t 155 ] 



196. Hoes. When seed has been sown and the young 

 plants have come up, one hand-weeding with khurpies\s neces- 

 sary for most crops. Afterwards the soil between the rows 

 of plants should be kept stirred and clean as often as con j 

 venient, say once a fortnight or once a month, according 

 to circumstances until the plants are about \\ ft. high. 2 or 

 3 hoeings give the crop a very good start and the land is also left 

 clean. With an American wheeled hand-hoe (Fig. 31) one 



FIG. 31. AMERICAN HAND-HOE. 



can easily work i bigha a day. With a bullock-hoe (Fig. 32) 

 however, I acre a day can be done. The use of the hand- 

 hoe or bullock-hoe presupposes the use of a seed-drill. The 



FIG. 32. MADRAS BULLOCK-HOE. 



Planet Jr. hoe (Fig. 31) may be used as a seed-drill, or hilling 

 plough, or rake, by substituting one working part by another. 

 A hand-hoe of the American pattern can be constructed for 

 less than Rs. 10. The essential parts are, (i) 4 curved tines 

 screwed on to (2) a bar with a slit in the middle, along which 

 the tines can be arranged close together or somewhat apart 

 from one another according to the width of the drill, (3) a 



