FORK. 



186 



FORK. 



what similar in form to the trenching fork, 

 but the prongs are pointed and not so much 

 curved. By its aid large masses of earth 

 can be lifted and shaken or knocked to 

 pieces, so as to expose the potato tubers 

 without injury. Digging forks are sold at 

 the average prices of 33. for three-pronged 

 forks ; 2s. 9d. and 35. 6d. for four-pronged 

 forks, according to size, the former being a 

 nice light tool for pointing borders ; and 

 45. 6d. for five-pronged forks. Potato 

 forks, Fig. 4, with three prongs are sold 

 at 35. 6d. ; with four prongs at 45.. 

 Trenching forks, with four prongs, are 

 supplied at 55. 3d. 

 each. The Deme- 

 rara trenching forks 

 are supplied in the 

 following sizes : 

 With three prongs, 

 13^ inches by 7^ 

 inches, 45. 6d. each, 

 and with four 

 prongs, 13! inches 

 by 8 inches, at 55. 

 6d. each. 



The forks used for 

 FIG. S.-MANURE FORK. lif(ing manure and 



turning over manure heaps are lighter in 

 structure than digging forks, the prongs 

 being slighter and having more space be- 

 tween them. A useful form is shown in 

 Fig. Si which represents the Anglo-Ameri- 

 can manure fork. Manure forks are sup- 

 plied with long or short handles as may be 

 preferred. The long-handled fork is pre- 

 ferable for lifting manure into a cart, but 

 the short-handled fork will do very well 

 for turning over a heap, lifting it 

 into a barrow, or spreading it over 

 the ground. It must be understood 

 that manure fa^cs are only neces- 

 sary in dealir^nvith farmyard ma- 

 nure : they are" hot wanted for the 

 compost heap, unless considerable quantities 

 of grass and vegetable refuse be thrown on 



it. The Manure Drag shown in Fig. 6 

 is to all intents and purposes a fork, so 

 bent that it is no longer available for the 

 purposes for which a manure fork is re- 

 quired, but must be used as a rake. It is 

 always fitted with a long handle. The 



FIG. 6. MANURE DRAG. 



cost of good ordinary manure forks, with 

 long handles, black, range from 35. 6d, tti 

 45. 6d., according to size; bright forks, 

 and forks of better quality, are higher, say 

 is. more. Drag forks cost about 45. 6d. 

 each. 



Fork, Hand, or Garden Pork. 



This handy and useful form of fork is 

 supplied with a long handle, as shown in 

 Fig. I, or with a short handle as shown in 

 Fig. 2. Either kind may be used with 

 one hand. The prongs are broad and 

 pointed. These forks will be found useful 

 and serviceable in transplanting border 

 plants, and in working the surface of the 

 soil in borders in which growing plants 

 stand closely together too closely, in fact, 

 for the safe use of the pointing fork. 

 They are also useful for taking up aspara- 

 gus and other roots that are not too large 

 for removal by such means, and for putting 

 aside bark, cocoanut fibre, &c., for pots 



FIG. I. GARDEN FORK WITH LONG HANDLE. 



that require plunging in these materials. 

 Garden forks, or weeding forks, as they 



