AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
Transplanting—continued. 
which travels on two high wheels and is provided with 
handles for guiding it. There are double rollers before 
and behind ; those furthest from the handles lift out, and 
allow of the machine being placed in position for lifting 
with the tree in the centre. The ball is reduced to the 
proper size, and bound round with a piece of strong 
canvas and cords; then two strong boards, which belong 
to the machine, are placed just underneath at the bottom, 
and ropes are passed under their ends at right angles, 
and brought up to the rollers of the machine. When 
everything is ready, the plant is wound up sufficiently 
high for travelling by means of four cross-shaped, iron 
Fig 88. BARRON’S TRANSPLANTING MACHINE. 
levers or handles, which fit, at the point of intersection, 
on the ends of two of the rollers. One of the disadvan- 
ages in the use of this machine is the liability of the soil 
i 1 out from the bottom of the ball, but this largely 
nds on the kind of soil and its tenacity, and also ee 
he-amount of roots which the plant possesses. The boar 
are also sometimes liable to shift from their proper places 
. beneath, and allow the plant to fall through; but this , 
=- not a very frequent occurrence. These are but some o 
>- the risks that must be encountered if Tni 
machines are used; they only happen occasionally 1 
balls are firm, and everything is properly adjusted. 
Vol. IV. 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Transplanting— continued. 
Mr. Barron’s Transplanting machine (see Fig. 88) is 
capable of moving very large trees and masses of earth; it 
is, as may be imagined, very strongly constructed, and 
travels with the tree in an upright position. The weight 
is borne by two very strong rollers, whose ends rest on 
beams about 20ft. in length, that pass from the front to 
the back part of the machine, one on each side. There 
are four wheels, which stand rather high, to allow of the 
ball of earth being suspended beneath’ the beams, but 
above the ground line, for travelling. Two strong planks 
are placed through beneath the ball, as near as can be 
under the centre, to which are attached the lifting ropes 
or chains, and cross planks 
are also placed above these, 
to make sure of bringing the 
mass up together. When all 
is in readiness, the rollers are 
very gently turned by means 
of straight, steel, lever bars, 
and a snatch catches in cogs 
on each roller, and prevents 
it from running back. Whether 
ropes or chains are used for 
lifting, they must be of great 
strength, as a serious accident 
might be the result at any 
minute were anything to break. 
If the ground over which the 
wheels are to pass, when loaded 
with a tree, is not very firm, 
it is necessary to use planks 
Sin. thick for forming a road- 
way. When the tree reaches 
its destination, it has to be 
brought over the hole, which 
should by that time be in readi- 
ness, and lowered into position 
by having the process of lifting 
reversed. This requires, if any- 
thing, even greater care than 
lifting, as there is more danger 
of a great weight overcoming 
the workmen when they are 
lowering than when they are 
raising it. 
The whole details of working 
any Transplanting machine are 
beyond what can be properly 
described on paper so as to 
be understood; the operation 
can only be learnt from persons 
who understand the matter and 
have a machine before them, 
and by practical experience. 
The latter is in this case, as in 
most others, the best teacher ; 
and it becomes necessary that 
anyone who undertakes the 
removal of large trees should 
have had such experience, not 
only for performing the work | 
successfully, but also because the operation is one 
which, if improperly executed, endangers the lives of 
workmen employed, apart from accidents to which 
they may be subjected in the event of any unavoidable 
mishap. 
73 
TRAPA (abridged from calcitrapa, the Latin name 
of an bn ealled Caltrops, furnished with four 
spines, formerly used in war to impede the progress of 
cavalry). Water Caltrops. ORD. Onagrariee. A small 
genus (about three species) of curious, stove or hardy, 
floating herbs, inhabiting Central and Southern Europe, 
L 
