How to Make Straight Rows with the Holland Transplanter
Everyone likes to see long, straight seedling and transplant beds. In addition to providing the neat and manicured appearance that indicates a competent and efficient nursery job, straight, perfectly formed rows and beds permit the use of mechanized equipment for fertilizing, weeding, lifting, etc. without running over and damaging the seedlings. Perhaps most users of the transplant machine are initially disappointed with the performance of the self-steering device. Unless almost ideal conditions existed, the rows created were not as straight as the nurseryman desired. The carefully constructed guide trench used on the first trip became crooked and more indistinct with each rerun. This problem was alleviated by marker wheels, front-end weights, wire guides, and other devices. We tried most of these improvisions, but not until 1950 did we develop a method that was both effective and reasonably efficient.
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Author(s): Howard W. Schneider
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Issue 59 (1963)