AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



49 



to carrying their load than to facility in its discharge, as Fig. 35. 

 Such are our canal and rail-road shovels, which, being also of 

 sufficient capacity, serve well for the varied purposes of the gar- 

 den. Perhaps the best size for common use is that known as 

 No. 2, of Ames's manufacture, with a handle about twenty-six 

 inches long, including the eye, and a flattish, bright steel blade, 

 cropped at the corners to aid its balance and general efficiency 

 in excavating, its blade inclined slightly inward or upward by 

 the shortening of the front strap and the bend of the handle. 



Long-handled shovels and spades occasionally serve a pur- 

 pose, as in removing matter which it is unpleasant to approach ; 

 but, except as prys, there is a great loss of power in using 

 them, and in general they are suited only to the lame or the 

 lazy. 



The sheet-iron scoop-shovel, Fig. 36, is every where known 

 as an instrument perfectly adapted to its ordinary uses. 



The spade, Fig. 37, should be of stout and polished steel, 

 generally of the size known as No. 2, of which the blade is us- 

 ually twelve inches long, running from seven and a half inches 

 wide at the insertion of the handle to seven inches at the edge, 

 strengthened by a very slight curvature, and having strong 

 bands laid up a sound ashen handle, properly curved to give a 

 forward set to the blade.. The ordinary length of the handle 

 should be twenty-six inches, including the eye ; but this may 

 vary a little to advantage for persons of different height and 

 flexibility. 



HOES. 



Fig. 38. 



Steel-blade Hilling-hoe. 



The hilling-hoe, Fig. 

 38, is a thin, flat plate 

 of steel, perforated, and 

 having its eye or socket 

 formed by inserting a 

 solid band of jjretty stout 

 sheet iron, the outer rim 

 of which is turned down 

 upon the back of the 

 blade, and riveted to it, 



c 



