AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



51 



the edge, tliere is about equal power, 

 and no " wring" ujDon the hand of tlie 

 "workman. 



Tlie goose-necked crane's-bill hoc, 

 Fig. 40, is a light, long, tapering hoe, 

 with a socket for the handle, which 

 may sometimes be found useful for 

 loosening the earth among flowers, or 

 when taking out strong weeds, or 

 around young vegetable plants after 

 beating rains. 



The thrust-hoe (Fig. 41 a) is a thin 

 steel blade, about two inches deep and 

 of any desired width, welded or riveted to a nearly semicir- 

 cular frame attached to a socket, into which a pretty long and 

 stout handle is inserted, and the hoe is tlu'ust instead of being 

 drawn in the various uses to which it is put. 



Fig. 43. 



Cioose-necked crane' f?-bill Iloe, or 

 "NVeeding-hoc. 



Missionary Hoe. 



Fig. 41 b is a somewhat 

 improved form, in which 

 'hm. " (a ijnpruv, d 1 hi-ust Hoc. tlio sockct and frame arc 



of malleable iron, and the ends of the frame, or arms, are riv- 

 eted near the middle of the blade, which should be about three 

 inches wide, and so set that it can be used either in thrusting 

 or drawing. 



Hoes of this kind are calculated for shallow hoeing upon a 

 level surface, as among very yoimg vegetable or other crops, or 

 for cleaning paths, (fee. Their proper management requires 

 some experience, and their width should not exceed eight inch- 

 es, which is exactly enough to pass safely between rows that 

 were somi a foot apart. Any larger size than this becomes 

 unwieldy even for a strong man. 



