232 



312. Description. a is the handle, two feet long, which passes 

 through an eye in the shank 5, which shank is made of three- 

 quarter-inch round iron, about three feet long, screwed into 

 the socket of the auger, c c are the cutters or lips, which are all 

 lips and point, which point cannot be seen, cast in one piece. 

 The lips at d are from one and a half to two inches apart, accord 

 ing to the size of the auger, although two inches is large enough 

 in the widest place. The lips should not be more than one- 

 fourth of an inch in thickness, tapering to the edges, which should 

 be chilled when they are cast (see paragraph 312). The point 

 should not be more than two inches in diameter, terminating 

 with a point about three or four inches long, made of a true, 

 round taper. As such augers are seldom kept on hand, and 

 where they are kept for sale the price is from $3 to $4, the 

 farmer can employ an experienced pattern-maker to make the 

 pattern, and he can get such an auger fitted up at a machine- 

 shop for about $1 50, handle and all. Treman Brothers, of 

 Ithaca, sell them, ready for use, at $1 25. The whole of the 

 boring portion should be kept as bright and smooth as a plow, 

 and never allowed to become rusty. When not in use it should 

 be washed and wiped clean and dry, and kept where it will not 

 rust, because if it becomes rusty it will not work well, any more 

 than a plow that is not scoured so bright that the dirt will slip in 

 plowing. 



THE SPUD. 



313. For digging post holes, a spud, Fig. 100, is frequently 

 the most convenient and efficient tool that can be used. Where 



FIG. 100. 



TIIE SPUD. 



there are but few stones, and the earth is too hard to spade it 

 up, a spud is very useful. In digging holes twice as large as the 

 dirt auger will bore, the spud is brought into use, and with it the 

 sides of the holes are cut down and dressed twice as quick, and 



