PRUNING TOOLS 



303 



one which has been used for many years in 

 Holland, and which has lately been improved 

 byCourval (Fig. 217). It weighs 2 Ibs. 12 oz., 

 to 3 Ibs. 6 oz., or more, according to the strength 

 of the workman [and is sixteen inches long] . 

 The blade is reinforced in the middle to increase 

 its strength and concentrate the weight. In the 

 north of France this tool is 

 generally hung to an iron 

 hook attached to a leather 

 strap buckled round the 

 workman's waist, who is thus 

 left perfectly free in his 

 movements." 



Another European device is 

 the dendroscope (Fig. 218). 

 This is used when it is de- 

 sired to reduce the top of a 

 large tree to a given form. 

 A figure of the desired form 

 is cut in a piece of card- 

 board, and a thread or wire 

 is stretched across the open- 

 ing from top to bottom. The 

 operator holds the card be- 

 fore his eye, bringing the 

 wire against the center of 

 the trunk, and walks towards the tree until 

 the bottom of the opening strikes the ground 

 line. He can then make a mental note of 



214. Two-hand 

 pruning shears. 



