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On an Eastj Weeder, By James T, Talman, 



Flushing, {L. Island, JV, F.) I2th Xov. 1820^ 

 Dear Sir, 



O^^^iNG to indisposition, I am obliged to send you 

 the weeder unfinished.* It requires to^be ground on the 

 upper side all round, so as to cut backward as well as 

 forward, and with the ends, where the plants are nearer 

 than the breadth of the tool. The handle should be 

 sufficiendy long to be used without stooping, and a ball 

 on the end, for the palm, will be found very convenient. 

 With like instruments, from 5| to 8 inches in width, 

 I cultivated one garden, this summer, (three-fourths of an 

 acre) without using the common hoe, or the hand, to 

 weed with, and am satisfied that a great deal more work 

 can be done in a given time with this tool, than the hoe, 

 and with much less labour ; but the same objection lies 

 against it, that has been brought against all hoes, namely, 

 that they stir the ground, but do not expose a new surface 

 to the action of the atmosphere. This effect cannot be 

 produced by any garden tool that I have seen, and as I 

 am fully persuaded of the advantage to be derived by 

 growing plants by frequently exposing a new surface to 

 the air, t have thought a small plough might be con- 

 structed to answer the purpose. The share about 4 or 4| 

 inches wide at the heel — a wheel in the end of the 

 beam to prevent the point of the share from going too 

 deep — and the handle at the proper angle to give the 

 weight as well as strength of the body a share of the 

 labour. If such an instrument can be used without any 

 extra exertion of strength, it will do more work in three 



r* See plate I. fig. 3.] 



