244 



THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



Fig. 133. — The finger- 

 weeder. 



trowel, with the more rounded point. After what I have said 

 about strong tools, you will not be surprised when I add here 

 that a light-weight trowel, that will bend or snap easily, is 

 not worth buying. That is one reason 

 why I prefer the mason's trowel ; it is 

 usually very strong. 



Other tools than these you can very 

 well dispense 

 with, but there 

 are some that are 

 worth having. 

 Weeders, for 

 example (there 



are many kinds and shapes) , will save the 

 fingers, although they will never do as 

 good work. Small hand-forks ; or other 

 tools for scratching the ground when 

 you are on your knees before the garden- 

 bed, are convenient. Many people use 

 dibbers, which are short-pointed sticks as 

 large round as a man's thumb, for making holes for transplant- 

 ing, or even for lifting plants. I must acknowledge that I 

 have never used one, since it seems to me 

 that a trowel is better for both purposes. 

 But you may find them very handy. 



Other larger tools can be had for cul- 

 tivating, and every little while some one 

 patents and sells a new one, which is 

 supposed to be better than the old-style FlQ ' 134 ' 

 hoe or rake. Most of them are, however, no improvement 

 on those ancient tools, which were invented with the dawn 

 of civilization, and which men have used ever since. There 

 are two implements, however, of which you should know. 



Fig. 132. 



- Weeders. 



-Dibber. 



