14 ON TRANSPLANTIJiG TEEES. 



II On Transplanting Trees. By Joseph Holmes, Gardener 



to the Marquess of Winchester, Amport House, near Andover, 



Hants. 



(Communicated November 30, 1850.) 



The accompanying memoranda refer to a number of trees which 

 were transplanted in an enlargement of the park at Amport. 

 Being elevated and seen from every part of the park, it was 

 desirable that the ground sliould be planted so as to give im- 

 mediate effect ; and with this view, toward the latter end of 

 September, 1847, and without the trees intended to be trans- 

 planted having had any previous preparation whatever, operations 

 were commenced with a machine, consisting of a pair of wheels, 

 and a strong ash pole, 15 feet in length, similar to the contrivance 

 nsed by Sir Henry Stewart of Allanton. Very few trials, however, 

 were sufficient to show that the machine referred to was in many 

 respects objectionable, and incapable of doing the work required, as 

 the obtaining a good ball of earth along with a tree thus lifted 

 Was next to impossible ; and notwithstanding every care in pack- 

 ing and tying, it was very rarely that a tree could be lifted without 

 the hole of the machine barking it ; and then the time occupied 

 in the work was another objection, to say nothing of the risk of 

 barking a tree, which in other respects might be well managed. 

 The following description of tlie machines used in transplanting 

 the Amport-park trees will, from their great simplicity, both in 

 construction and use, be readily understood, even in the absence 

 of any drawing of them. They were found to answer the purpose 

 exceedingly well, and quite to supersede the contrivance first 

 used, which I call a '' truck" or " sledge." It differs from the 

 latter only by its running upon a roller, instead of the bottom 

 being dragged upon the ground. It consists of a strong frame- 

 work, 5-^ feet long by 4i feet wide, flat boarded at the top, and 

 running upon a roller 10 inches in diameter, and the same width 

 as the truck, having at one end a strong ash pole or handle, 

 acting as a lever power to balance the tree in travelling. This pole 

 is 15 feet long, and fixes into a socket similar to the pole of a car- 

 riage, and is made to take out as required. The roller has iron 

 axles, with corresponding "bush'* or socket inserted in the side 

 of the frame of the truck. There are two strong rings, one on 

 each side, near tlie pole end of the truck, by which to fasten the 

 tree. The end of the truck opposite the pole end is tapered, so 

 as to get well under the ball of the tree to be removed. The 

 general appearance of this machine when in use is that of a pon- 

 derous shovel running upon a roller, and carrying the tree up- 

 right upon what may be called the shovel, and having one or two 

 men, as occasion may require, at the end of the handle or pole, hold- 

 ing by a cross piece let in at the end of the pole. This is merely 

 to balance, steady, and turn the machine, as may be necessary. 



