io6 Weeds. 



trip, he walks in the center of an adjoin- 

 ing strip of equal width, and proceeds in 

 this manner until the whole field is gone 

 over. 



The spudder should always carry with 

 him a short file, to be used for sharpening 

 the spud whenever this may be necessary. 

 The frequency of the sharpenings will 

 depend on the nature of the soil; but it is 

 greatly important that a good cutting edge 

 be constantly kept. The file should never 

 be forgotten, especially in stony soils, as 

 the spudder never can know how soon he 

 may want it. 



Simple as the work may appear, there 

 is great opportunity for the exercise of 

 dexterity in using the spud. One person 

 will so use it in a grain field that very lit- 

 tle of the grain will be either trampled upon 

 or cut off, whereas another would make 

 constant havoc in both these respects. It 

 is matter for surprise how large and strong 

 a weed root can be severed by the spud 

 when it is dexterously used. Burdock 

 roots tw^o inches in diameter may be easily 

 severed when the spudder is well skilled in 

 his work. 



