508 Moving and Beplanting of large Trees, 



rope, 1^ in. in diameter, chains, &c. ; three good stout poles, 

 5 or 6 inches in diameter, two of which must be 15 or 16 feet 

 long ; six or eight men, and as many horses. Then we proceed 

 to load ; the first step of which is to cut an inclined plane down 

 to the plant, for getting it on the truck ; then we lay one of the 

 long poles on each side of the ball, and bend its top forward ; 

 then we lay the other pole across the first two, immediately 

 behind the ball, as close as we can get it, and pass the loading 

 rope two or three times round it. The next step is to raise up 

 the tree, and lean it backwards a little, so that the cross pole 

 may take the greater part of the weight of the ball. We then 

 push back the truck, between the two poles that lie on the 

 ground, and as far under the ball as we can ; and we raise the 

 tree nearly perpendicular, bringing the ends of the loading rope 

 to the fore part of the ball, and tying them together so as to 

 form a stay, on which to hook the traces of the horses. The 

 tree is then made steady with the binding ropes, previously 

 fastened to its top. All being ready, we hook on the horses to 

 the bight of the loading rope, tighten the traces, and move 

 gently forward, till we get the ball into the centre of the truck, 

 which is easily done, as the cross pole, with the ball on it, will 

 slide freely enough on the other two ; then we adjust it, if need- 

 ful ; make it fast with the binding ropes from the top to the 

 rings, &c. ; and it is properly loaded. 



When all is so far ready, we hook the horses to the collars of 

 the truck; tighten the traces again, which must be done (if the 

 horses are not steady) by a man at the head of each ; and then 

 move gently on towards the hole in which the plant is to be 

 deposited. We generally have to make several halts before 

 our arrival ; we have also to determine on the future position the 

 plant is to take, and to place it so that it may be drawn into 

 the hole as nearly in that position as possible ; that is, with the 

 most branchy side next the strongest wind, which, with us, is 

 south-west. Being satisfied on this point, we lead the horses 

 down one of the inclined planes into the hole, and stop as near 

 the centre as we can, cast off all the ropes from the truck, steady 

 the tree by them, lay a good pole, like those used in loading, 

 in front of the ball, letting each end bear against the side of the 

 hole, which will prevent the tree moving forward ; when we 

 draw the truck from under it up the other inclined plane, 

 leaving it behind nearly in its proper place. Then we adjust and 

 proceed to plant it, which we do by throwing in small quantities 

 of good earth (rejecting all the sour subsoil. Sec.) round about 

 the ball, being carefid to work it, with small-pointed rammers, 

 into every crevice and cavity, till it stands quite firm. We now 

 uncoil some of the lower roots, and lay them down regularly 



