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Shears (These there are several kinds)

Of these there are several kinds, the most necessary being those used for grass-edging, hedge-trimming, and pruning. Grass-edging Shears of the ordinary make, with handles about 3ft. long, are best adapted for general use; the handles should be set on a wider angle than a right angle, taking the cutting blades for the base line. This places the workman, when using the shears, a little behind the blades, and thus enables him to perform his work more effectually. Hedge-trimming Shears have blades nearly equal in length to the handles, 10in. to 12in., and are about 2in. in width; they are used with both hands. Small Shears, for using with one hand, are invaluable for trimming any kind of edgings on a small scale, and for clipping plants which sometimes need it in carpet bedding and other designs. Pruning Shears vary in size according to the dimensions of branches they are intended to cut, from those used easily with one hand, to others, some 3ft. in length (generally called Parrot-bill Shears), that are adapted for severing branches of nearly 2in. in diameter when the wood is not hard.