Use of the Spud. 105 



length is about five feet from the upper 

 end of the handle to the cutting end of the 

 blade. The blade is about eight inches long 

 from the cutting end to the shoulder, and 

 about two and half inches broad at the cut- 

 ting end, and five-eighths of an inch broad 

 at the shoulder. The blade should be thin, 

 not necessarily more than a quarter of an 

 inch at the shoulder, and still thinner as 

 the cutting end is approached. The blade 

 is fitted into the handle in the same way 

 as a common hoe. The implement is very 

 light, so that it is in no way burdensome 

 to carry. 



In few kinds of labor on the farm are 

 quickness and sureness of movement more 

 important than in the use of the spud. 

 When using the spud in a grain crop, the 

 spudder walks astride of a row of grain, 

 the feet being placed between the drills, 

 so that trampling is avoided. He walks 

 along the lines of the drill in which he 

 first enters, and cuts below the surface of 

 the ground all the noxious weeds that may 

 be found within six feet on either side of 

 him. A strip is thus taken at one time of 

 about twelve feet in width. On the return 



