Book IV. IMPLEMENTS OF AG UICULTURE. 369 



Of the Implements of Manual Labour used in Agriculture. 



2441. Though the most important implements of agriculture are drawn or put in 

 action by beasts of labour, yet a few, which cannot be dispensed with, are used by man 

 alone. These may be arranged as tools, or simple implements for performing operations 

 on the soil ; instruments for performing operations on plants or animals, or for other more 

 delicate operations ; utensils for the deportation of materials ; and hand machines for 

 various purposes. 



Sect. I. Tools used in Agriculture. 



2442. The lever is an inflexible straight bar of iron or wood, employed in connection 

 with a prop or fulcrum, on which it is supported. There are three kinds, but the most 

 common is that in which the fulcrum is between the power and the weight. Its use in 

 the removal of large stones or other heavy bodies is well known, and the advantage of its 

 application depends on the distance of the power from the fulcrum, and the proximity of 

 the weight. 



2443. The pick or mattock consists of two parts: the handle, which ought to be 

 formed of sound ash timber or oak, such as is obtained from the root or butt end of a 

 middle-aged tree ; and the head, which should be formed of the best iron and pointed 

 with steel. The handle ought to be perfectly cylindrical, as in using it one hand slides 

 along it from the end next the operator towards the head. There are several varieties : 

 the first the pick, with the ends of the head pointed, used for loosening hard ground, 

 gravel, &c. ; the second, the pick-axe, with the ends weage-shaped in reverse positions, 

 used in digging up trees ; the third, the grubber, for grubbing up heath or small brush- 

 wood ; and there are also the road pick, and some others. 



*2444. The spade consists of two parts, the handle of ash, generally about two feet nine 

 inches long, and the blade of plate iron. The blade consists of two parts, the plate which 

 cuts and carries the soil, and the tread, which is a piece of strong iron fixed on the upper 

 edge of the blade, to receive the impulse of the foot of the operator. There are several 

 varieties: 1. with a curved outline to the extremity of the blade, by which it may be 

 made to enter a stiff soil with less exertion on the part of the digger ; 2. with a perfor- 

 ated blade, which in adhesive soils frees itself better from earth in the using ; 3. with a 

 sub-semicylindrical blade, which enters a stiff soil easier than the common form, is much 

 stronger as a lever, and also frees itself well from the spitful of earth : this variety is what 

 canal diggers chiefly use, and is called by them a grafting tool. There are other varie- 

 ties and subvarieties used in draining, and for particular purposes ; which will be noticed 

 at the proper place. Elwell's spades, from the manner in which they are manufactured, 

 for which Mr. E. has a patent, are said to be much stronger than any others. 



244o. The Flemish spaile (fig. 210.) has a long handle, in some cases fi or 8 feet, hut no tread for the foot 

 of the operator. The long handle forming a very powerful lever, when the soil is easily penetrated it may 

 be dug with greater ease with this spade than with any of the forms in common use, and carts may be 



210 



filled with earth, and earth thrown to a greater distance by this implement for the same reason. Add to 

 this, that in no manner of using the Flemish spade, is the operator required to stoop as much as with the 

 English one. (Gard. Mag. vol. ii.) 



2446. The shovel differs from the spade in being made with a broader and thinner 

 blade ; its use being to lift, rather than to cut and separate. There are several varieties, 

 differing in the form and magnitude of the blade. One variety, the barn shovel, has the 

 blade generally of wood, sometimes edged with iron. 



2447. The turf-spade consists of a cordate or scutiform blade, joined to a handle by a 

 kneed or bent iron shank. It is used for cutting turf from pastures, and in removing 

 ant-hills and other inequalities. A thin section is first removed, then the protuberance 

 of earth is taken out and the section replaced, 

 which, cut thin, and especially on the edges, 

 readily refits ; and the operation is finished with 

 gentle pressure by the foot, back of the spade, 

 or roller. One variety, (fig. 211.) has one edge 

 turned up, and is preferable where the turfs are 

 to be cut square-edged and somewhat thick. 



244S. The fork is of several kinds ; the dung-fork for working in littery dung, con- 

 sisting of a handle like that of the shovel, and three or more prongs instead of a blade ; 

 the hay or pitch-fork, for working with sheaves of corn or straw or hay, consisting of a 



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