THE HANDLING OF THE LAND 101 



Hand tools for weeding and subsequent tillage and other hand 

 work. 



Any of the cultivators and wheel-hoes are as useful for the 

 subsequent tilling of the crop as for the initial preparation of 

 the land, but there are other tools also that greatly facilitate 

 the keeping of the plantation in order. Yet wholly aside from 

 the value of a tool as an implement of tillage and as a weapon 

 for the pursuit of weeds, is its merit merely as a shapely and 

 interesting instrument. A man will take infinite pains to choose 

 a gun or a fishing-rod to his hking, and a woman gives her best 

 attention to the selecting of an umbrella; but a hoe is only 

 a hoe and a rake only a rake. If one puts his personal choice 

 into the securing of plants for a garden, so should he discrimi- 

 nate in the choice of hand tools, to secure those that are light, 

 trim, well made, and precisely adapted to the work to be ac- 

 comphshed. A case of neat garden tools ought to be a great 

 joy to a joyful gardener. So I am wiUing to enlarge on the 

 subject of hoes and their kind. 



The hoe. 



The common rectangular-bladed hoe is so thoroughly 

 established in the popular mind that it is very difficult to 

 introduce new patterns, even though 

 they may be intrinsically superior. As 

 a general-purpose tool, it is no doubt 

 true that a common hoe is better than 

 any of its modifications, but there are 

 various patterns of hoe-blades that are 95. Useful forms of hoe- 

 greatly superior for special uses, and blades. 

 which ought to appeal to any quiet soul who loves a garden. 



The great width of the common blade does not admit of its 

 being used in very narrow rows or very close to delicate plants, 

 and it does not allow of the deep stirring of the soil in narrow 



