Pruning. 



257 



used with the beveled edge of the blade in close contact 

 with the supporting member. They are excellent for 

 cutting cions (386), and making cuttings (358). The 

 form shown in the figure is perhaps the best one extant. 



The hedge shears (Fig. 169) are especially useful for 

 pruning hedges. 



The lever shears (Fig. 170) are useful for 

 cutting off sprouts about the base of trees. 



The pole shears (Fig. 171) are useful for 

 cutting back the 

 shoots of tall trees, 

 and for removing 

 sap sprouts (224), 

 though for this 

 purpose they have 

 the fault of the 

 pruning shears in 

 not cutting suffi- 

 ciently close to the 

 branch. They 

 should not be used 

 for shoots much ex- 

 ceeding one - half 

 inch in diameter. 



The raspberry hook 

 (Fig. 172) is used 

 for cutting off the 

 dead fruiting canes of the raspberry and blackberry. 

 The cutting part is made of a rod of good steel, five-six- 

 teenths inch in diameter, flattened and curved as shown, 

 with a moderately thin edge on the concave side of the 

 curve. The handle should be about three feet long. 



FIG.. 170. FIG. 171. FIG. 172. 



FIG. 170. Lever shears (much reduced). 

 FIG. 171. Pole shears. The wire connects 

 with a lever not shown in the figure. 

 FIG. 172. Raspberry hook. 



