18 



FARMERS BULLETIN 826. 



FIG. 8. Tools used in grubbing larkspur. 1. Pick-mattock for use in rocky soil. 2. Spo- 

 cial grubbing hoe for use in loam soils. 3. Special pick used on Stanislaus National 

 Forest. 4. Special mattock used on Fishlake National Forest. 



The chisel end of the pick is used in fine soils to grub out the roots ; 

 while the pointed end is very useful in loosening the soil in gravelly 

 or rocky areas, after which the plant can be removed with the chisel 

 end. Sometimes the chisel end may be too narrow to remove all of 

 the main root of the large plants with one stroke, in which case extra 

 care is necessary to prevent small portions being left in the soil. 



A combination pick-mattock is a good tool to use in rocky soils. 

 It has a pick end for loosening the gravel or rocks and a long wide 

 blade for removing the roots. In soils which do not have enough 

 rock or gravel to interfere with grubbing a mattock with the spur 

 cut off has proved to be very good. 



On the Fishlake National Forest in Utah a special tool, made 

 by welding enough material on a light pick to make a blade 9 by 3J 

 inches and shaping the other end into a spur similar to a mattock, 

 was used. This tool weighed about 3J pounds and was very effective 

 in loamy soils containing little or no gravel. 



A mattock with the spur cut off to make it lighter and the blade 

 drawn out to about 9 inches in length and a specially made grubbing 

 hoe having a blade of similar length are best for use in loamy soils. 

 In rocky or gravelly soils either the pick with one end flattened, as 

 shown in figure 4, or the combination pick-mattock should be used. 

 Unless the soil is very rocky the pick-mattock is better than the pick. 



