140 TILE DRAINAGE 



them that, in his hands at least, it was a wonderful tool, and 

 therefore the boys took a liking to it for many other purposes. 

 It will dig up ground many times in a way to make it quite a 

 substitute for spading, and do it easier and quicker. Fig. 5 

 is a cleaning-out spade, and is very handy in many emergen- 

 cies. Fig. 3 is used as a substitute for Fig. 1. It is mostly 

 used for cleaning out the bottom, and grading it for laying 

 small tile, and I like it rather better than Fig. 1. The ad- 

 justable joint in Fig. 1 is a good thing if it were not so apt 

 to be loose and rattling. It always makes me nervous when 

 any tool is the least bit loose on the handle. 



On page 91 we have illustrated and described a three-tined 

 ditching-spade. I am ashamed, however, to think that our 

 artist did not succeed in making a better-looking cut of it 

 like Fig. 6, on page 82, for instance. Well, after what friend 

 Chamberlain had written on page 92, 1 purchased one of 

 these spades and sent it to him to try. Here is his reply in 

 regard to it : 



SKELETON SPADE. 



Mr. A. I. Root Dear Sir:- I express you the skeleton spade 

 to-day. On the whole the regular ditching-spade seems to me 

 better than the skeleton for my land. This particular one has too 

 narrow a blade, except for bottom course, and the shoulder is so 

 narrow that the foot slips; also, the ribs, or tines, bend top easily. 

 They were bent when it came, and I straightened them with care, 

 but they are not stiff enough, even for a skilled ditcher, in our 

 soil. I would not, however, decide wholly against them until I 

 try the wider and shorter size in a very wet and sticky time and 

 place. Thus far my men and I like the solid or regular spades 

 best; but in Iowa soils the skeleton spade is just the thing. 



Hudson, O., March 15, 1892. W. I. CHAMBERLAIN. 



We have used the spade a little, but not very much, how- 

 ever. But I am inclined to think that, where it is properly 

 made, as friend Chamberlain suggests, i. e., made for our 

 soil, it will clear better and cut easier than the one figured 

 on page 82, No. 6. I should be glad to hear from friends who 

 have used the three-tined spade. It seems to me the idea is 

 a progressive one. 



