TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS. 



173 



CHAPTER XVI. 



TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, &c, USED IN 

 GARDENS. 



Tools — Cutting Instruments — Instruments used in 

 Laying Out Ground Lines — Machines — Utensils 

 — Miscellaneous Articles. 



Many of the tools used in gardens are so 

 familiar to almost everyone, that a mere enume- 

 ration of them might be considered sufficient; 

 yet the difference between a good and a bad 

 one, both being employed for the same purpose, 

 is of great importance. The spade is one of 

 the most commonly used implements, and it is 

 not perhaps too much to say, that with one of 

 the modern improved kinds a man could do, 

 with the same exertion, 10 per cent more work 

 than he could with the heavy easily-clogged 

 kinds formerly in use. But besides the ad- 

 vantage from more work being performed, it 

 is always the case, that with a well -adapted 

 tool of a superior description, the work is also 

 better done. On this account, tools that are 

 very common are, nevertheless, noticed, in order 

 to point out the good properties which they 

 ought to possess. 



The care of tools, &c, is a matter of con- 

 siderable importance, although it is too often 

 neglected. Economy, not only in outlay, but 

 also in labour, is secured by attention to the 

 proper cleaning and storing of all tools when 

 not in use. In large establishments, where a 

 large number of implements of various kinds 

 are required, a tool-shed should be provided, 

 with arrangements for their convenient and safe 

 storing. Brackets and hooks against walls for 

 sieves, ropes, scythes, rakes, spades, &c, shelves, 

 drawers, or cupboards for small tools, and boxes 

 for labels, twine, pegs, &c, should be furnished 

 in every orderly tool-shed, and the men should 

 be taught to return every article to its proper 

 place when not in use. Wet days may be turned 

 to account by oiling, sharpening, and repairing 

 any tools that require it. Even in small gardens 

 a suitable place for the storage of tools ought 

 to be found, instead of, as is too often the case, 

 throwing them into any corner or out-of-the- 

 way place, where they either get spoilt with 

 rust or damp or are mysteriously missing when 

 next required. Men work better when in good 

 health than when in bad, and in like manner, 

 with good clean tools more and better work is 

 accomplished than is possible when they are 

 either rusty or blunt or rickety. 



I. Tools. 



Spades. — Of all tools employed in gardening, 

 the spade is the most essential. AVith it alone 

 most kitchen-garden crops could be obtained, 

 and plantations of fruit and forest trees could 

 be formed. If a gardener were limited to the 

 choice of only one implement, that which he 

 would retain as the most useful would be the 

 spade. 



The English spade has long been justly con- 

 sidered the best in the world; and it was 

 thought that the utmost perfection in its manu- 

 facture had been attained. Great improve- 

 ments have, however, been effected of late years. 

 Parkes' solid-socket spade (fig. 172) is perhaps 

 the most improved form of spade up to date, 

 wearing to a keen sharp edge. The blade being 

 bright when new, can be kept always in that 

 condition if properly wiped when put away. 



Shovels. — These being broader and lighter 

 than the spade, and having the edges turned 

 up, are better adapted for moving loose soil, 

 gravel, or sand. The handle should have an 

 upward bend, less stooping being then required 

 in using the tool (see fig. 173). 



Picks. — There are several varieties of these, 

 some having pointed, others cutting ends. As 

 they are used for penetrating and loosening hard 

 soils or gravel, or for cutting roots among sandy 

 or stony particles, these implements require to 

 have their ends well steeled and tempered. 



The Common Pick has both ends pointed, and 

 is curved, the curve nearly corresponding with 

 the segment of a circle, of which the radius is 

 somewhat greater than that of the curve described 

 by the pick in making a stroke. 



The Pickaxe is pointed at one end like the 

 common pick; but the other end is wedge-shaped, 

 and sharpened for use in the cutting of roots of 

 trees, &c. The cutting edge is in the direction 

 of the handle. 



The Mattock (fig. 174) has one end pointed 

 and the other flattened, the edge being trans- 

 verse, or at right angles to the direction of the 

 handle. This kind of pick is perhaps the most 

 useful, and if only one sort were allowed, this 

 should be preferred. A small form of it, known 

 as the small hand-pick, is a serviceable tool 

 when large trees are being transplanted, as it 

 can be used in tight places for undermining, &c. 

 The length of the head is 10 inches, and of the 

 handle 12 inches. 



Mattock or Grubbing Axe (fig. 175). — This is 

 brought to a thin wedge shape at both ends; 

 but one edge is in the direction of the handle, 



