Tools for the Garden 



IOQ 



protect them if no oil or 

 paint is at hand. 



Right and wrong ways 

 of using tools. It will 

 pay the beginner, and 

 often also the more ex- 

 perienced gardener, to 

 make some study regard- 

 ing the easiest way of 

 using tools. It is not 

 easy to describe on paper 

 the best methods. In 

 hoeing, raking, spading, 

 carrying water, carry- 

 ing flats, and using the 

 wheel hoe, one should 

 aim to keep the body 

 well balanced and in 

 graceful position so that 

 the tools may be used 

 without undue strain. A 

 few illustrations will per- 

 haps show what is meant. 



In Figure 63 the student to the left is forcing a spading 

 fork into the ground with the fork pressing against the 

 instep and heel. This position might strain and injure 

 the foot, since it is not intended to carry weight at this 

 point. The hand grasping the end of the handle has the 

 palm downward. The student is pushing against the 

 spade with his body. In lifting the soil, he must step 

 to one side or be put to undue strain in lifting the forkful 



U. S.D. A. 



FIG. 64. The proper way to leave tools in 

 the garden, when not in use. Make it a 

 habit to stick the fork in the ground and 

 to turn the rake and hoe down when they 

 are not in use. 



