Tilling the land

On collective farms land is worked with machines and tools, and on a school experimental plot by hand. The spade is used for digging soft ground, breaking hard ground and moving soil (round and square-ended kinds). The pitchfork is for handling manure and compost; the rake for breaking clods, removing plant remains, levelling ditches and drawing soil over seed. The roller levels and firms the soil surface before and after sowing (smooth) or breaks crust (toothed). The two-wheeled cart carries seedlings, boxes and fertiliser; pegs, rope and a measuring tape mark ditches and rows. The cultivator loosens soil before sowing and after emergence; the motor cultivator has an engine. The watering can waters plants; a hand seeder has one or two rows. Safety: carry tools with the sharp end down, leave at least a tool’s length of free space around you when working, wear gloves and closed shoes, never leave tools lying around; only adults drive motorised tools.