SAVE TIME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1940, Page 8

SAVE TIME

BY USING PROPER TOOLS. The average gardener does practi- ; cally all of his work with a rake, a t spade, and a hoe. Even a large garden j can be carried on successfully with i these three implements. It is not wise. . however, to restrict oneself to this trio, . because several other tools will go far toward minimising time and labour. The average backyard amateur has only an hour or two each day for his . garden work and must make every > moment count. The brief list given ■ might well be supplemented by the . following: a wheel hoe with extra attachments, a scuffle hoe, a garden [ fork, a hand weeder, a good trowel . and a garden line. In addition, you ; would need a wheelbarrow if the gar-, • den is a large one. ,1 The Wheel Hoe. It is true that a wheel hoe is not indispensable, and the man who has a garden of limited space does not need one. This implement, however, makes it possible to go over a vegetable plot much quicker than the work can be done with a hoe, and with less exertion. The various attachments are so arranged that the operator can get under the leaves of the growing plants without doing any damage, and can either pulverise the surface of the ground or work it to a considerable depth. The plough attachment is particularly convenient when seeds are to be sown in furrows. The furrows can be opened and the seed covered without any hard work. Several kinds of wheel hoes are now on the market, but the most satisfactory for the amateur is one with a single wheel having a diameter of two feet. Some of the best makes have smaller wheels, and are quite satisfactory. Sometimes double-wheel hoes are recommended, because they can be used astride the rows. There is a slight advantage in this, but on the othei’ hand these implements are harder to handle, and the average amateur will find a single-wheel hoe more desirable. A seed-sowing attachment can be purchased. It is, of course, a great saver of time and labour when the garden is large. The Scuffle Hoe. The scuffle hoe is a popular tool with gardeners and can be used to advantage in any garden where the soil is rather loose and not stony. A large plot can be gone over quickly with this tool, which can be pushed or pulled. It makes a very good substitute for a wheel hoe in a garden of limited proportions. A trowel is almost indispensable when plants are being set out. It : should be a strong sturdy tool, however, and not of the cheap variety. Most amateur gardeners have a pride i in straight rows. These can be obtain- ] ed only by the use of a garden line, and the only way to keep the line from getting snarled is to wind it on a suit- I able reel. ■ Getting back to the hoe, which can- i not be given up. no matter how many more modern tools may be introduced, it is worth while pointing out that the wise garden-maker will choose his hoe with great care. It should be strongly made and balance well in the hands, feeling comfortable when placed in the proper position for work. Il should not be too light nor too heavy. and it should have a sharp blade. The only way to do good work with the hoc is to keep it sharp and clean. It is not always realised that a hoe i has numerous uses. Furrows are . opened easily by using one corner, and 1 the soil can be tamped down with the 1 flat side after the furrows have been s covered. An old hoe with the blade t filed down to half its width makes an i excellent tool for use in the strawberry ■' bed. Sometimes badly-worn hoes are 1 cut diamond shape, and then are par- : ticularly useful at seed-sowing time. It I is hightly important to keep ah tools s clean and free from rust. t It is an excellent plan to keep a few ( squares of old bagging on hand with which to wipe off the tools after they have been used. When any garden implement is to be laid away for a time, it will not rust if first rubbed over with grease to which a little white ( lead has been added, or with common c wagon grease. i Tools which have already become t rusty may be cleaned if first soaked in i sour milk. whey, or kerosene for ten t or twelve hours, and then rubbed ( briskly with a rough cloth. An occa- ; sional painting will help to preserve 1 the woodwork. i