237 



In tlius diligently and firmly bolstering up round tlie 

 nucleus, but yet underneath, and quite clear of the great 

 body of the roots and fibres, the different divisions of the 

 workmen continue going round the tree, until they meet one 

 another, forming a sort of circular retaining-bank, of the 

 shape of a china saucer, of which the sides are of the depth 

 of one half at least of the whole nucleus, or mass of roots 

 and earth under the collar, whatever that may be, so as to 

 compose a bank sufficient to support it. Hence the bank 

 raised, if properly executed, will furnish such resistance to 

 the action of the top, that a stout man, on applying himself 

 to the transverse ropes, will find some difficulty in displacing 

 the root, even with such a lever as the stem must afford him, 

 and sometimes he will be altogether unable to displace it. 

 When the resistance is found uniform on all sides (which 

 should be often and carefully tried,) and particularly on the 

 northeast or lee quarter, httle more can be done for the stabi- 

 hty of the plant. If roots of such stiffness and strength inter- 

 fere, as cannot be put aside during the above process, the 

 best way is, to bolster and ram them separately underneath, 

 and especially at that part, where they issue from the nucleus 

 of the mass. 



It has been directed in the foregoing Section, that a ball 

 of earth, as large as can be procured round the stem, shall 

 always be left undisturbed, in the taking up. Should the 

 Aveight not be excessive, and that it can be got to extend, so 

 as nearly to meet the retaining-bank, the work may be con- 

 sidered as very perfectly executed ; because then no intersti- 

 tial vacuities will exist, in a region of the root of all the 

 most liable to suffer from drought, during the first season. 

 Should that prove impossible, from the lightness of the soil, 

 or the want of adhesiveness in the greensward, mould finely 

 pulverized, and in as dry a state as possible, should, in large 

 subjects, be let fall into such vacuities as appear, until, by a 

 repeated supply of the mould and water alternately, the in- 



