THE planter's GUIDE. 



285 



clearly ascertained. But some, more judiciously, lop the 

 brandies in the interval between the removal and the 

 replanting ; and some also make no preparation of the 

 roots at all. In cutting them round, it is held by opera- 

 tors of the greatest experience, that a mass or ball of 

 earth, beyond which few or no roots are found to extend, 

 of seven or eight feet in diameter, for the largest subjects, 

 is as much as can be properly carried away ; hence, the 

 one half at least, or more probably two -thirds, of a fine 

 head must be sacrificed. But it may just as well be so 

 sacrificed, as it is obvious, in the circumstances of the case, 

 and without roots adequate to its nourishment, that such 

 a proportion of the top would certainly decay and drop 

 ofi* after the first season. 



The next thing the planter does is to convey to the 

 spot where the tree is to be taken up a wooden crane of 

 great strength, well provided with ropes and pulleys, and 

 possessing sufficient power to raise the mass of roots and 

 earth upon the platform. This is no very light or speedy 

 business, as is well known to those who are in the habit 

 of working such unwieldy machines. Neither is it a less 

 laborious undertaking to accomplish the raising of the tree 

 from the pit. As the wheels, or rather rollers, on which 

 the platform is to move are very low, many horses, eight 

 and nine frequently, are requisite to drag a load of any 

 magnitude, owing to the immense friction occasioned by 

 the lowness of the wheels ; therefore, to transport a tree 

 of considerable size (say five-and-thirty feet high, and six- 

 teen inches in diameter) for a mile, or even half a mile, 

 must in this way occupy many hands, and require much 

 time and labour. 



The next operation is the planting of the tree. For 

 that purpose the crane must be again transported to the 

 spot ; where the same efforts that were employed to raise 



