which the spade should be 

 inserted. One of the edges of the front opening is 

 sharp, the other blunt. The diameter at the lower end 

 ranges from 2 to 5 inches, according to the desired size 

 of the ball ; the diameter at the upper end is from 

 to -J-th larger, thus producing 

 the shape of an inverted 

 truncated cone with a cir- 

 cular cross section. The 

 handle and the cross bar or 

 crutch at the top are best 

 made of wood and not 01 

 iron, because the tool is 

 lighter and the crutch not so 

 cold. The crutch is firmly 

 attached to the handle by 

 means of three iron bands, 

 as seen in the illustration; 

 both are firmly fastened to 

 the spade. The best length 

 of the crutch is about 20 

 inches, and its thickness 

 such as just to fill the hand 

 of the labourer. The length 

 of the handle depends on 

 the height of the labourer, 



but it should not be so long as to prevent the man from 

 using the weight of his body in driving the spade 

 into the ground. 



In using the spade the stem of the plant which is to 

 be lifted is passed through the front opening until it 

 occupies the centre of the spade ; then the latter is 



Fig. 42. 



