30 



Machine for transplanting 



this circle of plate iron is pierced round the circumference, 

 with a circle of holes, at the distance of about 2 in. from hole 

 to hole, each hole being about three quarters of an inch in 

 diameter, to receive iron rods hereafter to be mentioned. Tiie 

 area included in this circle of holes determines the size of the 

 ball of earth to be preserved, while a circular opening in the 

 common centre of each of the semicircles forms a hole for 

 the reception of the stem of the shrub or tree. The surface 

 being pared level till the fibres of the root begin to appear, 

 let the two semicircular pieces of iron plate be so placed 

 horizontally as to embrace the tree (c). 



Let the holes in the circumference of the circle, beginning 

 with the overlaps, be now penetrated with iron rods plerpen- 

 dicularly downwards to the depth of about 2 ft., or a little 

 deeper than the roots are expected to extend. It is evident 

 that you have now a ball of earth of the width of your circle, 

 and depth of your rods nearly insulated : in other words, that 

 the cover and sides of your hamper are formed ; a bottom 

 only being wanted, and something to give stability and firm- 

 ness to the work. To give stability, dig and clear away freely, 

 so as to gain ample room to work the earth from the exterior 

 of your circle of rods, till you are below the general mass of 

 the roots ; but do not yet go quite so deep as to free the lower 

 ends of your rods. Let these rods, near their lower ends, be 

 now included in an iron hoop {^fg- 6.) of nearly the same 



diameter as the circle 

 6 ^-rV^ fL- -^ . of holes in the hori- 



zontal plates ; which 

 hoop, for convenience 

 of application, opens 

 in one or more places 

 by hinges (r/, e), and, 

 for strength and firm- 

 ness, closes by a 

 strong screw spindle 

 working in jaws (/) : the said spindle or male screw being 

 of considerable length, to admit of giving the requisite pres- 

 sure and support on the lower ends of the circumferential rods 

 which form the sides of your basket. 



The bottom, which completes the insulation, is formed by 

 passing horizontally from side to side, below the general 

 mass of the roots, iron rods {g)^ at about 2 in. distant ; and for 

 security and regularity these rods are passed through holes 

 previously made in one side of the hoop, and their points 

 brought out just above the hoop at the opposite side. 



The problem is now solved ; the basket is woven ; the ball 



