THE planter's GUIDE. 



189 



slope of some length, at an accelerated pace, on whicli occa- 

 sion both the balancemen had gained the top with their 

 usual agilitj, it so fell out that the cords which secured 

 the rackpins of tlie root unfortunately gave way. This 

 happened so suddenly that the root at once struck the 

 ground, with a force equal to the united weight of the 

 mass and the momentum of the movement, and pitched 

 the balancemen, (now suddenly lifted to an elevation of 

 nearly thirty feet,) like two shuttle-cocks, to many yards' 

 distance, over the heads of the horses and the diiver, who 

 stood in amazement at their sudden and aerial flight ! 

 Luckily for the men, there was no frost upon the ground, 

 so that, instead of breaking their bones, they fell only on 

 the soft turf of the park ; from which soon getting up, and 

 shaking themselves, they heartily joined in the laughter of 

 their companions at the extraordinary length of the leap 

 which they had taken. Fortunately, also, the driver and 

 the horses escaped a worse fate, " which had impended 

 them — for the steersman and his assistants, with great 

 presence of mind, never quitted their hold ; and their 

 weight, added to the weight of a ponderous mass of roots 

 and earth, kept the tree upright, and prevented it from 

 overwhelming both the team and the driver. This accident, 

 which was at once dangerous and ludicrous, made us 

 extremely cautious afterwards in securing the bracers ; 

 but the imagination of the balancemen was forcibly im- 

 pressed by it, and it proved impossible to persuade them 

 to resume their elevated functions for many months after. 



It now only remains to say something of the natm'e 

 and dimensions of the transplanting macliines which have 

 been employed, in order that those who set a value on 

 lightness and efficiency in such implements may not be 

 without a guide whereby to provide similar machines for 

 themselves. Planters, however, residing within a mode- 



