THE HANDLING OF THE LAND 



105 



ward things. When perfectly fit for one, they may not fit 

 another; that is, a tall, keen-sighted person cannot use the 

 hoe that is just fit for a very short one. . . . Curves in the 

 handles throw centers of gravity 

 where they belong. Good timber 

 generally warps in a handle about 

 right, only implement makers and 



99. Home-made 

 scarifier. 



babes in weeding may not know when it is 

 made fast right side up in the hoe. 



''There are plenty of thrust-hoes in market, 

 such as they are. Some have malleable iron 

 sockets and bows — heavier to the buyer and 

 cheaper to the dealer — instead of wrought- 

 iron and steel, such as is required for true 

 worth." 



Scarifiers. 



100. Home-made 

 scarifier or scraper. 



For many purposes, tools that scrape or 

 scarify the surface are preferable to hoes that 

 dig up the ground. Weeds may be kept down by cutting 

 them off, as in walks and often in flower-beds, rather than 



