"Paul" wrote in message
...
In message -hctertsdd, David
D
Stretch writes
My Chinese relatives normally use a different kind of digging tool
than the
typical kind of spade that most people in the UK would use. I was
persuaded
by them to buy one.
snip
We do not seem to have any English name for the
implement.
A Chillington hoe is a name I've heard.

They are also popular in Mediterranean countries such as Spain,
Italy,
Greece. I have one, which I bought in Spain, as do several people
on
our allotments, who are Greek, Italian : )
I find them good for breaking hard ground and chopping up lumps of
clay
soil.

Also common in much of Africa. The Africans use then also to move
soil around by putting the soil on the handle side and using it a wee
bit like a shovel.