A 



384 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



across the frame, upon which are laid two cross- 

 beams. A clasp or collar / lying hard on these 

 two cross-beams is thus put round the trunk of 

 the tree, which being made tight by screws, as 

 shown in figure, serves to steady the tree and 

 bear a portion of the weight when the lift is 

 taken. The means of raising the mass are a car- 



riage, which also serves the purpose of transplant- 

 ation. It consists of two long beams g, which 

 have an open space for wheels to run in, as shown 

 in figure ; the length of the axle is the same 

 as the thickness of the beam, and is set in a 

 plumber box, with a cast-metal seat h, that is 

 bolted to the long beams which rest on it, and 



Fig. 145. 



m'glashan's transplanting machine, ground plan. 



of course adds to the strength of them. The 

 two long beams are bound together fore and aft 

 by bars i, and cross-lifting beams, which are 

 firmly bolted to them. There is a third wheel 

 in front, which carries a portion of the weight, 

 and, having a handle on the top, acts as a helm 

 does to a ship, so that the carriage can be turn- 

 ed very quickly round a sharp corner, and 

 easily governed through amongst trees. There 

 are two bolsters j, raised up on the long beams 

 at each end of the carriage, across which are 

 laid two beams h (already alluded to in de- 

 scribing the binding of the long beams), for the 

 screws to work upon ; these serve to give height 

 enough for the ball being raised to clear the 

 ground. Horses can work at any end of the 

 carriage by simply affixing the shafts to either 

 of these extremities. The beauty of the con- 

 struction of this carriage is, that it is as appli- 

 cable for removing large shrubs as it is for 

 forest trees. 



The end bar i and cross-lifting beam Tc are 

 taken off, and the carriage is moved back, en- 

 closing the tree until it is exactly over the lift ; 

 the end bar and cross-lifting beams, which were 

 taken off, are replaced and screwed on. The 

 process of raising the mass is accomplished by 

 screw power ; the screws are two or four in 



number, as the case may require, and so ar- 

 ranged as to make the lift equal. They are 

 made fast to the beams of the frame, and are 

 worked by men. When the screws are put in 

 motion, the frame and enclosed mass rise 

 erectly upwards. In ordinary circumstances, a 

 tree with a ball of 10 feet, in about 20 minutes' 

 working of the screws, should be completely 

 raised from the pit. The propelling power, 

 when the ground is soft, and horses cannot 

 be used, or when it may be inconvenient to use 

 them, is by a winch attached to the front of the 

 carriage, and block and tackle made fast to some 

 neighbouring tree, piles driven into the ground, 

 or any other hold most convenient ; but when 

 the way is clear, and the road good, horses will 

 do the work more expeditiously. It will be 

 found necessary, when the ground is soft, to lay 

 planks to prevent the wheels sinking, until they 

 get on hard ground. The pit being already dug, 

 the mass is moved directly over it, and the 

 tree and ball are lowered into it on the same 

 principle as it was raised ; the earth is then filled 

 in all round about, and the apparatus removed, 

 and the operation is completed. The reader at 

 first sight may be apt to think that the cutters 

 which were put round the ball would sever the 

 large roots; but if the operator has any desire to 



