Re: spade and shovel (was [romconlang] -able)

Barry Garcia wrote:
>On 4/15/08, ROGER MILLS <rfmilly@...> wrote:
>
> > Technically (as I've learned in recent years of construction and
> > yard-building activities with more-or-less professional assistance)
>there is
> > a difference: A spade has a rectangluar blade, with straight easily
> > sharpenable edge, short (maybe 3ft.) handle with hand-grip at the top.
>Pros
> > use it to dig smaller holes (for planting things e.g.), for cultivating
>and
> > for edging. The best ones are imported from England-- that nation of
> > gardeners knows its tools!
>
>Sounds a little like a trenching shovel. Although trenching shovels
>usually have a narrow blade with a sort of V shape to it.
Quite short handle, too. Back in olden times, it's what GIs used to dig
their foxholes (the handle folded, too, for easier carrying)
>
>I usually use spade to refer to the small hand shovel used for
>planting small plants like bulbs and plants in quart pots.
Trowel, trowel, trowel ;-))))
>
>I have two types of shovels at home. One is the type you describe
>which I use for big jobs (planting gallon plants or bigger)
OK, shovel, though you could use a spade for that too. But don't try digging
a ditch or foundation with a spade; tiring and frustrating. (Of course out
there in sunny California you don't have to dig foundations 4+ ft. deep
[below the frost line]).

>...other has a square blade that I use for severing thick rooted weeds or
>cleaning the topsoil of weeds (it sort of scrapes like a weeding hoe).
"Good tools make skilled hands better."

Spadel yes, it can be used in that way too; that's why you keep it sharp.

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