364 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 May, 1902. 
success. What is known as a tree-moyer, the invention of Mr. Henry Hicks, 
of Westbury, New York, has been adapted for the purpose. In operating with 
this apparatus, the tree, if of 14 to 26 inches diameter of trunk, is dug by 
starting a circular trench with a diameter of 380 to 40 feet. An undercut is 
made beneath the roots with a light prospecting pick, and the soil picked out 
and caved down with a spading fork or picking rod. the points of which are 
rounded to avoid cutting off the roots. ‘The loose dirt is shovelled out of the 
bottom of the trench and the roots are uncovered, tied in bundles with lath yarn 
and bent up, out of the way of the diggers. If the roots are to be out of the 
ground eyen for one day in dry weather, the bundles are wrapped in clay mud, 
damp moss, and straw or burlap. When the digging has progressed within 
from 4 to 8 feet of the centre, the tree is siightly tipped over to loosen the 
central ball, which cleaves from the subsoil near the extremities of the downward 
roots. On sand or hardpan subsoil this is at a depth of 2 to 4 feet. In deep 
soil it may be necessary to cut some downward roots. A. ball of earth is leftin 
the centre from 5 to 12 feet in diameter, or as heavy as can be drawn by four 
to eight horses. This ball is not essential with deciduous trees, but it is easier 
to leave it than to remove and replace the soil. With fine-rooted trees like the 
red maple, it is difficult to pick out the soil, while with coarse-rooted trees, like 
the beech, in gravelly soil the ball drops to pieces. 
Tn loading for removal, the cradle of the mover, which is pivoted above or 
back of the axle, is swung over to the tree, the trunk first being wrapped with 
cushions and slats. Itis thus clamped to the cradle by chains and screws without 
injuring the bark. By means of a screw 9 feet long operated by a ratchet lever 
or hand-brake wheel, the cradle lifts the tree from the hole and swings it over 
in a horizontal position. Pulling in the same direction by tackle fastened in 
the top of the tree aids the work of the screw. After the tree is loaded, the 
roots on the other side of the axle are tied up to the perches. The front wheels 
are on pivots, therefore the roots are not broken by the swinging of the axle. 
The roots are next drawn aside to put in the pole and driver’s seat. Planks 
are placed under the wheels, and the mover is pulled out of the hole by tackle, 
The hole to receive the tree is prepared with a layer of soft mud in the 
bottom, which partly fills the crevices between the roots as the tree is lowered 
into it. The weight of the tree is not allowed to rest upon and crush the down- 
ward roots, but is supported by the mover until fine earth is packed in. Soil ig 
worked down between the centre rvots in the form of mud by means of a stream 
of water and packing sticks. The side roots are next unwrapped and covered 
at their natural depth. While the tree is horizontal, it is usually pruned, the 
outside being cut back 1 to 8 feet, cutting to a crotch or bud, and the remaining 
twigs thinned out about one-third. Hardwood trees and trees with few roots 
need the most severe pruning. 
Until it is firmly embedded, the tree is secured by guy wires. . Anchor 
posts are set slanting 44 feet in the ground with a crosspiece just below the 
surface. Two to six strands of galvanised steel wire are used, run from the 
posts through pieces of hose, around the tree and back to the post. It.is twisted 
tight with two sticks turning in the same direction and moving toward each 
other. ‘To prevent the sun from drying out the bark on the south side of the 
tree, the trunk is wrapped with straw, especially thin-barked trees, like beech 
and silver maple. By following the plan described, enough of the smaller roots 
of the tree are preserved to give it ample nourishment if it is transplanted in 
soil which contains fertilising elements. 
As already stated, Long Island contains a number of illustrations of land- 
scape gardening which includes large trees transferred in this manner. The 
accompanying illustrations give an idea of some effects which have been 
produced. They depict various species which have been dug up, transferred on 
the movable vehicles a distance of from 15 to 25 miles and reset. As will be 
noted, they have grown erect and in some cases more shapely than when in their 
original positions. 
