THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



245 



cording to the most approved mechanical principles. A shovel 

 that hangs just right for a tall man will not hang exactly right for 

 a short man, when they both grasp the handle at the same 



FIG. 110. 



FIG. 111. 



places ; but a short man, by grasping the handle nearer the blade, 

 may use a shovel that hangs just right for a tall man, and vice 

 versa. 



325. Fig. 108 represents a round pointed shovel very awk 

 wardly hung, and it would be a very disagreeable and ugly tool 

 to work with. There is curvature enough in the handle, but it 

 will seen by the dotted lines that the straight part of the handle, 

 and the blade of the shovel, are in lines parallel with each other. 

 Whereas, if the point of it stood at the upper dotted line, as in 

 the other figures, it would be a good shovel, and a laborer would 

 be able to shovel with it with as much ease as he would with 

 one hung like Fig. 110. With a shovel like Fig. 108, a laborer 

 must bend his whole body very low, in order to bring the blade in 

 a position to enter the dirt by the application of the least force. 

 If he attempts to shovel with it across one knee, the blade stands 

 up and down at such a sharp angle that it is difficult to keep a 

 shovelful of dirt on it, and more than this, a laborer cannot thrust 

 it into the dirt unless he stamps it with his foot, except the dirt 

 i very mellow. Shovels are never made of this shape by skill 

 ful workmen ; but by allowing them to be exposed to the influences 



