IMPLEMENTS. 



97 



stroke given to the shears with the other hand. Another 

 perpendicular stroke slits the stock for the graft, leaving a 

 perfectly smooth face cut for its reception. The expedition 

 and perfection of the work is thus greatly facilitated. 



Small shears attached to a pole and worked by a cord, 

 ^fig. 54,) are useful for cutting grafts on tall trees ; in 

 removing the eggs of caterpillars, (see 

 chapter on the apple ;) and in taking off fine 

 fruit to prevent bruising, by attaching a 

 basket to the pole immediately under the 

 shears. The blades of these shears, forming 

 an oblique angle with the shaft at a little dis- 

 tance above the pivot, make a draw-cut in- 

 stead of a crushing-cut, and are for this reason 

 more effective. Apples, and some of the 

 Fig-. 54. harder fruits, may also be gathered with a 

 wooden hook in the end of a pole, to draw the fruit from 

 the branch, caught in a basket just underneath. 



In using the long handled pruning-saw, the pruning- 

 chisel, the graft-cutter, or the fruit-gatherer, the operator 

 may stand on a ladder or high stool, as an additional assis- 

 tance in reaching the higher parts of the tree. 



Self-sustaining fruit-ladders are very useful in gathering 

 fine fruit, to prevent mutilation and 

 bruising of the bark and branches. 

 Fig. 55, is one of small size and simple 

 construction, is easily carried in one 

 hand, and will raise one's feet a yard 

 or more from the ground. It consists of 

 a small piece of light plank at the 

 top, supported on legs not larger than 

 common chair legs. Fig. 56, repre- 

 sents one from eight to twelve feet high, 

 the two single legs moving on joints, for 

 closing against the ladder in carrying, and 

 spreading like a tripod in setting up under 

 the tree. 



The folding-ladder may be closed toge- 

 ther with the facility of a pair of com- 

 passes ; it then becomes a round stick, easily 

 carried in one hand. It is made of strong 

 light wo&d, and its construction may be 



Fig. 58. 



