170 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of trees may be undertaken. The systems adopted in tree-lifting 

 from nursery lines vary somewhat, for whilst one man may 

 conduct the actual spade-lifting of small two-year-old trees, a 

 correspondingly increased cost and labour are involved when 

 dealing with more advanced stock. It is essential, however, 

 that all trees must be loosened to such an extent that no 

 mutilation of roots will eventuate when 'puUing-up' is being 

 undertaken. The lifting of a line of medium-sized trees is 

 expeditiously carried out by two workmen, who insert their 

 sharpened spades on each side of the trees, some 5 ins. distant. 

 On applying simultaneous foot-pressure the spades are driven 

 down until they almost touch, cleanly cutting all roots that come 

 into contact. After this treatment has been applied to several 

 lines, a workman follows up the lifters, pulling up and counting 

 into twenty-fives all well-developed trees. The employee in 

 charge of the tying operation, having previously prepared a 

 number of flax strips of required thickness and length, fastens a 

 tie around each bundle, just above the collar. Bundles secured 

 in this manner are then removed by hand-cart to the end of the 

 'break,' where they undergo a final root-trimming and puddling 

 process. Tree-roots are shortened so that there is no liability of 

 cramping when permanent planting is in progress, whilst the 

 immersion in a puddle of soil and water has the far-reaching efi^ect 

 of protecting the root-system from exposure, generally so unavoid- 

 able during transit. All bundles are now temporarily heeled-in, 

 and if the soil be well firmed the transference of trees to planta- 

 tion may be delayed for a month or more without risk being 

 incurred." 



The actual transportation of the trees is effected by means of 

 specially constructed hooded wagons. The number of loads 

 delivered per day on the planting ground naturally varies with 

 the distance and the state of the roads. Under certain con- 

 ditions a team of five horses is required to draw the loads. The 

 following paragraph is interesting as it indicates the cost of this 

 method of transport : — 



" When one considers the difference in size and weight between 

 bundles of various trees grown, credence must be given to the 

 fact that three-year-old oak are frequently six times more bulky, 

 and therefore require a correspondingly greater amount of 

 cartage, than pines of the same age. As many as 100,000 small 

 two-year-old larch and pines have been conveyed to the planting- 



