246 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



garden is much lightened by such a tool, which may be had in 

 several shapes and sizes, even small and light enough for a 

 twelve-year boy or girl. 



Planting machines are of use in vegetable gardens of much 

 size, but again the soil must be free of stones. If the tool 

 keeps striking stones as big as one's fist, the plants will come 

 up in very wobbly lines. These tools are expensive and com- 

 plicated, and are usually too heavy for children. 



If your garden is so small that you will be able to sift the 

 surface earth over your seeds, by all means get a sieve. An 

 ordinary ash sieve will do, but you can make a finer one by 

 taking the top and bottom from a shallow box, and tacking 

 on some common fly-screening. 



It will be helpful if you mark on the handles of your hoe 

 and fork the measures that you are likely to use in the gar- 

 den. Three, six, and nine inches, and then the feet and half 

 feet up to a yard, are quite enough. 



And, finally, keep your tools in good condition. First, 

 clean every one when you have finished with it. Caked dirt 

 on the handle will blister your palms, and earth on the blade 

 will make it rust. An unrusted tool will last much longer, 

 and, again, it will do its work better. Try working 

 with a rusty trowel, and see how troublesome it is to have 

 the earth stick to the blade. Then try a clean tool, and see 

 how neatly it does its work. Tools cannot properly be 

 cleaned by washing ; they will rust if not wiped dry. Clean 

 them with dry earth, or sand ; or else with a piece of wood, or 

 the hand. Simply rub off the clinging soil. 



When they have been cleaned, hang your tools separately 

 on the wall. 



Tools need not be many, but they should be good ones, 

 light and strong. A good gardener is known by his garden, 

 to be sure ; but we can find out something about him if we 

 notice how he keeps his tools. 



