180 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



grasping and cutting stronger branches than 

 can be done with the ordinary hedge shears. 

 They should have strong wooden handles about 

 3 feet in length, and broadly ferruled where the 

 prongs are inserted. 



Grass-edging Shears. — Some kinds of these are 

 furnished with a small wheel to run along close 

 by the edge of the grass; but the form repre- 

 sented in fig. 201 is best adapted for general use. 

 They were formerly made with the handles at 

 right angles to the blades, but they are now 

 made with an angle of 110°. The axis or pin 

 on which the blades turn should have a smoothly 

 rounded head next the edging; that is, on the 

 left-hand side. The other end of the axis should 

 have a screw and nut with a washer; or there 

 may be two thin nuts worked hard against each 

 other, to prevent their being turned by the 

 movement of the blades. It is necessary that the 

 end of the screw should be on the right-hand 

 side, otherwise it would catch against the edging. 



Pruning Shears. — There are various sizes of 

 these, according to the greater or less thickness 

 of the shoots or small branches to be cut off. 

 The pruning shears shown in figs. 202 and 203 

 are employed for the removal of the shoots of 

 fruit-trees; and the centres being movable, they 

 produce a draw cut like a knife, instead of a 

 crushing cut like that of the common shears. 



The shears represented in fig. 204 are useful 

 for pruning Gooseberries, Currants, Roses, and 

 other plants. They are very strong and effec- 

 tive; and being made without a slide, are not 

 liable to get out of order. 



The Standard Tree-pruner (fig. 205) is used 

 for the purpose of pruning standard trees, the 

 branches of which are situated at a consider- 

 able elevation. There are several forms of this 

 instrument, differing slightly from that figured, 

 but they all consist of two blades, one of which 

 is fixed to a handle, and the other to a lever, 

 to which a strained wire is attached. The 

 Standard Tree-pruner is one of the best, being 

 quicker in action and more easily adjusted. 

 Another form is the Hook Tree-pruner, repre- 

 sented at fig. 206. This will cut through 

 branches an inch or more in diameter with 

 ease. The Aerial Pruning Saw (fig. 207), to 

 fit the Standard Tree-pruner, is easily adjusted, 

 and most useful for the removal of boughs too 

 large for the " pruner " alone. 



The Secateur (fig. 208) is a useful form of 

 shears of French invention. It is much more 

 expeditious than the pruning knife, well adapted 

 for summer pruning, and extremely useful for 

 shortening one-year-old shoots. There are 



various forms of the secateur. The one most 

 preferred in England is that here figured, which 

 is as useful in the garden as a pruning knife. 



The Flower Gatherer (fig. 209) is a useful form 

 of scissors, with blades so constructed as to hold 

 the flower after it has been severed. 



Grape Scissors are used for thinning out the 

 berries of the bunches of Grapes. They should 

 have small tapering points; but not too sharp, 



Fig. 205— Standard Tree-pruner in use. 



otherwise it is impossible to introduce them 

 among the Grapes without pricking some of the 

 berries not to be removed. 



The Axe. — One of a convenient size is useful 

 for many garden purposes, such as sharpening 

 stakes; and a large one, with a handle long 

 enough to be used with both hands, is required 

 for felling trees. 



The Hedge or Pruning Bill. — This instrument 

 is employed for dressing the sides of hedges. 

 It is a slightly curved blade, attached to a 

 handle about 4 feet long. Whilst the blade is 

 applied in a direction corresponding with that 

 of the side of the hedge, the handle deviates so 

 far as to permit the operator to stand clear of 

 the hedge. 



The Bill-hook (figs. 210 and 21 1) is used instead 

 of the axe for cutting hedges and lopping 

 branches, sharpening stakes, fagoting, and 



