58 AMERICAN HOME GARDEX. 



mon joist that is not too light, fire feet and a lialf long, and 

 with an inch and a half auger bore six holes thi'ough it at a 

 foot apart, leaving thi'ee inches solid on each end. Insert the 

 handle, five or six feet long, in the centre, almost horizontally, 

 and brace it well. Next take six pieces of common pointed 

 picket, about eighteen inches long ; shoulder them miiformly 

 on both edges at a foot from the point end, forming a shank to 

 each of six inches long, dressed so as to pass the auger holes 

 (Fig. 58 a). Having set them all in, nail a light strip along 

 the upper and under sides of the bar, back of the teeth, to set 

 them in proper range and keep them fixim turning, and finish 

 by T^^edging them carefully and firmly to their places from the 

 upper side. 



AVhere a large piece or Ijed is to be sewn or planted, it is 

 used in the following manner : The line, being tightly stretch- 

 ed in the desired direction upon one side, forms a guide to the 

 outer tooth of the marker in the first draft ; suljsequently the 

 outer mark of each draft forms the guide, the tooth being run 

 in it at each repetition of the stroke, as the operator, walking 

 Ijackward, draws the marker caa-efully after him. "With this, 

 six marks are made at the fii'st draft, and five at each repeti- 

 ng. 59. tion. 



Lighter or heavier ones, with naiTower or wider spaces, 

 can of com'se bo made. 



The di):i1jer or planting-stick (Fig. 50) is best made 

 fi'om an old spade-handle, which is usually of the prop- 

 er thickness for the pm-pose. It should be about fifteen 

 inches long, including the hand-hold or eye. The 

 , point should not be shod with iron, nor sharpened as 

 / if for piercing, hvA formed rather obtusely, as nearly 

 of an egg form as possible. It is used in setting out 

 Dibber. Small plants. 



