TRANSPLANTING EVERGREEN SHRUBS AND TREES. 
157 
pleted, p 1r mt will rest wholly on the lifting hoards. The next process is to remove the loose soil 
from under the ends of the boards on one side. Two strong tarred ropes, each 10 or 12 feet long, being 
in readiness, one is worked under the ends of the hoards at one side, and the other under the opposite 
ends. Another way is to put them in at the time the bottom boards are being placed. The ropes 
should be worked under the boards about one-fourth from each end, dividing the rope as near as 
possible. Fig. II. a represents the lifting boards with the ropes under; b represents the boards and 
ropes with handspikes attached. If the plant is not of large size, the tying of the ends of the ropes 
together will be sufficient, but it not unfrequently happens that the ropes get together on the hand¬ 
spikes, unless some contrivance is used to prevent it. Notches cut out of the boards as shown in Fig. 
II. c ,—or pieces attached to the bottom of the boards to keep the ropes from moving, as on Fig. II. d d, 
—are useful enough. It often happens that the lifting boards must be sacrificed, as shall afterwards 
be explained, it is therefore needless to go to expense with them. To prevent the ropes getting to¬ 
gether, it is necessary to fix a loop at the extremity of each rope, taking care that they shall be all the 
same height above the level of the ball, and so made as not to slip, and at the same time to be easily 
unfastened. Into the eyes formed on the ropes place strong handspikes parallel with the bottom 
boards, 7 or 8 feet long, according to the mass to be lifted. 
After the above arrangements are completed, sufficient strength must be got to raise it. As the 
most difficult part of the operation is the removing the mass from the hole in which it has been grow¬ 
ing, and not being provided with a regular transplanting machine. In ordinary cases, the plant, if 
prepared as before described, may be easily lifted and conveyed away; but if too large to be raised at once, 
the task becomes more difficult. Various methods may be suggested for getting the plant out—one, by 
cutting a sloping bank from the surface of the ground to the bottom of the hole, and working the plant 
gradually up the slope. "With heavy plants, this method is preferable to lifting it at once, which is apt 
to stress the men employed; besides, the difficulty of getting the handspikes low enough so as to have 
sufficient purchase when the lower part of the ball becomes near the surface of the hole. The following 
is the method which I generally adopt when the mass is large, and which prevents the possibility of 
any of the hands sustaining injury:—While the plant is still resting on the bottom of the hole, with the 
necessary ropes and handspikes appended, at one side, place a few men to keep the handspikes tight, 
so as to prevent the ropes from slipping through with the extra strength placed on the opposite side 
for the purpose of lifting that side; when raised, fill up the side lifted with earth about six or eight 
inches, and firm it well down, putting it as far below the plant as it can well be got. This being done, 
place the smaller strength on the side lifted, and the greater on the opposite so as to raise it up also, and 
fill in below as before ; carry on in this manner, gaining about six inches each time, until the plant is 
brought to the surface of the ground. This done, spread out a large bass mat, strong and quite entire, 
having all the ends tied as short as possible, place the plant on the centre of it, and tie the ends up to 
the handspikes on to the ball as tight as possible, so as to prevent the possibility of the loose earth from 
the bottom dropping out either while carrying it to its destination, or placing it on a machine for the 
same purpose. As the mat has to be drawn from below before planting, great inconvenience is oc¬ 
casioned if it is in holes, or has loose ends hanging down, catching on the ends of the lifting boards and 
/ 
1 ^ 7,1 _ 
