418 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



the opposite side of the tree. The first of these sloped cuttings was made 

 for the purpose of drawing out the tree up this slight incline to the sur- 

 face of the surrounding ground. The circular opening in the earth around 

 the tree, and the two sloping roads on each side, being now prepared, 

 the workmen commenced to undermine the ball of earth. This being 

 done all around, four stout oak planks, long enough, were placed under 

 this ball of earth in front and behind that is, crossways to the direction 

 of the machine; and under these two others were placed lengthways, with 

 their ends in the direction to back and front of the machine. It will now 

 be understood that these four oak planks under the ball of earth cross 

 each other at their four extremities ; and around their extremities, at 

 each of the four corners, four sets of strong iron chains are fastened. A 

 reference to the diagrams given will assist in explaining this. The first 

 set of chains brought into play were those attached to the bottom of the 

 jack-screws. Being made as tight as possible over the ball of earth, 

 they were then hooked on the end of the jack. The two jacks were then 

 turned by two or four men each, as the case may require, until the tree 

 and the ball of earth were raised from the ground about six or ten inches. 

 The jacks were then permitted to rest, and what is called the side chains 

 were then put in requisition. These, as we have already stated, are 

 fastened to the planks under the ball of earth, at the same point as the 

 others, the opposite ends being made fast to the side beams, as shown in 

 the engraving. This being done at the four corners, the jacks are then 

 reversed, and the first set of chains slackened : the weight of tne earth 

 and tree is then sustained by the side chains. The first set of chains 

 are again adjusted, and made as tight over the ball of earth as manual 

 power can effect The jack is again run down, and again attached to the 

 chain at the lowest point it will reach. The jacks are once more applied, 

 and run up till the end of the screw has been completely worked up to 

 the under-side of the cross beam on which it rests. By this second lift 

 the jacks have probably gained upon the six or ten inches which they 

 made at the first lifting, and the bottom of the ball is now fifteen or 

 twenty inches from the ground. The side chains, which are now quite 

 slackened by the second lift of the jacks, are again made as tight as pos- 

 sible ; this accomplished, and all securely and equally fastened to the 

 side beams again, the jacks are gently reversed, till the weight is equally 

 divided betwixt the side chains and the jack chains. The tree is now 

 in a condition to be drawn out, unless it should be necessary to give it 

 a third lift with the jacks, so as to raise it still higher from the ground ; 

 and if so, the side chains must always be attended to, as already described. 

 They may be properly called the guard-chains, as they prevent accidents 

 in the event of breakage of any of the jack-chains, when the former would 



