The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-05
Use OF the Hand. HOe.

With the introduction OF the horse
cultivator, the hand-hoe went out Of
use on most Of the Western farms.
More work conld be done with the cul-
tivator, and II could BIO done with
greater ease. The more tho cultivator
was improved the more farmers became
attached to II, and the greater was their
reluctance 10 handle the hoe. At pres
ont the implement that has been used
longer and 10 better advantage than
any other In the cultivation Of crops Is
generally discarded ON Western farms.
Indeed, many market gardeners manage
to raise most OF their Vegetables without
using the hoe 10 any considerable OK
tent. The horse-cultivator Is certainly
a very desirable implement TO employ
In both the field and the garden, but its
use should be supplemented by that Of
the hand-hoe. II Is profitable 10 con.
Time the use Of the hoo In every gar.
den and cultivated field. Work car be
performed with II that cannot DO done
with any implement drawn by a horse.
The hoe should be used in every corn
and potato field before the cultivator Is
put In operation. II should be en-
ployed 20 remove stones. turfs and
pieces Of hard earth that may bo over
tho plants that are making their appear
anee above ground. and for stirring tho
soil around them. The c~ultivator Is cx-
cellent for working the ground be-
tween hills. but for cultiyating the hill
itself there Is no implement like tho
hand-hoc. II Is very difficult 10 keep q
field devoted 10 any cultivated crop en-
tircly clear Of grass and weeds without
using the hoe. A field that has been
worked nj least once with a hand-hoe Is
always moro productive than one tina.
has been tended with the cultivator
alone. The truth Is. the former per-
forms some work which the latter can.
not do.
To DO .sas duh rs a hoc''-that Is. as
most hoes are-is 10 DO very duh in
deed. II Is 10 have the edge battered
and worn and the entire surface covered
with rust. A hoe in that condition can
not be expected TO do very good work
or 10 be an easy implement to operate
with. But q hoe should never be In
that condition. II should be sharp and
bright. II should have m edge that
will cut roots without tearing them.
and pass through the soil like \ we'll
polished knife blade. Only the best
steel hoes are profitable TO use In the
field or garden. They should DO Of
material that win take q good edge and
a high polish. and should have both
when they pass into the hands OF the
| purchaser. They should be kept sharp
and never bc allowed to become rusty.
They should be sharpencd BY the use OF
the lie, grindssone or milestone ~ often
~ the scythe d, that Il constantly en-
ploycd in.cutting grass. Both surfaces
and tho shank should be rubbed with
polishing material IS often ~ there Is
any appearance Of rust To prevent
rusfing they should be thoroughly
cleaned every time they r put away.
n Il Il hut for . single night The en-
tire surface. including that of the shank.
should be covered with oil TO prevent
tho formation Of rust. Hoes kept sharp
and we'll polished cut any kind Of roots
| readily and move through tho soil with.
| out d~ificulty. A man with . sharp and
polished hoe can do twice Tho work In
4 given time that one : with . hoe
| that Is dull and rusty. There y econo-
my in Keeping . hoe sharp. II Il b worn
oat In = week In consequence Of fro
quent contact with = grindstone. La
borers who object 10 using the hoes
that arc often placed In their hands ara
entirely satisfied 70 use those that arc
sharp and well polished chiraqu
nmee.