This most important of the gardener's tools, varies in its form and size.

The Common Digging Spade is of the largest size, being generally from fourteen to sixteen inches long in the plate, and nine or ten broad, narrowing half an inch to the bottom.

The Middling Spade is about a foot long in the plate, and seven or eight inches broad, and is useful in digging any narrow compartments and between rows of small plants, also in flowerbeds and borders; and in stirring and fresh earthing the surface of beds occasionally, between close placed plants of long standing; planting and transplanting many sorts, both in the ground and in the pots.

The Small Spade

Size ten or twelve inches long in the plate, and five or six wide. It is convenient in pointing-tip or slight digging, and fresh earthing the surface between close rows of small plants, in beds and borders, etc, where neither of the two former spades can be readily introduced; likewise in planting and potting many sorts of small plants, taking up small roots and for other light purposes. Proper garden spades have the plate wholly of iron, Dot above a quarter of an inch thick upwards, growing gradually thinner from the middle downward, the tree or handle being generally of ash, about two feet and a half long and an inch and a half thick, with a firm open handle at top, formed out of the solid wood, just big enough to admit of taking ready hold, one hand at top and the other below, and with an iron rivet through it to prevent it splitting.

Semicircular or Scooped Spade, has the plate made semicircular like a garden trowel, and is very useful in taking up plants with balls of earth to preserve them more firmly about the roots. - Abercrombie.

Foster of Stourbridge, and Lyddon of Birmingham, make very improved spades, wearing with a good edge throughout.