32 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



Witli the view, therefore, of obtaining this decided 

 advantage in the construction of his landscapes, Brown 

 diligently applied himself to the improvement of trans- 

 planting large trees for park effect, and strove with great 

 zeal to bring it into repute among his noble and wealthy 

 employers. Instead of maintaining the upright position 

 of the trees duiing transportation, as had hitherto been 

 practised, he devised the method of carrying them hori- 

 zontally, and for that purpose constructed the Trans- 

 planting Machine, which since his time has been in 

 pretty general use. 



This efficient implement was, like most useful contriv- 

 ances, of very simple structure. It consisted of a strong 

 pole of considerable length, with two high wheels, and 

 acting on an iron axle, which was placed at right angles 

 to it. At the extremity of the pole there was a smaller 

 wheel, that turned on a pivot, and was used for trees of 

 more than ordinary magnitude. These two wheels were 

 of great strength, made nearly upright, or, in the work- 

 man's phrase, very little " dished." A strong cross-bar 

 was bolted on the axle, with a space in the middle 

 gradually hollowed out for receiving the stem of the tree, 

 of whatever size it might be. According to Brown's 

 method, the top was pretty severely lopped or lightened, 

 and sometimes quite pollarded. The roots were next cut 

 round to the depth of the fibres, and only two or three 

 feet out from the body, and the machine was brought up 

 upon its wheels as close as possible to the tree. The 

 pole was set upright, and applied to the stem, to wliich 

 it was then lashed in the firmest manner. By a rope 

 fixed to the top of the pole, it was, last of all, forcibly 

 drawn down by several men^s strength ; and thus the 

 stem and the pole of the machine, forming a lever of great 

 power, forced or tore up the roots from their under-bed. 



