64 FORESTRY WORK 



warm weather, aid may be obtained in loosening them by 

 means of an ordinary weed fork (sometimes used for 

 eradicating daisies from lawns), which tool may also be 

 used to loosen or lighten up the soil between the plants. 



Between lines of plants 5 inches or more apart, hoes 

 can be used. For use where the weed growth is Mght, 

 the dutch hoe is better than the draw hoe, as it is easier 

 to use, and the user, working backwards, does not tread 

 on the groimd after the soil has been loosened up. This 

 is a great consideration, as the loosening up of the soil 

 often does more good than watering. 



In a dry spell of weather it is often wise, especially 

 amongst young transplanted seedlings, to hoe the ground, 

 even if there are few or no weeds, to prevent it from caking 

 and to conserve the moisture, for, as explained above, 

 evaporation is very rapid from caked surfaces. Wheoa 

 heavy weeds are to be removed from paths, etc., the draw 

 hoe is perhaps best, as more force can be applied and the 

 weeds chopped out (not chopped off). 



For quick work the Planet, Junr., wheeled hoe is verj^ 

 good. With this tool a man can hoe almost as fast as he 

 can walk. It is made on the principle of a horse hoe, and 

 the hoes, two in number, can be set at various widths 

 from 6 inches to 12 inches. 



If the soil is light the hoes can be driven at a steady 

 pace through the soil, but where the soil is stiffer the 

 machine should be used with a sawing motion, the man 

 moving it backwards and forwards as he walks. 



The worst defect is that the man walks on the hoed 

 ground, but otherwise for efficient and rapid work the 



