l6o TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



21. An Improved Transplanting Lath. 



{With Plate.) 

 By J. Lyfokd-Pike, B.Sc. (Forestry), B.Sc. (Agriculture). 



A topic of constant interest is the economical production of 

 transplants with well-formed root-systems. There can be no 

 question that well-formed roots are desirable, but the production 

 of these is not always to be attained economically, when the 

 work in the nursery has to be executed as speedily as possible, 

 and when "piece-work " has frequently to be resorted to. 



One of the most prolific causes of a bad root-system is the 

 shallow preparation of the trench when lining-out in the nursery, 

 and still more the scraping up of the earth to hold each 

 individual plant in position before the line is filled in. Unless 

 great care is exercised in these stages, a bad result is inevitable. 

 A number of our foresters and nurserymen have steadfastly set 

 their minds to overcoming the obstacles that prevent the produc- 

 tion of the ideal nursery plant. To that end Mr A. Murray, 

 head forester, Murthly, has devoted much thought and time. 

 He has made and tried numerous experimental transplanting 

 laths, and finally has invented a machine that is simple, practical, 

 and effective in its working. 



Mr Murray's " transplanting laths " consist of two straps of 

 wood, 2\ inches by \ inch, placed on the soil surface 2^ inches 

 apart. At right angles to these straps a face-board, 4^ inches 

 by % inch, is fixed, the three pieces being firmly held together 

 by several light wooden brackets. On the front of the per- 

 pendicular face-board a number of buttons and stops are fixed. 

 The buttons hold the plants firmly in position, and are fastened 

 to the face-board by either brass screws and cups or ordinary 

 screws and spring washers. 



On the top of the face-board, and behind the projecting ends 

 of the buttons, a sliding rod is fitted. This rod can be moved 

 sideways by a lever, and carries a series of iron pegs which 

 work against similar iron pegs on the corresponding buttons. 

 Thus the whole of the buttons can be simultaneously opened 

 by a slight movement of the lever. 



The filling is exceedingly simple, and is generally done by 

 young girls or boys. The lath is lifted from the nursery line, 

 the buttons being all open. It is laid on its side on anything 



