24 
STIRRING THE SOIL. [chap. i. 
wooden one for collecting grass after mowing. 
When it is wished that the teeth of the rake 
should enter the ground, the handle should 
be held low; but if the object be the collec- 
tion of weeds, &c,, the handle should be held 
high. Dry weather is essential to raking the 
ground, as the principal use of the operation 
is to break the clods left by the spade; but 
raking together grass or weeds may be per¬ 
formed in wet weather. 
The degree of strength required for raking 
depends partly upon the breadth of the head 
of the rake, and the number of its teeth, but 
principally upon the manner of holding it. 
If the rake be held low, it is obvious that 
greater strength will be required to drag it 
through the ground than if it is held high, 
in which case very little labour will be re¬ 
quired to overcome the resistance it will meet 
with. 
