GARDEN TOOLS. 



59 



a barrow is indispensable, and we find the common wooden form 

 is the best (fig. 54). For carrying our plants or fruit a hand-barrow 

 (fig. 55) is used, carried by two men, and it is pleasant to see the 

 joy of the children when it arrives laden with strawberries and the 

 other fruits of the season for the dinner-table. 



Our large pots are carried by a chain placed round the pot and 

 attached to a pole over the shoulders of the men. As we have the 

 advantage of a lake, a punt is used to transport manure or plants 

 from one part of the garden to another. 



In my garden, where robust forest trees are intermingled with 

 slender shrubs and tender plants, a variety of cutting instruments 



Fro. 56. 



FIG. 59. 



FIG. 57. 



FIG. 58. 



must necessarily be used. For cutting down trees the axe (fig. 56) 

 is the chief instrument, and it is remarkable how a tree of a hundred 

 years' growth yields to a few strokes of the woodman's axe, when 

 properly wielded. In private grounds the cross-cut saw takes its place ; 

 but we have neither necessity nor desire for the frequent use of these 

 implements. For the removal of the large branches we use chiefly a 

 pruning saw ; for the removal of the smaller a chopper or bill-hook is 

 more handy (fig. 57) ; whilst for the pruning of mere shoots the gar- 

 dener always cuts with a pruning-knife (fig. 58). The various forms of 

 pruning shears are not approved, as they bruise the wood when unskil- 

 fully handled, and in this respect are inferior to a sharp knife ; although 

 garden shears (fig. 59) are almost constantly used for hedge-clipping. 



