IMPLEMENTS USED BY FRUIT CULTIVATORS. 117 



An improvement has been made by continuing the two 

 main bars to a point, which more readily enables the operator 

 to thrust it up among the branches, and often to support him- 

 self by grasping this elevated point. The legs turn at the 

 hinges b (Fig. 177). 



The folding-ladder may be closed together with the facility 

 of a pair of compasses ; it then becomes a round stick easily 

 ^__„^ carried in one hand. It is made 



1 



B 



1 



Pio. 178.— Folding Ladder. 



of strong, light wood, and its 

 construction may be readily un 

 derstood by the annexed figure 

 (Fig. 178), representing the lad- 

 der as open, as half- closed, and 

 as closely shut. An enlarged 

 longitudinal section shows the 

 manner in which the rounds 

 lie in the grooves or concave 

 beds in the sides or styles; 

 above which is a cross-section 

 exhibiting the semi-oval form 

 of the styles. The ends of the 

 rounds turn on iron pins, slight- 



ly riveted outside. The rounds resting on shoulders, when the 

 ladder is opened, render the whole stiff and firm. A ladder of 

 this construction is found very useful, not only in fruit-houses, 

 where a common ladder could not be conveniently carried, 

 but in pruning standard trees, because it can be thrust through 

 the branches like a round pole, without difficulty, and when 

 once there, it is easily opened. 



Tree Scraper (Fig. 1 79).— This is used for removing the rough 

 and shaggy bark, moss, 

 etc. , from old fruit-trees. 

 It consists of a triangu- 

 lar plate of steel, at- 



. , 1 ^ , ,1 , , , Fig. 179.— Tree-Scraper. 



tached to a handle at the 



centre. The sides of the triangle are about four inches, and 



the handle may be from one to several feet in length. 



Garden Syringe (Figs. 180, 181).— This is made of various 

 sizes, or different materials, and with different caps or orifices. 

 The cheapest is made of thick sheet-tin, and the best and 



