1 24 GARDENING BY M YSELF. 



For while they are strong enough, by means 

 of a sliding spring, to cut easily a good stout 

 shoot of old wood from a rose or a black- 

 berry, they are also so small and hght as to lie 

 in a little basket and work in a tired hand. 

 Such a pair can be found at the chief seed 

 and agricultural stores, price from $2 50 up. 

 Shears without the spring are cheaper, but 

 will not do the same execution. Arrange a 

 small plain basket, for work, not show ; with 

 your shears (or failing that, an old pair of 

 scissors), a knife, half a dozen labels, a pen- 

 cil, and some strands of bast mat, or other 

 soft strings. Then in another basket, larger 

 but still light, have a trowel, and support- 

 sticks of various lengths, and you are 

 equipped. The sticks should be smooth and 

 straight, with the bark on if possible ; and 

 the labels neatl}^ fashioned out of bits of old 

 shingle, not less than four inches long. You 

 can get these labels from the seedsmen, 

 ready made, for twenty cents a hundred, if 

 you can spare so much from your seed 

 money. There is no better way of marking 



