396 Vegetable-Gardening Tools and Implements 



imate uses on the farm, — to aid in planting, to kill weeds. 

 As a tillage-tool, the rake is far superior. Most persons 

 use the hoe as they would a pick, — to chop the earth. Much 

 hoeing usually wastes soil moisture. 



The gardener should secure a spraying outfit of large 

 capacity. It is more efiicient and more economical .of labor. 

 Be sure that the pump is strong, carefully made, well lined, 

 and ha,s much power. Clean it thoroughly inside before 

 putting it away for winter. Get it out a month before it 

 is wanted in spring ; it will probably need tinkering. Year 

 by year, spraying machinery is improving. The gardener 

 is practically powerless before the multitude of bugs and 

 fungi unless he has good spraying and dusting devices and 

 a proper stock of insecticides and fungicides. 



For the home garden one needs many small hand tools 

 and helps, some of which can be made on the premises. 

 These aids include hand-weeders, light hoes, sprinklers, 

 watering-cans, garden line and reel, labels, stakes, and 

 others. A tool shed or stall is one of the most interesting 

 adjuncts to a garden, expressing the gardener's interest 

 in deft and neat handicraft. 



