1 Aprin, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 275 
The bell tents at present used by this Department are of two sizes—one 
made of 7 widths of 36-inch duck, 9 feet long; and the other of 9 widths of 36-inch 
duck, 13 feet long. The former will treat trees under 7 feet high and 6 feet 
in diameter ; and the latter, trees under 10 feet high and 8} feet in diameter. 
A size larger and a size smaller would also be convenient to work, and would 
be a valuable addition to our present outfit, as the smaller size that we have is 
too big for small trees, and the larger size is too small for many trees that we 
could treat by means of a larger bell tent. Bell tents are easily and rapidly 
handled, the method of placing them over the tree being shown in the accom- 
anying illustrations. In Fig. 1, Plate XOVII., the tent is in position ready to 
be lifted over the tree, and in Fig. 2 the tents are shown ready to be charged. 
The mouth of the bell tent is kept open by means of a ring of Sinch 
galyanised iron piping, which is attached to the tent by means ‘of rings or 
strings as may be desired. When placed over the tree, a little earth is put 
round the ring and bottom of tent in order to prevent the escape of the gas. 
The apex of the text is made of double strength, and has a rope ring sown on 
to it, through which a forked stick is placed when placing the tent on, or taking 
it off, when the tree has been treated. The use of the ring and forked stick is 
shown on Fig. 1. 
The sheets are octagonal in shape, and those in use by the Department 
vary from 30 feet to 50 fegt in diameter. With the exception of one oiled ~ 
sheet, the material used is the best Canadian duck, 36 inches wide, well sewn 
together with best linen thread, and all edges bound. ‘The cost of the material 
used is 114d. per square yard, and the price paid for making has been 13d. per 
square yard, and this latter charge can probably be reduced. 
The method of using the sheets is well illustrated by Plates XOVIII. and 
XCIX. Plate XCVIIT. shows the method of raising the sheet so thatit isready 
to be thrown over the tree. Fig. 1 of Plate XCIX. shows the sheet in the act of 
falling over the tree, and Fig. 2 of same plate the tree covered ready for treatment. 
The followirg tackle is required for raising the sheets :—T'wo uprights for 
placing, one on each side of the tree, made as follows:—The poles are 30 feet in 
length and can! made of any suitable material, a piece of straight-grained Oregon 
pine, 4 inches by 2 inches, free from knots, being probably the best timber to use. 
The poles are attached to bottom plates 6 feet in length, 6 inches by 2 inches, 
and stayed to same by 3-inch by 2-inch braces 5 feet long, which are firmly 
bolted to the base and to the pole. Instead of using pine, the Department use 
strong bamboos, which are attached to a base and stayed to it by $-inch round 
iron »ttached to a clamp on pole. The bamboosare strong, light to handle, and 
answer well if straightened when first cut. In selecting bamboo poles, care 
must be taken to see that they are mature, as, if not, they are not strong 
enough to stand the strain of raising the larger sheets. A guy rope of 2 inches 
circumference, about 50 feet long, is attached to the top of each upright, and 
the sheet is raised by means of a fixed pulley attached to the top of the upright, 
and by a movable pulley which is attached to the sheet; the two pulleys being 
connected by 100 feet of rope of 14-inch circumference. The moyable block is 
attached to the sheet by means of a movable tie which is placed on the sheet at 
6 or 8 fect from its edge, this being found a better plan than attaching the 
pulley to fixed rings on the edge of sheet, as the latter is easier raised and, 
when thrown over the tree, the lap falls into its right position. 
To raise the sheet, which should be laid out at the back of the tree ready 
for raising, the uprights are raised, each by two men—one at the base of the 
pole hauling on the block rope, and the other at the poleitself. When upright, 
the man who has raised the pole takes the guy rope and holds the uprights in 
position—viz., slightly leaning from him. The two men at the block ropes 
then raise the sheet, and, when high enough, the other two men at the guy 
ropes pull steadily, and thus draw the sheet slowly over the tree, the uprights 
falling with the sheet. A little earth is now placed round the edges of the 
sheet, and the tree is ready for treatment. : 
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