i>LANTlNG WITH PEG OR STAFF. 



2i5 



it is frequently necessary to work the soil before planting, 

 either entirely, or in strips or patches. This can be done 



Fig. 65. 



with a light plough or the hoe. In such cases the area may 

 be used for the raising of a field crop before planting. 



Pegs of various shapes are used, such as the ordinary 

 planting pegs (Fig. 62), the planting 

 dagger (Fig. 63), Buttlar's iron (Fig. 64), 

 etc. The planting peg is constructed of 

 wood ; Fig. 63 consists of a wooden peg 

 with an iron coating up to the handle ; 

 Buttlar's tool is made entirely of iron, 

 the handle being covered with leather ; 

 it weighs about seven pounds. 



When using any of these tools the 

 planter holds a bundle of plants in one 

 hand and the tool in the other ; he inserts 

 the tool into the ground (Fig. 65, a), 

 takes a plant out of the bundle, holds it 

 between two fingers, withdraws the tool, 

 inserts the plant into the hole, re-inserts 

 the tool in a slanting position (Fig. 65, h), 

 and presses earth on to the plant by push- 

 ing the peg towards it. The second hole 

 thus produced (Fig. 65, c), can be filled up by inserting the 

 tool a third time, or by pressing earth into it with the foot. 



