BOOK III. 



IMPLEMENTS OF GARDENING. 



273 



especially used by master-gardeners. There are varieties of these, with saws, chisels, penknives, &c. ; the 

 two latte'r are more curious than useful. 



The grafting-knife (fig. 109.) differs from the common pruning-knife, in having a thinner and more nar- 

 row blade fixed in a bone or horn handle. It is used for grafting, inarching, &c. 



110 



114 



The budding-knife (fig. 110.) differs from the grafting-knife, in having the point of the sharp edge of the 

 blade rounded off in the same manner as is the back or blunt edge of the grafting and pruning knives, it 

 has also a thin wedge-shaped ivory or bone handle for raising up the bark, in the operation of inocu- 

 lation. 



The asparagus-knife consists of a strong blade, fixed in a handle, blunt on both edges, and straight 

 (fig. 111.) ; or slightly hooked, and serrated at one end. (fig. 112.) 



1327. The garden-chisel is of two species, of which there are several varieties. 



The grafting-chisel differs from the carpenter's chisel, in being a narrow wedge tapering equally on both 

 sides. It is used to split stocks where the common pruning-knife is not deemed sufficiently strong.^ 



The forest-chisel (fig. 113.) is a sharp edge of steel, with or without a sharp steel hook or hooks, generally 

 called ears : this blade or wedge is attached to a handle, from six to ten feet long or upwards ; or better to 

 a handle capable of being lengthened by additional joints. It is used for cutting off small branches of 

 forest-trees close by the bole or trunk ; with one hand it is placed and adjusted under the branch, and with 

 the other a smart blow is given by a wooden mallet, which, either at once or by repetition, effects separ- 

 ation, arid leaves a smooth section. A variety of this instrument, used for pruning orchards, is furnished 

 with a guard or plate behind the blade, to prevent its entering too far into the trunk or main branch. 

 (fig- 114.) 



115 



o CL: 



its 



n 



SdDO 







120 



1328. The pruning bill is generally a hooked blade, sometimes sharpened on one and 

 sometimes on both edges, attached to a handle of from one to four feet in length, 

 There are several varieties : one resembles the pruning-knife on a large scale (jig. 115.), 

 having a handle four feet long, and is used for pruning hedges in the best hedge-districts, 

 such as Northumberland and Berwickshire ; another (Jig. 116.) has a handle of only one, 

 or one foot and a half long, and is sharpened in part on the back, forming a sort of halberd- 

 like blade, and. is used where hedges are plashed, as in Middlesex and Hertfordshire ; 

 and the last we shall mention, contains a saw on one edge of the blade, and a knife on 

 the other (Jig. 117.); of this and the first-mentioned sorts are small portable varieties 

 with cases, &c. for amateur foresters. 



1329. The forest-axe is a steel wedge fixed at right angles to the end of a handle of 

 wood, from two and a half to four feet long, and is chiefly used for cutting roots or trunks 

 at the ground's surface, where the saw cannot operate. Axes vary in dimension, and 

 also in the shape of the head or wedge, which, for the purposes of gardening, ought 

 to be long and narrow. 



1 330. Occasional instruments. Besides the above there may be wanted, in extraordinary 

 cases, adzes, gouges, carving-chisels, and peculiar-shaped instruments, which the intelligent 

 gardener will search for or procure to be made to answer his intentions. 



1331. The jrruning-saw (Jig. 118.) is a blade of steel, serrated in what is called the 

 double manner on one side, and is either jointed like a folding pruning-knife ; joiutless 

 as in the common knife ; shaped like a carpenter's saw (Jig. 119.); or of some length, say 

 with a handle of six or eight feet, as in the forest-saw. (Jig. 120.) The small saws are 

 used for cutting off branches where the knife cannot easily act owing to want of room, 

 and the forest-saw is used in cutting off large branches. In either case the section must 

 be smoothed with the forest-chisel or pruning-knife, and, if possible, or at least in delicate 

 cases, should always be covered with some tenacious air-excluding composition. 



1332. The averruncator (Jig. 121.) is a compound blade attached to a handle from five 



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