272 THE YOUNG FAKMER's MANUAL. 



clipping a hedge is a good grass scythe. After this time there is 

 no better instrument than such a sickle, according to the opinion 

 of Mr. A. H. Ernst, Spring Garden, Ohio, who says: "In clip 

 ping hedges, if the sickle is to be used with one hand, the handle 

 may be about six inches long ; and, if both hands, it should be 

 from two to two and a half feet long. For a hedge not over three 

 and a half feet high, one hand is all sufficient. But when the 

 hedge is higher than that, both hands are necessary. We have 

 a fine hedge, of some two miles, around Spring Garden Cemetery, 

 of Osage Orange, six feet high, for trimming which this instru 

 ment alone is used. Two men, one right-handed and the other 

 left-handed, start at the same point, on opposite sides, and with a 

 quick stroke upwards, make a clean sweep of all the straggling 

 branches, trimming the hedge in the form of the letter A, which 

 is decidedly the best form for a hedge, as it gives the greatest ex 

 posure to light and air, which is a very essential point to the 

 health and duration of a hedge. I should prefer to have the 

 borders of my hedges raised somewhat above the common surface 

 of the ground, so as to admit a freer circulation of air and light 

 to the lower branches." 



THE AXE. 



" The faithful axe, whose burnished blade 

 Stood gleaming in the old oak's shade, 

 In quick response replied, Who, tell, 

 Save me, the mighty forests fell? 

 Who clave the gnarly oaks and pines, 

 The thorn, the brambles, and the vines ?" EDWARDS. 



362. The axe is one of the most efficient implements of the 

 farmer, and, when made of a correct shape and put in good order, 

 when hung correctly and handled expertly, performs wonders, 

 even when he who handles it is by no means strong. It is very 

 poor policy to attempt to chop with a poor axe, because a laborer, 

 in a very short time, with a poor axe, will lose time and expend 

 strength to no profit sufficient to purchase a good axe. Chop 

 pers often feel too poor to purchase a new axe, and will peck, 

 peck, with an old worn-out tool, year after year, very much dis- 



