18 ON TRANSPLANTING TPxEES. 



face of the ground in travelling, the horses are put to, before 

 whicli it is well to lay a few planks down for the wheels of the 

 carriage to pass over, until upon firm ground. Iso tying of any- 

 thing is required, as the pressure upon the screws prevents every- 

 thing from slipping, and the tree continues perfectly upright 

 during the whole process of removal. A guy rope is attached to 

 each tree by way of precaution ; but its greatest use is in placing 

 the tree upright during the operation of transplanting. 



When the tree has arrived at its destination, the fore wheels 

 are driven down the roadway, tlirough the hole, till they arrive 

 at an abrupt termination, which is left in order that tlie tree sliall 

 be exactly in the centre of the hole. The ball is then unscrewed 

 until it touches the ground ; the chains are loosened ; the screws 

 and cross beams are taken down ; the hind wheels separated from 

 the fore ones, by pulling out the hind pins or bolts which fasten 

 the beams to tiie carriage; and lifting the beams, one on each 

 side, and one end only on the ground, the fore wheels are then 

 pulled out, then the hind wheels, leaving the tree standing up- 

 right as at first, which concludes the operation, as far as re- 

 moval is concerned. 



When transplanted, each tree is propped with three stakes or 

 poles placed triangularly, and meeting together at from eight to 

 twelve feet from the ground, according to the height of the tree : 

 they are firmly bound together, packing straw between the top 

 of the pole and the tree, the two principal poles being placed as 

 supporters against the south-west winds, which in this elevated 

 and exposed part rendered such precaution necessary. 



I consider that the obtaining a good ball of earth along with 

 the tree is a matter of primary importance. I attribute my 

 success more to tliis than to anything else ; and finding that to 

 be the case, every future arrangement was made with reference 

 to this point; and by the above mode of moving much time was 

 saved, and the operation involved no risk. It is in {his and 

 other respects that I consider the machinery employed infinitely 

 superior to the principle of Sir Henry Stewart, for example. In 

 transplanting upwards of 200 trees, not one of the number failed, 

 and it was found necessary to sacrifice only one tree. The 

 instance I allude to was that of a fine beech, 42 feet high, re- 

 moved on Sir H. StCAvart's principle. The tree was rooted equally 

 well with any of its contemporaries, but it had no ball ; hence it 

 was difficult to rear upright, and notwithstanding every care in 

 propping, the first high wind laid it prostrate, when it was not 

 considered worthy of further trouble. 



Inunediately after transplanting, every tree was mulched with 

 old thatch, as far as the roots extended ; and they also had a 

 covering of about half an inch of s^traw around their stems, from 

 eight to twelve feet from the ground. This was done principally 



