Saul's Transplanter. 



267 



Art. VII. Description of a new Transplanting Instrument, for 

 removing Plants 'when in Flowe?: Invented by Mr. Mat- 

 thias Saul, of Lancaster, and communicated by him. 



Sir, 



I send you a description and drawing of a transplanting 

 apparatus, which, if you think of any interest to the readers 

 of the Gardener's Magazine, you are extremely welcome 

 to. It differs from the one given in your Encyclopedia 

 of Gardening, and from every other which I have seen or 

 heard of. When the instrument is put together, it forms a 

 cylinder {fig. 52. a), and when 

 separate it consists of two 

 parts (b), which are joined to- 

 gether, something on the prin- 

 ciple of a common door-hinge. 

 In using this instrument it. is 

 best to have two of them; 

 one to take out the earth at the 

 spot where you wish to insert 

 the plant, and one to remove 

 the flower with its ball of earth. 

 The instrument may be made 

 of any size ; mine is about six 

 inches long, and six inches in 

 diameter. I find no necessity 

 for any handles : in using it I place it so that the plant or 

 flower is in the centre ; I then press the apparatus into the 

 soil, and find no difficulty in drawing the plant up with the soil, 

 not more disturbed than if it had been originally planted in the 

 instrument. On the 25th of April I took up a VanThol tulip 

 and a seedling polyanthus from my garden, and placed them on 

 the flower- stage of the Lancashire flower-show, where they re- 

 mained from ten o'clock in the morning till five in the afternoon. 

 I then replaced them in the same place in the garden, and, after 

 I had withdrawn the apparatus, there appeared no defect in 

 the border, nor drooping in the flower. 1 have removed seve- 

 ral large wallflowers in full bloom this month, without the least 

 appearance of the flower being injured. I have always been 

 told that a plant in full flower could not be removed, but I have 

 proved that by this apparatus it may be done with safety. 



I am at present trying some other experiments, the result of 

 which will, I hope, be of interest to the Gardener's Magazine. 

 I remain, Sir, &c. 



Matthias Saul. 



Sulyard Street, Lancaster, April 23. 1826 

 Vol. I. No. 3. u 



