Bypass secateurs

Pruning shears, also called hand pruners (in American English), or secateurs are a type of scissors for use with plants. They are strong enough to prune hard branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes up to two centimetres thick. They are used in gardening, arboriculture, farming, flower arranging, and nature conservation where fine-scale habitat management is required.

Loppers are a larger, two-handed, long-handled version for branches thicker than pruning shears can cut.

Designs[link]

Professional pruning shears often have replaceable blades

There are three blade designs of pruning shears: anvil, bypass and parrot-beak. Anvil pruners have only one blade which closes onto a flat surface. They tend to crush the stem, but remain reliable when slightly blunt. Anvil secateurs are useful for cutting thick branches^[1]. Bypass secateurs usually work exactly like a pair of scissors, with two blades passing each other to make the cut. At least one of the blades will be curved: a convex upper blade with either a concave or straight lower one. Some bypass designs have only one blade, the lower jaw being broad (like an anvil) but passing the upper jaw. Parrot-beak secateurs consist of two concave passing blades, which trap the stem between them to make the cut. These are suitable only for narrower stems. ^[2]

Handle length[link]

Secateurs have short handles and are operated with one hand.^[3] A spring between the handles causes the jaws to open again after closing. When not in use, the jaws may be held closed by a safety catch or by a loop holding the handles together. Some may be designed for right-handed or left-handed use only and some may incorporate a rotating handle to reduce friction and minimize hand stress during repetitive use. There are also longer versions called telescopic pruners which are adjustable for long-reach and operate by means of a rod system inside of a telescoping pole between the handles and the blades. An early version of these was known as an averruncator.

See also[link]

• Garden tool

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.secateurs-and-pruning.co.uk/
2. ^ Bird, Richard (2002). Garden Answers: Pruning. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61024-1. 
3. ^ Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition (revised) ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2005 [1998]. ISBN 0-19-861314-8. 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Secateurs

"Choose the right" is a saying or motto among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that is taught to children and used by members of the church as a reminder to act righteously. The phrase is taken from an LDS hymn which has that title.

History[link]

The letters CTR, a reference to this phrase, are incorporated into a shield logo designed by Helen Alldredge,^[1] a Primary General Board member in the 1960s. In 1970, a church committee headed by Naomi W. Randall recommended that the shield be incorporated into official church material. Since then, both the phrase and symbol have been used in religious educational materials for LDS youth of Primary age.^[2] The symbol is also used in LDS culture by members of all ages, both as a reminder of the motto, as well as an indicator of religious affiliation. The CTR initials, displayed on the shield and in other forms, can be seen mainly on CTR rings as well as other types of jewelry, tee shirts, bookmarks and stationery.

According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, the LDS Church's stylized "CTR" abbreviation and shield with the CTR symbol are trademarked for use on finger ring jewelry by Intellectual Reserve.^[3][4] The phrase "Choose the Right," however, is not trademarked in the United States and may be used by anyone for commercial purposes.^{[citation needed]}

CTR ring[link]

A CTR ring, showing the escutcheon design

A ring with the letters "CTR" on is often worn by members of the LDS Church as a reminder of the "Choose the Right" motto, and as a symbol of their religious affiliation.

CTR rings were introduced at the same time as the CTR shield in 1970 by Primary general president LaVern W. Parmley after being recommended by a committee chaired by Naomi W. Randall.^[2] In connection with the children's Sunday School program, each LDS child in this age group is given an adjustable ring with a green escutcheon bearing the letters "CTR" in silver.

Over the years CTR rings have become popular with both children and adults in the LDS Church. They are now available in a variety of designs in over 30 languages.

See also[link]

• Joseph L. Townsend, author of the words for Choose the Right, hymn 239 in the 1985 LDS Hymnal
• Henry A. Tuckett, author of the music for Choose the Right, hymn 239 in the 1985 LDS Hymnal

• Christian ichthys symbol
• Purity ring
• What would Jesus do? (WWJD)

Notes[link]

References[link]

Phrase

• Monson, Thomas S. (November 1994), "Choose You This Day", Ensign, http://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/11/choose-you-this-day?lang=eng 
• Perry, L. Tom (November 1993), "Choose the Right", Ensign, http://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/11/choose-the-right?lang=eng 

Symbol and ring

• Anderson, Vern (May 31, 1997). "CTR ring grows into symbol of LDS culture". Deseret News. (AP). http://www.deseretnews.com/article/563527/CTR-ring-grows-into-symbol-of-LDS-culture.html. 
• Johnston, Jerry (February 10, 2001), "Putting T in CTR was right choice", Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/824411/Putting-T-in-CTR-was-right-choice.html 
• McCloud, Susan Evans (July 14, 2010), "Fads, facts and fiction of CTR rings", Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705385084/Susan-Evans-McCloud-Fads-facts-and-fiction-of-CTR-rings.html 
• Ravitz, Jessica (November 4, 2006), "A familiar ring: Choose The Right rings adorn the fingers of kids the world over - but the history of the famous Mormon symbol is a little fuzzy", The Salt Lake Tribune, http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4596390&itype=NGPSID 
• "Creator of CTR ring dies at 91", Deseret News, July 10, 2008, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700242122/-Creator-of-CTR-ring-dies-at-91.html 
• "Mormon children's rings big hit with all ages". Telegraph Herald. (AP): p. 10B. July 12, 1997. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DZVSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h80MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2774,2490226. 

External links[link]

Look up CTR in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Media related to CTR rings at Wikimedia Commons
• "239: Choose the Right" - wording to hymn as found in the Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985)
• "CTR Ring Varieties" - a large variety of CTR Rings available from Deseret Book bookstores.