TOOL HOUSE. 



502 TOOLS FOR GARDEN USE. 



the mowing machine to the scythe, but 

 when the purpose and use of each tool 

 enumerated above is carefully considered, 

 it will be conceded that in the above list 

 are reckoned all that the average gardener 

 absolutely requires, and that none are 

 mentioned which he can do without or 

 which are unnecessary to him. For a 

 description of the different kinds of tools 

 required tor garden work, see under the 

 name of each tool. 



Of tools it may be generally observed 

 that they require the use ot both hands 

 and arms, and some of them the whole 

 muscular force of the frame. They gene- 

 rally combine the principle of the lever 

 and the wedge, the blade of all ot them 

 being employed to separate particles of 

 matter by the application of lever power 

 which lies in the shaft or handle. When 

 the handle is intended to be grasped and 

 held firmly at one spot, as in the spade, 

 it is fitted with a transverse bar for that 

 purpose ; but when it is necessary that 

 the hand should slide along it, the handle 

 should be quite smooth and round. Such 

 is the form of the handles of the rake, the 

 pick, and all similar tools. Ash is the 

 best material for all handles in which 

 strength is required, but willow is lighter 

 than ash and strong enough for tools such 

 as the rake, the hoe, and others for which 

 it is desirable that the handle should be of 

 some length. Suitable handles for rakes, 

 hoes, &c., may also be made of pitch pine, 

 deal, &c., nicely and neatly rounded with 

 the plane. All tools should be kept in a 

 shed or tool house, in which they will be 

 protected from the weather when not in use. 



Tomato. 



An admirable vegetable by itself it 

 enters largely into a great number of our 

 best and most wholesome sauces. It may 

 be cooked and brought on to table like 

 other vegetables in several different ways ; 



or eaten raw, cut in slices like cucum 

 ber, but much thicker, and dressed with 

 salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar, in the 

 same way. When prepared in this man- 

 ner as a salad, a few slices of onion will 

 be found an improvement. Further, it 

 is extremely palatable when eaten as a 

 fruit, dipped in sugar. Those who have 

 analysed its properties say that the tomato 

 is singularly wholesome, and very useful, 

 especially in cases of bad digestion ; how- 

 ever, it is not appreciated or cultivated 

 as it ought to be. There is, undoubtedly, 

 some little difficulty in our climate in 

 fruiting and ripening tomatoes to perfection : 



GOOD TYPE OF RED TOMATO. 



but the following directions, if attended 

 to, will generally be found to succeed. 



Culture ', &c. Sow the seeds in pots 

 in very rich light mould in March or 

 April, and place them in a cucumber 

 frame, or other gentle heat. When the 

 second leaf appears, re-pot the plants 

 either singly or at most two or three 

 together, keeping them near the glass 

 and well watered. In May remove them 

 to a cold frame for the purpose of hard- 

 ening them before they are planted out, 

 which should be done as soon as the 

 fear of spring frosts is over, and the 

 earlier the better. The best situation lor 



