viT STOCKS 123 



other article of dress is wanted ; even if not used for 

 pruning, strong thick gloves are necessary for stock- 

 getting, for there are no thorns in England like the 

 curved scimitars of Bosa canina. Summer thorns 

 may be disregarded, for whilst they are green they 

 are fairly pliable and soft ; in winter they are as 

 hard and sharp as steel, and as brittle as glass. 

 Under the microscope, the point of a fine needle looks 

 like a great coarse blunt cone compared to the sharp 

 point of a Bose-thorn. Get the white stiff hedger's 

 gloves at the village shop, made I believe of horse- 



Grecian Saw. 



skin : they are very hard and uncomfortable at first , 

 but become more supple by use. 



For instruments, first and most useful is the 

 " Grecian " pruning draw saw, which might perhaps 

 be kept in a sheath attached to a waist-belt, though 

 I have always simply carried it : any of the large 

 seedsmen will supply this tool, which must be 

 sharpened occasionally as you have to cut through 

 the earth with it. Next in importance is a small 

 stock axe : I have quite a miniature one which was 

 made on purpose for me and can be used with one 

 hand : the small amount of digging that is required 

 can be done with this, and there is no use for aspade. 

 A pruning-knife and strong secateurs or pruning- 

 shears in the pocket complete the equipment. It is 

 here, I suspect, in his instruments, that the amateur 



