410 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



similar to the averuncator, fig. 166. It is for 

 cutting off leaves, bunches of grapes, flowers, 

 &c., that may not be readily reached by hand ; 

 and while it severs the leaf, &c., it still holds it 



until it may be taken in the hand. The wire x, 

 passing round the handle and lever in form of a 

 ring, when pulled downwards by the cord y, 

 draws the leaves towards the handle, and causes 



Fig. 169. 



PRIIMrNG SCISSORS. 



the shear-like faces tO' meet : these, instead of 

 being sharp at their edges, meet in what may 

 be called the half-check form, bruising rather 

 than cutting asunder the footstalk of the flower 

 or leaf, and thus preventing its falling. The 

 stud a above the ring prevents it from slipping 

 upwards, and the spring between the lever and 

 handle keeps the shears open until acted upon 

 by the cord, e cuts in the same manner, and is 

 useful in gathering roses or other flowers, or 

 pruning soft branches when it is desirable that 

 they shall not fall to the ground as they are cut. 

 /, the grape-thinning scissors, may be regarded 

 as a pruning implement, because they are every- 

 where employed for thinning or pruning out 

 the superfluous berries from the bunches of 

 grapes. They differ no otherwise from common 

 scissors than in being much longer, and having 



their cutting points much more pointed that 

 they may be worked among the berries with less 

 danger of pricking those that are to be left. 



'I'he gooseberry pruner, fig. 170, is useful in 

 removing the superfluous young wood from the 



Fig. 170. 



GOOSEBERRY PRUNES, 



gooseberry and currant, and similar trees, and 

 is considered by many to facilitate the operation, 

 when compared with the pruning-knife. 



