76 



exposing them to the action of a roasting sun-heat or to the 

 attacks of insectivorous birds and other natural enemies. 



FIELD IMPLEMENTS USED IN CULTIVATION. 

 Three sets of horse implements are necessary for the thorough 

 cultivation of the land in the pursuit of vine and fruit growing 

 A suitable plough, 

 A scarifier, 

 A set of harrows, 



without mentioning the hand hoes, pick, digging forks, and minor 

 tools and appliances in use for working the soil close up to the tree. 



A considerable variety of implements are offered by the 

 trade which claim to do the work they are expected to do in the 

 best style and at the cheapest cost. The ingenuity of modern 

 makers has been considerably taxed of late by the desire to excel 

 their rivals, and the result, so far as design and workmanship are 

 concerned, has attained to a high state of perfection when com- 

 pared with the implements used for similar purposes only a 

 few years ago. 



It may be that, after clearing, the ground does not present an 

 even surface and that there are ridges to level down and hollows to 

 fill. This is done with an earth scoop after the surface has been 

 " scruffed " up with the plough. Another suitable implement for 

 this work is a " buck scraper " made of a solid wooden beam, 2 inches 

 x 12 inches, cut bevel with the adze on one side and iron-shod to 

 scrape the earth. 



Two guiding handles bolted to the scraper are used for holding 

 the board at an angle when paring a slice of the uneven ground. 

 One length of chain at each end of the scraper a,nd looped to the 

 whipple-tree complete the implement. 



Another serviceable land leveller is thus described in the 

 Settlers' Guide issued by this Department : " The leveller may be 

 made on the farm, all the aid it will be necessary to invoke being 

 that of the blacksmith to make the iron nose and even this is not 

 an absolute necessity, as our hardwoods will stand a good deal of 

 friction before wearing away. 



To make the leveller, take two hardwood planks about 12 feet 

 in length, two inches thick, and eight inches wide. Cut down one 

 edge with a drawing knife, plane, or adze, so that it will be about 

 half an inch on the edge. Put the boards together in Y shape, with 

 the flaring edges at the bottom inside and resting on the ground. 

 Take an eight-foot board, trimmed down the same, but two inches 

 narrower. Mortise and bolt the ends into the side boards about 

 two feet from the ends. Put two bolts through where the side 

 pieces are joined to make the front of the leveller. Bolt a hook on 

 top so that the whipple trees may be attached. Nail an eight-inch 

 board across near the centre. When you want to cut down a ridge, 

 ride upon the board, drive the horses on one side, and swing your 

 weight so as to cut into the soil. If you wish to fill up dead fur- 



