12 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FARM. 



the share of a ridging plough, others in that of a common 

 share ; but the general form is a horizontal blade bent 

 back at an angle from the upright stem, so as to clean 

 itself as it is drawn forward, the length of the blades 

 corresponding to the distance between the rows. 



The increased area of root crops now grown has given 

 rise to a greater variety of drills and horse hoes than 

 formerly, but the principle of construction is nearly the same. 

 Hoes for drill cultivation are made for two rows at a time, but 

 one-row implements are generally preferred. They are in 

 the nature of a plough having handles and beam, with one 

 or two supporting wheels in front. They carry three or four 

 tines, the leading one being in the beam and the others in 

 two expanding wings. The front hoe is always of a 

 triangular form, cutting on both sides. The wing hoes 

 cut only on one side, with straight or curved blades. A 

 small harrow may be attached behind ; and, by means of a 

 chain and lever, lifted when it gets full of weeds. Instead 

 of hoes the implement may carry grubber tines, skim 

 coulters ; or the expanding wings may be removed, and 

 the body of a ridging plough put on the beam. But 

 general purpose drills and hoes are not so popular as they 

 once were, single implements being found to do the work 

 better and cheaper in the end. There is also a revolving 

 horse hoe for thinning turnips a circular edge, revolving 

 obliquely to its route, with, however, gaps in its continuity, 

 so that the row which would have been wholly cleared by 

 it, is left in bunches, and may afterwards be singled by the 

 hand. 



Hand hoes are made of different sizes for different crops. 

 They should be made of the best steel, so as to clean them- 

 selves in being drawn forward, and keep themselves sharp. 



