Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17

There Is q great deal OF unnecessary
worry among amateur gardeners as to
the number of garden tools needed to
grow flowers.
The list of essential tools is very
short, including not over 10 numbers,
several of which may be omitted If
necessary. Nor need all be secured at
one time.
No one ought TO refrain from grow
ing flowers and keeping a beautiful
home grounds In general simply be-
cause he cannot afford to purchase
every gadget on the market.
While many of them are very con-
venient to have around, they scarcely
belong to the list of necessary garden
tools, which may be lined up as follows:
/. Spade.
2. Fork
3. Trowel.
4. Grubber.
g. Rake.
6. Lawn mower.
7. Hose.
8. Sprayer.
9. Clippers.
10. Pruning shears.
It is scarcely possible to dig flower
beds without some form of instrument
to turn UP the soil, chief of which are
the spade and fork.
Each of these tools has its cham
pions, one gardener preferrtng the old
fashioned spade, another the digging
fork of three or more tines, In each
case mostly for the good and simple
reason, as Penrod said, that he was
brought up on the instrument of his
choice.
The fork is, perhaps, easier to use
in sod. when one wants to break it up,
but the spade does cleaner cut work
and is to be preferred for straight dirt
digging.
There is a real knack to handling
the spade, trick which scores Of home
gardeners never learn. hence they are
inclined to sneer at this worthy imple-
ment One should never place the edge
straight along the ground, but should
insert one corner In the earth, pressing
in vigorously and turning the spade as
the corner sinks, until the edge is In
the f1atwise position desired This
method takes much of the effort out
Of spading and is invariably used by
men who earn their living by digging.
The trowel is one Of the most neces-
sary tools for the home garden. It al
most may be regarded as the corner
stone, as 1t were. Of the whole edifice
to rear by July.
One may purchase a good trowel for
as little as IS cents, so the cost has
nothing to do with its prime place In
the flower garden. 1t Is necessary be-
cause no other device of steel or steel
and wood quite takes its place The
corner of a spade is too clumsy and is
not the right shape.
The trowel, whether of the ordinary
shape or the slim Jim" affair for put
ting in bulbs is indispensable for the
average amateur who does not call
himself an expert in the handling of
plants.
Let it be admitted that some per-
sons possess a peculiar knack with
plants. They are not afraid of touch
ing them, as many person just out
of an apartment seems to be, but seize
them with authority, and transplant
them boldly, making them do their
bidding.
Most of us need all the help which
good trowel can give us in order to
secure anything approaching this
masterful handling of growing plants.
hand sets up the average amateur as
nothing else can; he puts his seedlings
in place without qualm, firm in the
faith that they will grow and do well.
1t must be confessed that some
woman gardeners secure just as good
results with an ordinary kitchen fork,
but this is gift, or sometimes the re-
suit of long training. The city gardener
will do better to stick to the tradition
al trowel. If the handle is Of pressed
steel, with a circular hole in the end
one must be careful not to press too
hard or too long at a time, else he will
find neat biscuit of skin cut from
the palm of the hand before he knows