WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 419 



take the weight of the tree, and prevent its falling. About ten or fifteen 

 feet up the stem of the tree, four ropes extend from this point to the two 

 front and two back corners of the machine ; and this is all that experience 

 has found necessary to preserve the tree in its perpendicular position 

 during its transport on the machine to its future place of growth. The 

 perpendicular position of the tree is, however, very greatly secured by the 

 four side or guard chains. We have now to describe the mode of intro- 

 ducing the stem of the tree within the machine. This is effected in the 

 following manner : The machine is drawn as near to the tree as circum- 

 stances will allow ; it is then taken to pieces by unscrewing the different 

 bolts that is, the main horizontal beams are unfastened, and thrown 

 over the wheels on either side. The larger hind-wheels are then placed 

 in their proper position on the sloped cutting behind the tree, and the 

 smaller fore-wheels on the sloped cutting before the tree ; the large beams 

 are then lifted on to their places, one on either side of the tree, and made 

 secure with the iron bolts and the requisite fastenings. The tree then 

 stands with its stem betwixt the side beams, and with a pair of wheels 

 behind and another before. The chains and jacks are then applied as 

 already described, and thus the process is complete. The next and only 

 point deserving further allusion, is that of planting or placing the tree 

 where it is ultimately to grow ; and this is effected in the following way : 

 The hole, sufficiently large to receive the ball of earth, is dug the neces- 

 sary depth ; then, on the opposite sides of the hole, a sloped cutting, wide 

 enough to admit the machine to be drawn down and through it, is also 

 provided. Into this cutting, therefore, the machine and tree are drawn, 

 and through which the team of horses first pass. When the tree has 

 reached the proper point, the machine is permitted to rest ; props of 

 brick or stones are then raised at the four corners immediately under 

 the ends of the cross planks. These props may be three or five bricks 

 in height ; and when all is prepared in this way, the jacks are reversed, 

 and the ball of earth gradually lowered down, till the ends of the cross 

 planks rest upon the corner props, and the tree has tafcen its proper per- 

 pendicular position ; and this is effected by the raising or lowering of 

 these corner props. All being adjusted, any opening that may remain, 

 betwixt the bottom of the ball of earth and the bottom of the hole pro- 

 vided for the tree, is filled up with earth ; the whole being made firm 

 around and under the roots of the tree. The brick or stone props are 

 then struck out, and the planks removed a process easily effected, as 

 the tree now rests upon the earth which has been placed under and 

 about it. These planks are, however, well ironed at each end, that, in 

 case of any difficulty in their removal, a horse or horses may be readily 

 yoked, and the planks withdrawn.' " 



