438 
DAISY EXTRACTOR. 
“ cutter/’ bad been even more so; for tbe frequent decapitation of 
tbe beads increased tbe evil, by strengthening tbeir roots. These 
latter too, as is well known, ramify from a tough centre, and are with 
difficulty extracted from the soil. 
A small spud hoe, about an inch 31 
in width, bad been tried, and found 
to be ineffectual, since how deeply 
soever we might insert it,—tbe 
ramifications remained, and they Socket 
would sprout again; besides that a Handle, 
sharp instrument would be likely 
to cut tbe roots of the surrounding 
grass. T therefore bad a small spud 
made, with teeth, of tbe annexed 
size and figure, (31) which was fix¬ 
ed into a long handle : and with this 
little tool in the month of April 
last,—before the grass was shut up 
for hay, (of which however, there 
has been little indeed,) I used to 
amuse myself for hours, by raising 
the roots out of the turf, entire. 
The settled drought, of the spring, 
prevented me from trying my skill 
upon the daisies on the lawn, be¬ 
cause the hare spots left by the 
roots, would have been unsightly, 
unless rain had immediately fallen, 
to nourish and cause the grass to 
grow, and cover them with verdure. 
The plan is however perfect,—the occupation, to my taste,—the bene¬ 
fit essential, and the employment, not only not fatiguing, hut really 
not ungraceful. A walk in a spring meadow, is thus rendered doubly 
delightful; for many a flower that would otherwise “ he horn to blush 
unseen,” &c. is by this means brought into notice,—a temptation to 
prolong a stroll is offered, and the utile et dulce, are united. I should 
add that the bulbous rooted ranunculus, (buttercup) the hawkweed, 
and'others that afford a fulcrum, yield to the lever I employ, for un¬ 
less the ground be hard, no fibre will remain. I hope to hear next 
year, that other females have tried my useful employment with the 
success and gratification that it has afforded me. 
July) 1834. 
Size of the blade. 
