m 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



Dutch Hoe constantly at work on the surface. This 

 causes more rapid evaporation from the actual inch 

 or two disturbed and it soon becomes dry, but at 

 the same time by closing the pores and filling up 

 cracks it checks the evaporation from below, so that 

 the moisture drawn up from beneath in the manure 

 reaches the roots, and yet cannot escape into the air 

 in vapour. I consider this one of the most im- 

 portant points in the " cultivation " of the Eose. 



When I say Dutch Hoe, I mean a Hoe which, 

 passing beneath the surface, does the above-men- 



' Spkoughton " Hoe. 



tioned work of cultivation without undue moving 

 of that surface itself either forward or backward. I 

 do not at all like to advertise here an invention of 

 my own, but as I believe the " Sproughton " Hoe 

 to be much superior to any other, it does not seem 

 right that I should hesitate to recommend it. 



It has all the advantages of the Dutch Hoe with- 

 out its disadvantages, and with these other virtues 

 in addition : — 



The earth, in passing over the blade, does so un- 

 impeded ; it does not have to pass through a hole as 

 in the Dutch Hoe, since there is only one connec- 



