A machine and method for planting Christmas trees ‘on the square’

✍ Scribed by J.B. Holt

• Book ID: 104140266
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 264 KB
• Volume: 44
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8634
• DOI: 10.1016/s0021-8634(89)80084-8

✦ Synopsis

A four-row transplanting machine was extensively modified, enabling it to be used to plant Christmas trees "on the square" (i.e. so that the trees were in substantially straight lines across the rows). The plant holders, which were originally attached to a ground wheel driven disc, were remounted on frictionally driven arms. An operator-controlled escapement mechanism made it possible for a plant to be carried down to ground level and released into a furrow, so as to be in line with the transverse rows of previously planted young trees. The task of the workers placing plants in the holders was slightly easier than with the conventional machine, because each of the arms carrying the holders were restrained (within easy reach for a few seconds) by the escapement mechanism. The normal planting speed was 0.27 km/h. An attachment was proposed for placing slow release fertilizer but was not fitted because of uncertainties about the economic benefits of using this expensive material.