THE FOREST NURSERY 



323 



right and the other to the left, so that the workmen standing one 

 on each side of the bed by working together open the trench at 

 right angles to its length. The width of the rake head is such 

 that the two together equal the width of the bed. The trench is 



FIG. 88. Hacker's pricking-out apparatus. 



opened by striking the heavy, flat teeth of the rakes into the loose 

 soil and bringing it forward. If the soil is in good tilth and not 

 overwet or too dry, a trench several inches deep with a vertical 

 or nearly vertical wall can be quickly made. The transplanting 

 frame with the contained plants is brought over the trench which 

 is then rapidly closed by a backward movement of the rakes. 

 The stringing tables or staffs are very light and easily moved, 

 thus preventing the loss of time in walking back and forth from 

 them to the trenches. The transplanting frames are small and 

 light, about 39j inches long, 2J inches wide, and f inch thick. A 

 board of the proper length and thickness is beveled on the upper 

 face to a width of about 1J inches and on the lower face to 2 

 inches. A piece of strap iron 2J inches wide and the length of the 

 board is nailed to the lower face and bent over the beveled edge. 

 V-shaped notches are cut in the iron at intervals of 1 inch or more 

 depending upon the spacing desired. These notches are approxi- 

 mately 1J inches deep, f inch wide at the top and f inch at the 

 bottom. 



The stringers stand facing the notches holding the plants in the 

 left hand and stringing them into the board with the right. When 

 the board is filled it is carefully removed from the table or staff 

 and brought over the trench with the roots hanging downward 

 against the perpendicular wall. Great care must be exercised in 

 handling the frames or some of the plants will drop out. When 



