Garden gear.

• Position: What's New

* While gardening is a unisex avocation, men seem to drift toward major projects, while women often prefer to work on a smaller scale, toiling contentedly with flowers and vegetable patches. This is not to say that the latter are not serious about what they're doing and, accordingly, deserve serious gardening gear to help in their efforts. That's why Womanswork, Sharon, Conn., has a full line of tools and clothing designed expressly for, as the company's motto reads, "Strong women building a gentle world"

The Gauntlet Glove ($26.95) is made from rugged suede pigskin; has an extra-long cuff to protect the wrist and forearm from thorns and other scratchy material; is elasticized at the base of the hand to prevent dirt--or, for that matter, crawly creatures--from getting into it; and can be washed in mild detergent at the end of the day so it will be clean the next time it's needed.

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The Pruner ($49.95) is scaled for a woman's hand, yet, despite being more lightweight than standard versions, handles all the same chores equally well, its chrome-plated blades biting through branches almost effortlessly. The spring is firmly anchored to the handle so it never needs replacing, and the single-hand release lets the pruner be opened with one hand if the other is occupied. The blades are rust-resistant and can be washed clean with soap and water. Along with other...