304 



portion of the top would certainly decay and drop off, after 

 the first season. 



The next tiling the planter does is, to convey to the spot, 

 where the tree is to be taken vip, a wooden crane of great 

 strength, well provided with ropes and pulleys, and possessing 

 sufficient powder to raise the mass of roots and earth upon the 

 platform. This is no very light or speedy business, as is 

 wxll known to those who are in the habit of working such 

 unwieldy machines. Neither is it a less laborious under- 

 taking, to accomplish the raising of the tree from the pit. 

 As the wheels, or rather rollers, on which the platform is to 

 move, are very low, many horses, eight and nine frequently, 

 are requisite to drag a load of any magnitude, owing to the 

 immense friction occasioned by the lowness of the wheels ; 

 therefore, to transport a tree of considerable size (say five- 

 and-tlmty feet high, and sixteen inches in diameter), for a 

 mile, or even half a mile, must in this way occupy many 

 hands, and require much time and labour. 



The next operation is, the planting of the tree. For that 

 purpose, the crane must be again transported to the spot ; 

 where the same efforts, that were employed to raise the mass 

 from its former situation, are now called forth, to lift it from 

 the platform, and let it down into the new pit. The plant- 

 ing, we shall suppose, is an easy business, as there are few 

 roots to be distributed in the ground ; so that little remains 

 to be done, but to fill in the earth, which finishes the process. 

 As to the propping or supporting of the tree, which in exposed 

 situations sometimes defies the utmost dihgence and in- 

 genuity, it involves an additional item for wood or ropes, and 

 labour, and is essential to be attended to, for two years at 

 least. How^ever, should the plant be severely mutilated, and 

 reduced to nearly a pollard, the lever furnished by the stem 

 is sometimes unable to overcome the more ponderous mass 

 of soil and roots ; and the necessity of propping is in such 



