THE FAMILY GARDEN 125 



to stand erect and force the tool along by simply leaning 

 the body forward, and it runs more easily than those 

 with small wheels. With one of these tools one can do 

 almost as good and as much work as the horse, and it 

 would be much more quickly and better done than by 

 hand. Many kinds of tools and attachments come with 

 each cultivator fine teeth, thin blades for shaving off 

 the weeds, plow blades for hilling, etc., which are 

 interchangeable and may be quickly changed. 



The triangular hoe shown in the picture (Fig. 41) is 

 unlike the common or " sunny side " hoe in the market, in 

 that it is made from the common thin-bladed corn hoe 

 with a nine or 

 ten inch blade 

 about three 

 inches wide, the 



back or Curved FIG. 41 The Triangular Hoe ; How Made. 



part being cut off as shown in the cut, with a sharp 

 file or cold chisel. This makes a long cutting edge 

 for shaving of the little weeds on the surface, with 

 long, slender points that work in among closely planted 

 crops, and stirs the soil more easily and deeply than the 

 common square hoe generally used. The best time for 

 killing weeds is just as they are breaking through the 

 ground, and in a light soil this may be done quickly with 

 the common garden rake between the rows and a small 

 one with four or six teeth to work in and among the hills. 

 With the wheel hand-cultivator, the "weed- killer" hoe, 

 and rakes of two sizes, a large area of garden surface may 

 be kept free from weeds and the soil light and mellow. 



Summer Fertilization. 



It is said that the Japanese are the most skilful people 

 in the world in the use of fertilizer. They utilize all pos- 

 sible fertilizing materials and apply frequently, working 



