The arsenal of hand tools used for tillage is very extensive for every summer resident. Some gardener enthusiasts even have powerful walk-behind tractors with an engine, which were purchased in order to facilitate work with the ground.
But many of these latest inventions still lie in the barn, gathering dust and taking up space. Favorite and most convenient tools for a summer resident were a hoe (chopper), a rake and a shovel. Not a single job in the garden is complete without these simple devices.
Many are accustomed to the name "chopper", although this tool has several more names: hoe, plane cutter, ketmen. What does a hoe look like? How is it different from a chopper?
Oldest tool
In ancient times, people sought to improve their primitive tools. This made it possible to work faster with the land, cultivate the soil, and get a crop.
However, the process of modifying agricultural implements did not proceed as fast as we would like. The hand tool was heavy, uncomfortable and did not lighten, but, on the contrary, complicated the work. It was necessary to come up with a device that was light and easy to handle.
A hoe is an ancient tool, which appeared thanks to an instrument of ancient people called tesla. It was used for various types of earthworks.
The first hoe was made of a long wooden stick. It was very similar to a tool called a pick. At the end of the stick, ancient people attached a narrow, ground stone.
What did the hoe look like? A photo of this ancient instrument is given below.
The hoe could be made entirely of wood, and the tips could be mammoth tusks, animal horns, shells, tortoise shells.
Application
The work of farmers was greatly simplified with the advent of such a tool as a hoe. This device allowed not only loosening the soil, but also quickly destroying weeds, hilling plants.
The ancient settlers had previously used a stick for sowing, with which small holes were made in the ground for laying seeds. But with such a primitive tool it was possible to master small sections of soil, and only a soft surface, which was under watering.
The stone hoe easily broke the dense hardened lumps of soil, with its help it was possible to make beds and carry out basic land work. The use of this tool has helped to increase the areas of sowing and carry it out more distant from the settlements. Although working with a hoe was very time-consuming and took a lot of strength, for many centuries it remained the main tool of the farmer.
Such different names
By and large, a modern hoe and a hoe are the same tools, differing only in the width and length of the blade. The essence and features of this adaptation have remained unchanged since the Paleolithic.
Depending on the terrain, the stone hoe was slightly modified. First of all, it depended on the type of soil, as well as on the varieties of crops grown. But it was always a tool with a pointed end and a wooden handle that fits comfortably in the hand.
Based on the fact that for many peoples the details and dimensions of this device were surprisingly similar, we can conclude that the hoe is a universal, ideal tool for tillage.
Tool popularity
The most common hoe was among the eastern peoples: Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians. Where the soil was stony, it took the form of a ketmen with a narrow triangular working part. Also, this tool was different from a conventional chopper by the weight that was needed to break up particularly hard blocks.
Many land works are not carried out without the use of a hoe. This is weeding, loosening, hilling, making landing ditches. The cultivation of the land, which is carried out using this tool, is called hoeing. At the same time, you can weed the beds, spud plants and loosen the soil. For processing sections of soil between narrow beds, a plane cutter, a special type of hoe, is used.
Varieties of fixtures
Nowadays choppers and hoes have many types. They are universal, for weeding, hilling. However, such an amount of the tool simply does not fit in the pantry, therefore it is better to have several multifunctional devices. What does a modern summer resident's hoe look like?
- A triangular tool is best suited for weeding. It is also convenient for them to make small grooves for laying seeds. However, this kind of hoe is unsuitable for hilling.
- The tool for digging the earth is distinguished by its power and weight. It may have one or more blades. Most often used for loosening hardened topsoil.
- The lawn chopper has a rounded blade. This tool is convenient to form the edges of the lawn. However, such a hoe will not capture individual weeds and will not be suitable for this type of work.
- Universal hoe can carry out any kind of land work. Such a tool has a working part on two sides: a flat part is located below, and at the top there is a fork with two or three teeth.
Hoe dimensions
Hand tools can have several sizes, as it performs a variety of functions. To cultivate the soil between the rows, you should choose a chopper with a massive blade to quickly destroy the thickets of weeds. For hilling, it is better to give preference to a light hoe so that this type of work is not very time-consuming.
For very small plantings and gardening, it is better to choose the Fokin hand chopper. This is a new device that has already managed to win the attention of supporters of agriculture. The chopper resembles a plane cutter and is distinguished by a sharp blade, which is mounted on the handle in a special way. The tool allows you to destroy weeds, but it does not harm the roots of plants. This is an unusual thin hoe, the photo of which is given below.
Modern choppers
Of course, stone tools for cultivating the land today can only be seen in the museum. After all, the material of our era has long been metal. The ideal material for the chopper is carbon steel, as it is well sharpened and perfectly retains its properties. However, this metal is prone to corrosion, so after working in the ground it is important to clean the blade. Keep the hoe must be in a dry place.
Modern manufacturers galvanize, harden steel, which guarantees the tool strength and durability. To increase wear resistance, often the working area of the hoe is painted or special impurities are added to the metal.
Recent developments in the field of garden tools - the lightest choppers made of polyamide. Manufacturers claim that such devices are not only better than their predecessors in terms of convenience, but also have excellent durability, do not rust and are well cleaned from the ground.
Choose a handle
Cultivating the land is not such an easy task. Especially if it is done manually. Therefore, tools for the garden should not only be light, but also comfortably placed in the hand. If the chopper is comfortable to hold, work is done easily, no calluses and scuffs.
Cuttings for garden hoes are now made not only from wood. For these purposes, they are excellent:
- plastic;
- hardened steel;
- aluminum.
Cuttings can be made of combined alloys, which provides them with ease, convenience and ease of care. Choppers with a curved handle have gained great popularity. Such a device allows you to not bend over during work, which significantly reduces tension in the back and reduces fatigue.
Small subtleties
Before beginning labor-intensive activities such as weeding, hilling, or weed control, it is very important to tune in and to sharpen the tool well. A sharp hoe makes work easier, saves less energy and eliminates calluses.
A sharpened chopper has an angle of 45 degrees on its working surface. This procedure should be carried out systematically, otherwise working with the land will bring you a lot of trouble and turn into hard labor.
When choosing a tool, you should give preference to a light, multi-functional chopper. Pay special attention to the stalk. It is better to refuse a chopper with an all-metal handle. Although it is very durable, it is very difficult and inconvenient to handle it. Such an instrument is suitable for people who are not deprived of power, and only for certain land works.
If you want to spend a minimum of energy, choose the latest invention - an electric chopper-ripper. She performs basic land work and does not require additional effort. Its only minus is a very high price.