12 STIRRING THE SOIL. [chap. i. 
bend forward. When, on the contrary, the 
handles are short and straight, the weight 
is thrown principally on the arms of the ope¬ 
rator, and much more strength is required 
to move the load, besides the inconvenience 
of stooping. 
All the necessary implements for digging 
being provided, the next thing to be consi¬ 
dered is the easiest manner of performing 
the operation. The usual w T ay is for the 
gardener to thrust his spade perpendicularly 
into the ground, and then using the handle 
as a lever, to draw it back so as to raise the 
whole mass of earth in front of the spade at 
once. This requires great strength; but by 
inserting the spade in a slanting direction, 
and throwing the body slightly forward at 
the same time, the mass of earth to be 
raised will not only be much less, but the 
body of the operator will be in a much more 
convenient position for raising and turning 
it; which may thus be done with perfect 
ease. 
The time for digging should always be 
chosen, if possible, when the ground is tole¬ 
rably dry; not only on account of the dan- 
