400 
PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING. 
thought safe, but it would often prove other- 
wise, and even did it live, its progress would 
for some time be arrested. This results from 
two things : first, from the abscission of the 
younger portions of the roots ; and secondly, 
from the drought to which the few remaining 
roots embedded in the compact ball of earth 
would be subjected; for, even supposing the 
overhanging branches of the tree not to ob- 
struct the rain from reaching the soil beneath 
them, the compact mass would be more or less 
impenetrable to moisture, and the fresh moved 
and more porous earth around it would absorb 
the greatest share. 
These remarks will form a proper introduc- 
tion to a detail of the process which should be 
followed. In the first place, begin at about 
eight or ten feet from the trunk, removing 
the soil down to the roots with a fork, in pre- 
ference to a spade. When any roots are dis- 
covered, follow them up carefully towards the 
trunk, clearing away the soil with a fork or 
a light pick-axe, and removing it with a 
shovel. In this way, all the soil is to be 
loosened from about the roots, and removed 
down to the lowest bed of roots, and up to 
within a short distance of the trunk, where 
a small portion of soil may be permitted to 
remain to steady the tree. Collect the roots 
together as they are cleared, and tie them up 
in bundles in a piece of wetted garden mat ; 
the roots should never be exposed so as to 
become in any way dried or shrivelled. When 
the roots all round are thus cleared and 
secured, the tree must be undermined with 
a long-pronged pick-axe, the tap-roots, if 
any, being cut through ; it is then to be 
pulled over on one side by means of a rope 
attached to the branches, and the other side 
is to be undermined and the tap-roots severed. 
A small embankment of earth is then to be 
rammed firmly against the under-side of the 
ball, and the tree is to be pulled over on the 
other side, and the embankment repeated 
against the part thus exposed. In this way, 
the ball of earth becomes fairly detached, and 
slightly raised, out of its place. If of con- 
siderable weight, the tree must be removed 
by a machine ; which may be a pair of wheels 
attached to a strong axle-tree, with a spire or 
pole for draught. Before the tree is pulled 
upright, a stout plank about six feet long, 
with an iron ring at each end, is placed under 
the roots ; the machine is then backed close 
to the tree, and the spire or pole elevated to 
the perpendicular, and fastened in two or 
three places to the bole of the tree, taking 
care that wherever the tree and machine are 
likely to come in contact, plenty of matting, 
straw, or some other material, is placed, to 
prevent the tree from being injured by rub- 
bing. Ropes are next run through the rings 
of the plank, which is made firmly fast to the 
axle. A strong rope is now tied to the ring 
at the end of the pole, by means of which 
a pair of horses draw it down. The machine 
should be so set, that when thus pulled down 
the longest of the branches are uppermost. 
When the head of the tree is brought down, 
it is caught by men ready at hand, to prevent 
its being smashed on the ground, or falling 
back into the hole, one of which it would do, 
according as the roots or the top prepon- 
derated in weight ; it should be made nearly 
to balance on the axle-tree, so that if the ball 
proves too heavy, it is to be still further 
reduced, or else some men must ride among 
the branches, in order that their weight may 
assist to make it rest horizontally on the bar. 
Such of the branches or roots as require tying 
out of harm's way are then to be attended to ; 
and then the horses are put to the machine, 
and the tree is drawn away, root foremost. 
Some care is necessary in the progress of 
transmission, as jerks arising from unevenness 
of the ground, or other causes, would disar- 
range the tree, and either throw it on its 
roots or top, either of which would sustain 
damage. 
The excavation for the reception of the 
tree should have been prepared previously, 
and must be large enough to contain the roots 
when laid out straight. The machine bearing 
the tree is drawn to the side of the opening, 
which on that side should be made sloping, so 
that the wheels may run down to the level of 
the bottom of the hole. The horses are then 
removed, and the machine lowered clown the 
inclined plane by the men, and the wheels are 
stayed firmly at the point which it is judged 
will bring the tree to the centre of the pit 
when the pole of the machine is raised ; while 
this is being done, the lower roots are held 
aside, so as not to be doubled up beneath the 
ball, and then the pole is raised by means of 
the rope and the preponderance of the weight 
of the butt-end of the tree, which is thus set 
upright in the hole prepared for it. The 
various fastenings are now unloosened, and 
the machine drawn away ; the tree is pulled 
aside, and the plank removed. It is then 
ready for planting, unless it happen not to be 
set in a right position, when it requires turn- 
ing. This turning is to fix the tree in the 
same direction, in reference to the points of 
the compass, in which it has formerly stood. 
It is effected thus : — A man holds a rope fas- 
tened to the top of the tree, and others take 
hold of the stronger roots ; then, by an united 
effort, — the top being pulled a little aside, and 
the butt twisted round, — the tree gets lurched 
into the required position. The stay-ropes 
are then held loosely, so as to show which way 
the tree leans, if at all ; if it leans to one side, 
