SECATEUR, FRENCH. 



456 SEDUM, OR STONECROP. 



the socket, into which the end of the 

 handle is put. A lawn scythe, not 

 cranked, costs 5s. 6d., but one that is 

 cranked, and notably the Vulcan, costs is. 

 more. Boycl's Patent Scythe, of which 

 an illustration is given, is cranked so that 

 the blade may be brought close to the 

 handle ; it costs 8s. 6d. 

 complete, but it possesses 

 an advantage which other 

 scythes do not namely, that 

 of being adjustable for use 

 by either a tall or a short 

 man. Warren's Cast Steel 

 Scythes, an excellent kind 

 of scythe blade, of superior 

 quality and highly tempered, 

 are supplied by Messrs. 

 John G. Rollins and Co., 

 Limited, American Mer- 

 chants and Factors, Old 

 Swan Wharf, London 

 Bridge, E.C., in sizes from 

 32 inches to 44 inches, at 

 425. per dozen, or 35. 6d. each. American 

 scythe snaths, or handles, are supplied by 

 the same firm in two kinds the ordinary 

 handle at 2s. 6d. each, and the Patent 

 Loop handle at 35. 6d. each. The 

 Americans say they are perhaps the best 

 and most convenient to handle, because 

 an almost upright position can be main- 

 tained when using them. 



Secateur, French. 



This is an instrument for branch pruning 

 which is very commonly used in France. 

 An illustration of it is supplied above, 

 from which it will be seen that it is a 

 pair of shears of great power. In the 

 instrument figured the blades are both 

 falciform or curved, and the edge of each 

 is bevelled in the opposite direction, so 

 that the flat parts of the blade may work 

 smoothly one on the other. They are 

 fastened together by a rivet, on which 



FRENCH 

 SECATEUR. 



they turn. When not in use they are 

 held together by a strap at the ends of the 

 handles, as shown ; when open, the blades 

 are forced apart and held in this position 

 by the spring between the handles. 

 Secateurs cost 35. 6d. and 45. each, accord- 

 ing to size. Sometimes they are made 

 | with a movable centre, and sometimes 

 one blade is hooked, as in the illustration, 

 while the edge of the other is convex or 

 rounded in form from heel to point. 

 When made in this way, the cut that is 

 made is cleaner than when both edges are 

 straight or curved inwards. They are 

 recommended by Loudon for pruning 

 vines. 



Sedum, or Stonecrop (not. ord. 



Crassula'cese). 



The common name of a large and im- 

 portant family of plants chiefly suitable 

 for rock work and culture in hanging 

 baskets. They are mostly herbaceous 

 perennials, but there are a few annual and 

 biennial species among their number. The 

 j leaves are generally thick and fleshy, varying 

 in colour and form. In many varieties the 



SEDUM S1EBOLDI, OR SIEBOLD S STONECROP FOR 

 HANGING BASKETS. 



leaves are of a pale green, as in Sedum 

 Sieboldi, or Sieboltfs Stonecrop, in which, as 

 the flowers begin to fade, the leaves assume 

 a reddish tinge. In this variety the flowers, 



