FOR YOUNG GARDENED. I 7 
well, it will leave the soil finer than the plow does. In 
fact it does the plowing and part of the harrowing. 
lo Rake the land, begin at one corner and rake to¬ 
wards the center. The rake should be used to level the 
land and break up the lumps rather than to rake them off. 
All coarse lumps that do not break up should be buried. 
Only the stone and very coarse matter should be raked 
off. W hen raking, lift the rake slightly when drawing it 
towards you. As in spading, rake one end first, stand on 
the spaded land and rake towards you. When smooth 
and fine, the footprints should be raked out as you pass 
off the plot. Spading and raking as well as plowing and 
harrowing are the first principals of tillage. 
In using The Hoe, grasp the handle near the upper 
end in the right hand, with the back of the hand up. 
Grasp it with the left hand a foot or more lower down with 
the back of the hand to the left and the thumb extended 
along the handle. Avoid a cramped position. Bend the 
bod)- slightly forward on the hips keeping the back 
straight. Never lift the hoe higher than the knee. Left- 
handed persons, and some that are not, will find it easier 
to have the left hand at the top. In this case the back of 
the right hand should be to the right and the thumb along 
the handle. These are correct positions for hoeing. Bet¬ 
ter work can be 
done and done eas¬ 
ier if one of these 
positions is always 
used. If the regu¬ 
lar 4 feet io inch 
hoe handle is used, 
the child should 
grasp the handle 
from 12 to 18 inches 
from the end. 
The Rake is held 
similar to the hoe 
