FAMILIAR LESSONS ON PRACTICAL GARDENING. 
425 
relates to the annoyance or destruction of 
noxious insects and vermin. 
TOOLS REQUIRED. 
There is good reason why those who have 
ground to cultivate should take care to pro- 
vide themselves with all necessary tools, for 
both time and labour will be ill expended on 
the various operations if proper implements 
are not employed. The following are the 
most important to select : — 
Spade. — The spade is after all the main- 
spring of cultivation, and is a resource when 
all other means of cultivating the ground fail. 
Those with the tree or handle perfectly 
straight are strongest, and most suitable for 
hard work ; though many think those with 
the crooked tree rather more convenient to 
use ; they are so when shovelling work has to 
be done. 
Digging Fork. — A valuable substitute for 
the spade, and a much better tool than it for 
all the operations of loosening or lightening the 
soil ; it is also required to dig up root crops 
for storing. 
Pronged Hoe. — This is an important imple- 
ment in earthing up such crops as the potato. 
Hoes. — The draw-hoeTlbrcuttrrtg up weeds 
and drawing soil up to the stems of plants, and 
drawing drills for seed-sowing or planting, is 
quite necessary. The Dutch hoe is a better 
tool for stirring up the surface, which is an 
important operation, and should not be neg- 
lected where the labour can be devoted to it. 
Rake. — Used chiefly for covering seeds 
newly sown, by combing, as it were, the sur- 
face backwards and forwards, by which means 
the seeds get beneath the surface. 
Watering-can. — An impor- 
tant aid in cultivating fresh, 
vigorous and succulent vegeta- 
ble crops. 
Mattock. — Essential in grub- 
bing up trees or fences, in 
doing which it is the chief tool 
employed. 
Dibble. — Used in planting small plants ; 
it is made from the upper part of the wooden 
handle or tree of a spade, the eye of which 
makes it much more easily used than a mere 
straight stick could be. 
Garden-line. — Required as a guide in plant- 
ing and sowing in lines, instead 
of broadcast. The iron spindle 
makes it more easily used, but 
the line, which is formed 
of strong string as thick as a 
quill, may be used with two 
sticks only, around which it 
may be wound when not in use. 
Hand-spud. — For lifting up 
seedling plants about to be 
transplanted, and also to be 
used in replanting them. 
Knife. — Required for various operations 
connected with the garden ; 
pruning is the most impor- 
tant. The clasp sort of garden knife, mode- 
rately strong, should be selected. 
Hammer. — This is used in the operation 
of training fruit trees. Cast-iron nails are 
best, and shreds of cloth to put round the 
branches. 
Bill. — A useful implement in various ways. 
Barrow. This machine is useful in re- 
moving materials from one spot to another. 
Every one who has a garden should have 
a place where to put the tools, when they are 
not in use. The tools themselves should be 
thoroughly cleaned after being used, and put 
away orderly, so as to be easily found when 
again wanted. There is an immense difference 
in respect to working, between well kept and 
neglected tools. Such implements as spades, 
"hoes, &c, when in constant use, become 
bright, and in that state are much more easily 
worked than if allowed to get rusty from being 
put away damp and dirty in a damp place. 
After use, they should be rubbed clean 
and dry, and then put away in a perfectly dry 
place until again wanted. Besides the faci- 
lity of working which is thus secured, there 
is great economy in thus taking care of the 
tools, as they last much longer than when 
they are neglected, and allowed to waste 
away gradually by rusting. 
