12a 
well tempered steel; the prong is made of chilled steel: the tool is 
nine inches long, strongly made and well finished. 
The second illustration shows two types of secateurs and a 
handy pruning saw. The longer pruning shears, 15 to 17 inches 
long, is a two-handled one, and a very powerful tool, suitable for 
pruning strong vines and hard and knotty wood. One of its handles 
is chisel-shaped, and is found very convenient for suckering vines or 
trees, an operation which, when made with the blade, jags its edge 
and makes it blunt. 
The edge of the blade of the secateur should be kept sharp by 
the use, whenever required, of a small hone or an oil stone, while 
the file will keep the teeth of the pruning saw set and sharp. * 
Pruning Tools. 
When using the seeateurs a clean and neat cut is given by 
seeing that the blade, and not the prong, faces the part of the wood 
which is left on the plant. As strong branches as can well be in- 
serted between the blade and the prong can with little effort be 
snipped by gently pushing the top part of the branch or rod it is 
