The New International Encyclopædia/Hoe (implement)

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HOE (from OF. houe, hoe, from OHG. houwa, Ger. Haue, hoe, from OHG. houwan, Ger. hauen, AS. hēawan, Eng. hew). An agricultural implement used for stirring the soil, drawing up earth to plants, thinning plants in drills, clearing the ground of weeds, etc. There are two classes of hoes — draw-hoes and thrust-hoes. In the former the blade is almost at right angles to the handle; in the latter, almost in the same plane with it. The thrust-hoe, or Dutch hoe, is chiefly used for killing weeds, and for stirring ground to a very slight depth. The draw-hoe is much used in gardening, and is, in some countries, very extensively used in place of the spade in agriculture. It is always employed in the thinning (singling) of turnips. Hoes intended for tilling the ground, instead of the plow and spade, are much larger and heavier than those ordinarily used, are raised much higher, and brought down to the ground with greater force, somewhat like the pickaxe. Hoes for stirring very stiff soils are sometimes made with prongs instead of a blade.