ARBORICULTURE. 



new fringe of roots to strike into ; and after one or 

 two years, the tree is in a condition for removal. 

 In doing this, a deeper trench is made on the out- 

 side of the first, into which the mould from among 

 the roots is drawn, until the whole are loosened 

 from the soil ; the spur-roots are also followed out 

 and laid bare. The method of raising the tree by 

 a machine is mentioned below. In replanting, 

 much depends on laying out the roots, and firmly 

 imbedding them in moistened earth, and also 

 adding a pretty heavy covering of soil round the 

 stem, to keep the tree steady against wind. 



A machine for transplanting has been long in 

 use, on the principle of the common timber-truck 

 being a strong lever attached to the axle-tree of 

 a pair of wheels. 



Many improvements in the apparatus used for 

 transplanting have been introduced of late years, 

 one of the most important of which is that of Mr 

 M'Glashen (patented), by which he is enabled to 

 lift trees of any dimensions. It consists of a 

 number of large spades so arranged as to enter 

 the soil around the tree, and raise it with an 

 attached ball of earth, so that the roots are not 



M'Nab Transplanting Machine, for large Trees. 



disturbed, those extending beyond the ball being 

 cut through. By a peculiar construction of car- 

 riage, the ball of earth can be boxed up, and con- 

 veyed to any distance without separating from the 

 roots. 



The simplest form of Mr M'Glashen's appar- 

 atus is illustrated on the preceding page. Iron 

 spades are driven into the soil at a proper distance 



from the plant, so as to inclose a square of earth ; 

 the upper portions of the spades, after being driven 

 in so as to be on -a level with the surface of the 

 ground, are fastened together, either by hooks or 

 an iron frame ; and then the handles of the spades 

 are forced out from each other by means of rods, 

 thus causing the lower portion of the spades to 

 press inwards. The whole can then be easily 

 raised by means of levers or screws on either 

 side. 



Mr M'Nab, of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edin- 

 burgh, has also introduced a system of transplant- 

 ing. This method is not restricted to transplant- 

 ing trees, but is also applicable to the re-tubbtng of 

 palms and other unwieldy exotics, the same appa- 

 ratus being available for both purposes. The 

 many improvements that have of late years been 

 introduced in the disposition of the trees and 

 shrubs in the Botanic Garden, have been effected 

 principally by means of this system. 



The tree is carefully separated from the 

 surrounding soil, with as many of the roots pre- 

 served as possible, and the whole covered with 

 a mat. A piece of cord is then placed loosely 

 round it. Between the cord and the matting are 

 set upright thin boards, from two to three inches 

 apart, all round. A strong rope is then put round 

 the upper and lower parts of the ball, and tight- 

 ened by means of a rack-pin. The ball is then 

 undermined, and two strong boards pushed under 

 it. Ropes are then passed beneath the boards, 

 and the ends of them brought up and secured to 

 hand-spikes, by means of which the tree is lifted 

 out of the hole, as seen on preceding page ; or if 

 the tree is a large one, the ropes are fastened to 

 the rollers of a machine (see above figure), and 

 lifted by turning the cross-wheeled handles. A 

 full description of this powerful machine is given 

 in the Gardener? Chronicle for June 1873. 



Coppice Live-fences. 



Coppice or underwood is either natural or 

 planted. Natural underwoods are often the re- 

 mains of ancient forests which are kept inclosed, 

 and are felled periodically at long or short in- 

 tervals, according to the purpose for which their 

 produce is to be applied. 



Thriving and well-fenced and well-managed 

 coppice is in some cases more profitable than 

 timber-woods. Timber and coppice may be 

 united ; the standard trees to stand thinly, and 

 if kept pruned up, the undergrowth is not much 

 hurt by their shade. Mixed underwoods are cut 

 every five, seven, or ten years, unless they are 

 entirely of oak, when they are allowed to stand 

 longer, for the sake of having larger poles, to- 

 gether with the bark, which last is a principal 

 part of their value. The value of the bark has 

 fallen so much of late years, as to render the ex- 

 clusive growth of this kind of underwood no longer 

 a source of real profit The reason of the fall in 

 price, which in former years was 16 to 14. per 

 ton, is owing to foreign bark being admitted into 

 the British market free of duty, and sold at prices 

 varying from $ to /6 per ton, and also owing 

 to the introduction of other substances for tan- 

 ning, such as divi-divi, myrobalans, valonia, hem- 

 lock-bark, &c. No doubt, where old plantations 

 are cut down, it is right and proper that the stocks 

 of them should be converted into coppice-wood, 



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