THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 369 



under the saws, near the chisels. Other tools which it is not 

 necessary to enumerate, should have a place on a shelf or in a 

 closet. If one has an iron vise, it should be attached to a bench 

 on the other side of the shop, because it would be very much 

 in the way on one end of the work-bench when planing a long 

 board. A large, heavy piece of cast-iron will answer for an 

 anvil. The planes should be placed opposite the plane-dog, e, 

 and the ends should rest on a couple of strips nailed across the 

 bench, so that when they are set on the bench the edges of the 

 plane irons will not be dulled against any grit which may be on 

 the bench. Iron chips, and iron filings, and all such substances, 

 should be brushed from the bench so that edge tools will not get 

 dulled on them. Remember, that it is the most skillful part of a 

 trade to put tools in order, and to keep them in order. It is bad 

 policy to work with dull tools. 



EDGE TOOLS. 



And now we speak of edge-tools long and slim, 

 With edges straight, or curved, or thick, or thin ; 

 Of furbished knives to cut, and rip, and shave ; 

 Of piercing forms to separate and cleave ; 

 Of tiny needles, awls with double edge, 

 And other forms that sunder like the wedge. 



527. Every instrument that has a cutting edge, whether it is 

 formed for piercing substances, for shaving off the surface piece 

 meal, or for cutting them in two, operates like a wedge. Pocket- 

 knives, cambric needles, grass scythes, and shears of all kinds, 

 are wedges ; and their efficiency usually depends on the complete 

 ness of the cutting edge, and on the acuteness or ohtuseness of the 

 angle with which they are formed, and on the trucness and smooth 

 ness of their surfaces. (See WEDGES, Par. 344.) 



528. Mathematically speaking, a perfect edge in any tool is an 

 absolute impossibility. The finest and keenest edge that can be 

 produced on the very best razor, when viewed through a micro- 



