216 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



face, which insures a sharp edge. Most spades are broken by sudden wrenches and 

 being put to improper uses. "We, therefore, give an example of the " lifting spade " (3), 

 which has a strong back, a keen cutting blade, and a handle strapped to withiu a short 

 distance of the box. 



Shovels. For digging holes in loose soil and shifting hard earth and stones, the 

 diamond-shaped shovel (4), is the best, but for moving or loading soil the square (5) 

 is handiest, the edges being turned up, medium sized, light, and with a good upward 

 bend in the handle. 



Forks. There are several forms of these, some having flat, others square, and 

 others round prongs. They also differ in the number of tines. For general purposes 

 four-pronged are the most useful. The tines should be made of steel, elastic and 

 strong, yet light. Forks are better than spades for stirring the soil. They are useful 

 in digging holes for trees, particularly where the soil is firm and mingled with small 

 stones. In transplanting or lifting trees a fork with thin tines ought always to be used 

 for removing the soil from amongst the roots. For digging square prongs are the 

 best, tapering to a point evenly from the tread. Bound or sharply oval four-pronged 

 forks with round tread are the most useful for working amongst manure, leaves, or 

 litter, as they readily enter and are seldom clogged with the materials. 



Pickaxe. Except in excavating, the " common pick " is not much used in gardens 

 and fruit plantations. Both ends are pointed. In the pickaxe one end is pointed, as 

 seen on the right side of 8, but the other end is formed into a wedge, as on the left side 

 of 9, the cutting edge set in the direction of the handle, and it is useful in cutting roots. 



Pick-mattock. This is a useful tool in planting operations. One end is pointed for 

 loosening hard ground and removing stones, and the other end is flattened, 3 or 4 

 inches broad, with the edge at right angles to the handle. The length of the head 

 may be 2 to 2J feet, and the handle about 3 feet long. 



Mattock. One end is shaped like a wedge, sharpened for cutting roots, and set in 

 line with the handle, but the other end is flattened and transverse to the direction of 

 the shaft. It is useful for grubbing up trees, the operator uncovering roots with the 

 flat end so as to more expeditiously cut them with the axe-like end. Tools of this 

 description should have ash handles with straight grain, or hickory shafts. 



Drag, or Canterbury Hoe.- With the fork end of this implement the ground, 

 rendered hard by rain and baked by sun, may be loosened, and with the mattock-like 

 end trampled soil can be broken up and clods smashed. 



