Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-04-17

depth OF two TO flYe 1eeJ. In deep SOIL
it may be necessary to cut some down
ward roots. A ball Of earth is left in
the center from ) to Il feet in diane
ter. 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 ont the soil, while with coarse
rooted trees, like the beech, in gravel
~ soil the ball drops to pieces.
In 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 Stats. 1t is thus
clamped to the cradle by chains and
screws without injuring the bark. BY
means of a screw nine feet long Oper
ated by a ratchet lever or mandrake
wheel, the cradle lifts the tree from
the hole and swings it over in a hOri-
zontaI 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 drivers
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 pre-
pared with a layer of soft mud III the
bottom, which partly fills the crevices
between the roots as the tree is low
cred into it. The weight of the tree is
not allowed to rest upon and crush
the downward roots, but is supported
by the mover until fine earth is
packed in. Soil is worked down be-
tween the center roots in the form of
mud by means Of stream of water
and packing sticks. The side roots
are next unwrapped and covered to
their natural depth. While the tree is
horizontal, it is usually pruned, the
outside being cut back one to three
feet, cutting to 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 AZ feet il the
! ground with a cross piece just below
| the surface. Two to six strands of
galvanized steel wire are used. run
/ from the posts through pieces of hose,
around the tree and back to the post.
! 1t is twisted tight with two sticks
turning in the same direction and
moving toward each other. To pre-
vent 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 de-
OF the tree are preserved TO give it
ample nourishment if it is transplant
ed in soil which contains fortiliZinC
elements.
In spite OF the details which accom-
pany the work, a force of five or six
men only is required to remove and
! set the largest trees. and the work can
! be accomplished III q comparatively
short space Of time. ConseQncntly tho
owner of pO1t of ground entirely des-
titute of trees can surround his resi-
dence with grove of 100 or more
hardy specimens Of the forest. ar
ranged III artistic groups to suit his
fancy, the operation representing but
| few months from beginning to end.
Day Allen Wiley in Scientific Amer
lean