156 TREES AND SHRUBS 



and the way they run. If small roots are plentiful 

 at the top, little or no soil can be removed, but if 

 they are lower down, then the upper soil may be 

 removed with advantage. Having worked under the 

 ball, lay two stout planks under it well packed up to 

 the centre, and then with two strong poles under the 

 ends of the planks lift the whole on the trolley. If 

 the work is carefully thought out, it is possible to 

 make the actual lifting a very small operation by 

 bringing the trolley close and lowering it consider- 

 ably. 



The draw-board is a handy contrivance for 

 moderate-sized trees or shrubs which will hold a 

 good ball of soil. It is made in two forms. One 

 consists of a piece of well-seasoned oak 3 inches 

 thick, and about 3 feet long by 2 to 2j feet wide 

 at the widest part, from which it slopes down to 

 a thick end, where a stout swivel-ring is fixed to 

 take a rope. The other form is a kind of trolley, 

 and consists of a frame 3 feet long by 2 feet wide ; 

 it runs on rollers that work on bent irons fastened 

 to the framework, the whole standing about 4 inches 

 high. Either of these can be used for moving 

 plants the ball of soil attached to which is not larger 

 than the board. They will take a heavy plant with 

 comparative ease, and are especially useful for moving 

 large Rhododendrons and other American shrubs. 

 To get them under a plant cut out the ball of soil 

 to the proper depth, and work under it from the 

 front, that is, the direction in which the plant is to 

 go, keeping the ball wedged up during the process, 



