'^ HOW TO START A GARDEN 57 



each of these hand tools. They are small 

 and easily lost. Make a strict rule to al- 

 ways put them back where you expect to find 

 them. 



4. A sprinkler, or watering pot, is convenient 

 even if you have a hose and plenty of water, 

 because often it takes much less time to carry 

 a pot of water than to drag the hose to a remote 

 corner where only a little water is wanted. 

 Revolving or stationary sprinklers of another 

 kind — meaning the metal end pieces that are 

 attached to garden hose for letting the water 

 come out in a fine spray and thus creating an 

 artificial rain — are great time savers. To be 

 sure, they share with rain the disadvantage of 

 causing the soil to bake when the hot sun hits 

 it. For best results this top crust should be 

 broken up after every rain or watering, to let 

 in the air which the roots need almost as much 

 as the leaves do. 



A rake is better and quicker for breaking 

 this crust (which should be completely pulver- 

 ized) because it isn't so apt to injure the near- 

 surface roots as a hoe is. In flower beds where 

 the plants are too close together to permit the 

 use of a rake, the "Excelsior finger" is most 

 useful for pulverizing the top crust. You will 

 need it even if you are willing to use the best of all 

 cultivators — your own fingers. Of course, hand 

 weeding and cultivating is too slow work except 

 in flower beds or small gardens. 



