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THE 
SPIRIT OF THE INDIAN PRESS, 
OR 
xMONTHLY REGISTER OF USEFUL INVENTIONS, 
AND 
IMPROVEMENTS, DISCOVERIES, 
AND NEW FACTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE. 
TRANSPLANTING LARGE TREES. 
The operation of transplanting a large tree 
is described in the Madras Herald as liaving 
been recently carried into effect at Mr. 
Chamier’s garden in Buffalo -Square, Madras. 
We learn that the machine which is used 
in transplanting the tree is exceedingly sim- 
ple. The plan consists in cutting through 
all the horizontal roots of the tree which is 
to be removed, at the distance of about 
three and half feet from the stem, making a 
trench about thirty inches wide around the 
tree, and putting in loose surface mould 
and a little comport to encourage the growth 
of young fibres. The shortest time allow- 
ed for this operation in Scotland, where it 
was first practised, is two years — and in 
some cases trees are allowed to stand four 
or more years before they are removed. In 
this country it appears that a tree may be 
transplanted with perfect safety in four 
months after the roots are cut through — at 
the end of which time, as was found in the 
present instance, an immense quantity of 
young fibres, some perhaps two feet long, 
are thrown out from each divided root. 
When the tree is about to be transported 
to its new site, the earth is carefully cleared 
out from the young fibres, the tap-roots are 
divided, and the tree, having been previously 
fastened to the transplanting machine, is 
taken without difficulty wherever it may be 
required. Trees may be removed in this 
manner to a considerable distance, from 
Madras to Guindy for instance, without 
losing a single leaf. 
All the different species of hanian, of 
which there are four or five very common in 
Madras, are the easiest and surest to move, 
with complete success. The best season for 
transplanting them is during the hottest wea- 
ther, as too much rain is apt to destroy the 
young roots. 
The corially (so pronounced), a beauti- 
ful, clean tree, which grows to a large size 
and very rapidly, may also be removed with- 
out difficulty. 
The peepul (or Arsii Marum) is the next 
on the list. It can be transplanted to any 
size, and scarcely ever fails, provided it is 
done at the right season. This tree re- 
quires even less care than the banian and 
ought not to be very highly manured, as it 
is apt to shoot up too quickly, resembling 
the poplar. 
The tamarind is among those trees 
which are not easily moved; indeed it was 
thought impossible to transplant it success- 
fully, within a few months, when Mr. 
Elliot completely succeeded in removing 
a tamarind tree about 20 or 25 feet high. 
The tree was prepared nearly a year ago, 
and transplanted in June 1st. It did not 
lose a leaf, and is now thriving and filling 
out daily. 
The neem (or Margosa) is a difficult tree 
to manage, extremely sensitive at its roots — 
and, if the tap-root is touched ever so little, 
is hopeless. Several of these trees have 
been moved, however, and are now large 
and healthy after the lapse of two years. 
The expence attending the transportation of 
these trees is great, in consequence of the 
immense quantity of soil which is usually 
attached to them. 
In addition to these very large trees, 
there are about a dozen chiefly flowering 
trees, which are good subjects for trans- 
plantation. We learn, that the Vadenar^ 
rain, a beautiful tree like the Gloriosa 
Superba — the Cork — the Wood apple tree 
and the caoutchouc or India Rubber tree, 
