300 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



in Fig. 211. Those marked a, d, e are common 

 and very useful kinds of saws. Those with 

 teeth on both edges have the advantage of keep- 

 ing longer in repair and of allowing relatively 

 fine and coarse work ; but in crotches the saw 

 is likely to injure the limb which it is desired 

 to save. A slight curve to the blade (as in a) 

 allows the operator to make a very forcible draw 

 cut with the concave side. The back-saw, c, is 

 very useful for small limbs and for grafting, for 

 the stiff back allows the use of a thin plate and 

 consequently of small teeth ; and the tool leaves 

 a very smooth wound. Its disadvantage is that 

 it is too broad to be worked in crotches and 

 other crowded places. Saw b is known as an 

 orange -tree pruner. The tool / is one of the 

 handiest and most efficient of all pruning saws, 

 notwithstanding its clumsy appearance. The 

 blade turns at both ends, allowing it to be 

 used at any angle with reference to the frame 

 and adapting it to the most constricted places. 

 Tool g is a combination of saw and chisel. It 

 is mounted on a pole, and the chisel is operated 

 with a mallet applied to the end of the handle. 

 Tool li is also mounted on a long handle, and is 

 a combination of a saw and a shear tool. Long- 

 handled tools are of minor value, particularly 

 in orchards, for the operator should be very 

 close to his work. They are useful in taking 

 out limbs here and there and for use on orna- 



