8 
STIRRING THE SOIL. [chap. i. 
the earth and turning it, sliding his left hand 
backwards and forwards along the handle, as 
he may find it necessary. 
This is the common mode of digging, and 
it certainly appears to require considerable 
strength in the foot to force the spade into 
the ground,—in the arms to raise it when 
loaded with the earth that is to be turned 
over,—and in the hands to grasp the handle. 
But it must be remembered that all opera¬ 
tions that are effected rapidly by the exertion 
of great power, may be effected slowly by 
the exertion of very little power, if that com¬ 
paratively feeble power be applied for a much 
greater length of time. For example, if a 
line be drawn by a child in the earth with 
a light cane, and the cane be drawn five or 
six times successively along the same line, 
it will be found that a furrow has been made 
in the soil with scarcely any exertion by the 
child, that the strongest man could not 
make by a single effort with all his force. 
In the same way a lady, with a small light 
spade may, by taking time, succeed in doing 
all the digging that can be required in a 
small garden, the soil of which, if it has been 
