THE planter's GUIDE. 



183 



The tree being in readiness, as above described, for 

 remoyal to its new site, the machining of it (if I may be 

 permitted the expression) is a work deserving of the 

 particular attention of the planter.'"" On the skill of the 

 person who conducts this department, and whom I have 

 ventured to denominate the machiner, much depends in 

 providing, against the various accidents to which branches, 

 not less than roots, are exposed in an operation always 

 implying much violence, and sometimes unforeseen contin- 

 gency. The first step to be taken is, to bring the wheels 

 of the machine close up to the body of the tree ; and 

 should the protuberance of the nucleus, or mass of roots 

 under the collar, stand in the way, as sometimes happens, 

 the wheels must be forcibly approximated until they be 

 quite close. While this is about to be performed, the 

 machiner darts an experienced eye over the stem and 

 whole style of the ramification, and at once ascertains the 

 side upon which the tree can be best laid along the pole, 

 and also the particular opening among the boughs into 

 which the pole can be most safely introduced. If there 

 be the smallest bend in the stem, as almost always hap- 

 pens, the convex side must lie uppermost on the machine ; 

 otherwise, were the concave side to be so placed, the 

 great weight of both the root and top, acting at once on 

 so narrow and unstable a surface as the stem presents, 

 would cause the fastenings to slip on the first movement 

 of the wheels, and in consequence of the tree turning 

 suddenly round, the most shocking havoc might be com- 

 mitted among both branches and roots. 



However easy all this may appear to the looker-on, 

 who views the work, there is much judgment and nicety 

 in ascertaining such adaptations, and there is a consider- 



* Note I. 



