AXEL BONAERT
T H E O L D E S T O R A N G E T R E E S I N C O N T A I N E R S I N E U R O P E
T H E O R I G I N O F O R A N G E T R E E S A T F R E Y R
T h e o l d e s t o r a n g e trees at Freyr c o m e f r o m Luneville, t h e
"Versailles" of t h e D u k e of Lorraine. It h a s b e e n said that
t h e y w e r e b o u g h t f r o m Stanislas Leszczynski (King o f
P o l a n d s i n c e 1704, lived in exile, 1734-1766 D u k e of Bar a n d
Lorraine). But it s e e m s m o r e p l a u s i b l e that t h e y w e r e b o u g h t
f r o m Francis III, t h e last D u k e of t h e V a u d e m o n t b r a n c h .
I n d e e d , t h e o l d e s t e n g r a v i n g b y R e m a c l e Le Loup, r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e g a r d e n s at Freyr a n d d a t i n g f r o m 1740, d e p i c t s
a f o u r - w i n g e d R e n a i s s a n c e castle, s u r r o u n d e d b y t w o
g a r d e n s of t h e s a m e style, l o c a t e d a l o n g t h e M e u s e . T h e
g a r d e n s consist o f a cross w i t h f o u r b e d s a n d a f o u n t a i n in
t h e c e n t r e . O n e d i s c o v e r s f u r t h e r in this e n g r a v i n g that t h e
e n d of t h e n o r t h e r n g a r d e n h a d b e e n enlarged with t w o
w i n t e r h o u s e s , in f r o n t of e a c h o n e t h r e e r o w s of f o u r trees.
T h e s e 24 t r e e s a p p e a r t o b e fully g r o w n .
g r o w n f r o m t h e s u r f a c e w h i l e t h e central part of t h e t r u n k
h a s g r o w n p r o g r e s s i v e l y e m p t y . H o w e v e r it is still alive.
T r e e ( 2 ) h a s r e c e n t l y lost its b a r k p r o g r e s s i v e l y a n d t h e
b r a n c h e s o n o n e s i d e of t h e t r u n k . T h e o t h e r side r e m a i n e d
h e a l t h y unfil this spring, w h e n t w o thirds of t h e r e m a i n i n g
b r a n c h e s died. I h a v e b e e n w o n d e r i n g if it w a s t h e result of
c a r e l e s s s p r a y i n g o f weed-killer. A n y w a y , s i n c e t h e n , I
s p r a y w e e d - k i l l e r p e r s o n a l l y . T h e h e a d g a r d e n e r of t h e
A r b o r e t u m in M e i s e rather b e l i e v e s that t h e t r e e ' s d e c a y is
d u e to old age.
T r e e ( 3 ) h a s a t h i n n e r t r u n k a n d is most likely y o u n g e r .
H e n c e , 23 o u t o f t h e 24 original trees remain.
S i n c e Stanislas a r r i v e d in Lorraine n o t b e f o r e 1737, a n d
s i n c e Francis III s o l d w h a t e v e r w a s m a r k e t a b l e in Luneville
u p o n l e a v i n g L o r r a i n e t o m a r r y M a r i a - T h e r e s a , it is m o r e
likely that t h e t r e e s w e r e b o u g h t b y t h e f u t u r e E m p e r o r
Francis l. T h e g a r d e n s at Luneville w e r e laid o u t in t h e
e a r l y 18 ,h Century (1711-1718), b u t in t h e e n g r a v i n g b y
Le L o u p t h e t r e e s a p p e a r t o b e o l d e r t h a n 30 years.
H e n c e , t h e o l d e s t t r e e s in Freyr a r e b e t w e e n 300 a n d
350 y e a r s o l d .
In 1794, t h e F r e n c h a r m i e s i n v a d e d t h e Low C o u n t r i e s a n d
i m p o r t e d a r e g i m e of terror. T h e m a y o r of t h e n e i g h b o u r ing F r e n c h city of Givet (17 k m ) c a m e t o loot a n d b u r n
Castles a n d m o n a s t e r i e s . T h e m o n a s t e r i e s of Waulsort
(4 k m ) a n d H a s t i e r e ( 7 k m ) a s well a s t h e w i n t e r r e s i d e n c e
of t h e D u k e o f B e a u f o r t - S p o n t i n at B e a u r a i n g (20 k m ) w e r e
d a m a g e d . Very n e a r l y t h e s u m m e r r e s i d e n c e at F r e y r w o u l d
h a v e h a d t h e s a m e fate.
I n d e e d , u p o n arriving in Freyr in J u l y 1794, t h e m a y o r feil
in l o v e w i t h t h e b l o s s o m i n g t r e e s a n d their p e r f u m e . H e
w a n t e d t o s e i z e t h e m a n d carry t h e m b a c k t o Givet o n
b a r g e s , but t h e r e w e r e n o n e at h a n d . W h i l e t h e b a r g e s w e r e
f e t c h e d , t h e b u i l d i n g s w e r e n o t b u r n t . In t h e m e a n t i m e ,
R o b e s p i e r r e lost p o w e r in Paris. T h e p o p u l a t i o n of Givet
t o o k t o a r m s a n d w e n t t o Freyr t o arrest its "former" m a y o r .
T h e trees had saved the place.
A r o u n d 1760-65, t h e R e n a i s s a n c e g a r d e n w a s transf o r m e d into a classic-style g a r d e n . A p o n d w a s a d d e d in
f r o n t of e a c h w i n t e r h o u s e a n d t h e t r e e s w e r e a r r a n g e d
a r o u n d b o t h p o n d s . M o r e t r e e s w e r e p l a n t e d a f t e r w a r d s . In
t h e 1 9 " a n d 20"' c e n t u r i e s , e v e n y o u n g e r t r e e s w e r e a d d e d ,
i n c l u d i n g l e m o n t r e e s a n d laureis.
The trees as saviours of Freyr
Typology ofthe original trees
Heating of the trees
Currently, t h e o l d e s t t r e e s s h o w a n u n e x p e c t e d variety a n d
can b e c a t e g o r i s e d as:
Not G r a f t e d
Squat
Balanced
Tall T r u n k
Grafted
At t h e r o o t
Middle of the trunk
Total
Meuse-side
Hill-side
8
3 + 1 (')
0
3
3
1 + 1 (2)
1
0
1 + 1 (ä)
13
11
i
D ü r i n g t h e i n v a s i o n in 1940, t h e t r e e s w e r e still in t h e w i n t e r
h o u s e . No o n e t o o k c a r e of t h e m f o r s o m e w e e k s a n d o n e
tree d i e d of d r y n e s s . A n o t h e r o n e ( ' ) r e c o v e r e d , but h a s
Until t h e d e p a r t u r e of o u r last g a r d e n e r in 1975, e a c h w i n t e r
h o u s e w a s h e a t e d with a c o k e o v e n . H o w e v e r , t h e
e n g r a v i n g b y Le L o u p s h o w s n o c h i m n e y o n t h e w i n t e r
h o u s e s - a fact c o r r o b o r a t e d b y t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e c h i m n e y s ' bricks, indicating that t h e y w e r e a d d e d later, p o s s i b l y
in t h e 19"' Century. In winter, t h e t e m p e r a t u r e w a s k e p t
a r o u n d 7° Celsius. After t h e last g a r d e n e r left, t h e c o k e o v e n s
w e r e r e p l a c e d b y a n a u t o m a t e d h e a t i n g system run b y a g a s
tank. D u e t o t h e f o l l o w i n g oil s h o c k a n d t h e e n o r m o u s costs
for g a s this h e a t i n g Solution b e c a m e t o o e x p e n s i v e .
After consultation with t h e h e a d g a r d e n e r of Versailles,
w h e r e n o h e a t i n g is u s e d in t h e w i n t e r h o u s e , it w a s d e c i d ed t o p u t t w o electrical radiators in e a c h w i n t e r h o u s e a n d t o
close t h e shutters in t h e c a s e of s e v e r e cold. T h e first w i n t e r
thereafter, it w a s m i n u s 20° Celsius a n d t h e t e m p e r a t u r e in
t h e h o u s e s feil t o 1° Celsius. Replacing W i n d o w s a n d d o o r s
93
m
•-
M
m
TO
.
i m m .
PlgS, 1, 2 Prefr, the orange trees
- l o c a t e d only o n i h e S o u t h e r n f a c a d e (the o t h e r f a c a d e s b e ing lilind) - with n e w hermetic o n e s t o eliminate c o l d drafts,
a l l o w e d t h e u s e of radiators only w h e n it f r e e z e s outside.
ter ( w h i c h w a s easily d e t e c t a b l e : t h e l e a v e s started s h r i n k ing) t o react a f t e r w a r d s , rather t h a n t o o v e r - w a t e r a n d disc o v e r m u c h later that t h e leaves w e r e t u r n i n g yellow.
Watering of the trees
Fruits
In a diary o n h o w t o maintain t h e trees, m y g r e a t - g r a n d m o t h e r advises: " o n e b ü c k e t p e r tree a n d m o n t h in winter,
o n e t o t w o (if fairly w a r m ) b u c k e t s p e r tree a n d d a y in Summ e r a n d sprinkling t h e l e a v e s e v e r y d a y u p o n d r y heat".
After t h e d e p a r t u r e of o u r last g a r d e n e r , m y m o t h e r t o o k
o v e r this task a n d f o l l o w e d t h e a d v i c e of h e r g r a n d m o t h e r ,
b u t u s e d a p i p e f e e d i n g w a t e r s l o w l y instead o f w a t e r i n g
with b u c k e t s . It w a s less tiring. T h e leaves of t h e t r e e s
t u r n e d progressively yellow a n d later feil off. We lost o n e
m i d d l e - a g e d t r e e in t h e third w i n t e r after t h e t a k e - o v e r .
T h e n , w e c o n s u l t e d t h e h e a d g a r d e n e r of Versailles. H e w a s
s u r p r i s e d since in Versailles w a t e r i n g t a k e s p l a c e e v e r y
w e e k in s u m m e r a n d t h e climate is w a r m e r a n d d r y e r t h a n
in Belgium! H e a d v i s e d t o r e m o v e t h e lateral Ixxirds of t h e
Containers for s o m e time, s o that t h e e a r t h , w h i c h h a d b e c o m e like wet c o n c r e t e . c o u l d dry u p .
After s o m e thinking, w e first r e c k o n e d that m y greatg r a n d m o t h e r . k n o w i n g t h e n o n c h a l a n c e of h e r g a r d e n e r s ,
h a d a d v i s e d an o v e r d o s e , but that d i d not fit with h e r c h a r acter f o r preci.se c o n t r o l of e v e r y t h i n g . H e r e is a first e x p l a nation: Water t h r o w n in o n e s h o t f r o m a b ü c k e t w i t h s h o w e r e f f e c t is m u c h lx;tter t h a n t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f w a t e r
s p r a y e d slowly via a p i p e , c h o k i n g t h e e a r t h . A s e c o n d e x p l a n a t i o n is given later u n d e r t h e p r u n i n g p a r a g r a p h .
Anyway, w e learned the lesson a n d reduced watering t o
a s m u c h a s t h e w a t e r w o u l d p e n e t r a t e fast into t h e e a r t h ,
a d j u s t i n g t h e d o s e t o e a c h tree. We p r e f e r r e d t o u n d e r w a -
W e h a d p l e n t y of b l o s s o m s , u p t o 300 p e r tree. T h e y h a d t o
b e r e m o v e d manually, o n e by one, t o avoid w o u n d i n g the
tree. T h i s h a d t o b e d o n e s o that t h e t r e e s d i d not b e c o m e
exhausted by having to feed the blossoms g r o w i n g into
fruits. My g r e a t - g r a n d m o t h e r , w h o k e p t p r u n i n g t h e bloss o m s d u r i n g s u m m e r t i m e until s h e w a s in h e r nineties,
u s e d t h e m f o r o r a n g e teas, m a r m a l a d e a n d s w e e t s . H a v i n g
less time, w e p r u n e d b o t h t h e leaves a n d t h e b l o s s o m s in
S e p t e m b e r at t h e s a m e t i m e w h i c h h a d b e c o m e b u d s in t h e
meantime.
T h i n g s h a d t o c h a n g e a f t e r t w o w i n t e r s of t l o o d i n g of t h e
w i n t e r h o u s e s b y t h e M e u s e , in D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3 (1 m e t e r )
a n d early 2005 (1.8 m e t e r ) . In t h e f o l l o w i n g years, t h e n u m b e r of b l o s s o m s d e c r e a s e d drastically a n d w a s limited t o t h e
internal part of t h e t r e e s . Additionally, t h o r n s b e g a n t o a p p e a r o n t h e o u t e r parts of t h e trees. T h e Agricultural School
of G e m b l o u x e x p l a i n e d this p h e n o m e n o n . T h e Containers
h a d b e e n s t a n d i n g in t h e w a t e r of t h e M e u s e , w h i c h w a s
l o a d e d with fertilisers w a s h e d u p b y t h e h e a v y rains. T h i s
r e s u l t e d in t h e l e a v e s g r o w i n g t o a size m u c h b i g g e r t h a n
b e f o r e . C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e r e w a s a drastic r e d u e t i o n in t h e
n u m b e r of b l o s s o m s .
D u e t o t h e fact that fertilisers h a d n o t b e e n in u s e yet, this
p h e n o m e n o n w a s u n k n o w n at t h e p r e v i o u s h e a v y f l o o d i n g
of 1925. G e m b l o u x p r o p o s e d t o a d d c h e m i c a l s t o n e u t r a l i s e
t h e p h o s p h a t e s . O t h e r w i s e it w o u l d t a k e u p t o 50 y e a r s
(until t h e next f l o o d i n g ) t o d i s a p p e a r . We d i d n o t act, b u t
9-.
n o t i c e d that u p o n p o t t i n g a t r e e w i t h n e w e a r t h , t h e p h e n o m e n o n was decreasing.
Prutting and/unfficide
O u r last g a r d e n e r , a w o r k e r w i t h o u t g a r d e n i n g e x p e r i e n c e ,
p i u n e d the h e d g e s almost u p t o the trunks a n d applied the
s a m e m e t h o d t o t h e o r a n g e t r e e s in S e p t e m b e r , all t h e m o r e
h e c a u s e at t h e e n d of s u m m e r t h e l e a v e s w e r e l o a d e d with
a d a r k a n d sticky layer c a u s e d b y g r e e n f l y . T h e t r e e s w i n t e r e d with all t h e leaves w h i c h h a d g r o w n d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r r e m o v e d a n d p l e n t y of u n s c a r r e d CUtS. After h i s retirem e n t , first m y f a t h e r a n d later I f o l l o w e d t h e s a m e p r o c e d u r e . In t h e early 1990s, w e n o t i c e d that u p p e r b r a n c h e s
w e r e d e c a y i n g at t h e e n d o f t h e w i n t e r a n d that t h e trees
h a d difficulties t o revitalise.
An assisrant f r o m t h e Agricultural S c h o o ] of G e m b l o u x di
a g n o s e d f u n g u s p e n e t r a t i n g t h r o u g h o p e n cuts a n d blocking t h e s a p . T h e r e m e d y w a s t o a p p l y a n t i - f u n g i c i d e s t h r e e
t i m e s ( O c t o b e r , J a n u a r y a n d April): o n t h e roots a m i x t u r e
of water, T o p s i n M a n d P r o p l a n t a n d o n t h e t r u n k s a n d t h e
l e a v e s a m i x t u r e of w a t e r , T o p s i n M a n d Mirage 4 5 E. It
h e l p e d s o m e h o w a s did t h e t r e a t m e n t of t h e largest cuts
with v e g e t a b l e oil a n d t h e s p r a y i n g o f C o n f i d o r 200 SL
against g r e e n f l y .
T h e h e a d g a r d e n e r of t h e National A r b o r e t u m in Meise
i n t r o d u c e d a n e f f e c t i v e a n d s i m p l e r e m e d y : "In S e p t e m b e r ,
p r u n e o n l y t h e most o v e r s h o o t i n g n e w b r a n c h e s b e c a u s e
t h e tree d o e s not start w i n t e r i n g a f t e r a surgical Operation.
In May, w h e n t h e s a p c o m e s b a c k , p r u n e w h a t is n e c e s s a r y
but not m o r e . " F u r t h e r m o r e , t o a v o i d b e i n g t e m p t e d t o
p r u n e leaves b l a c k e n e d by greenfly, the Head G a r d e n e r
a d v i s e d t o s p r a y w a t e r m i x e d with S u m m e r Oil o n t h e
leaves t o g r e a s e t h e m in o r d e r t o k e e p g r e e n f l y f r o m fixing
itself o n t h e l e a v e s . T h i s w a s a m o r e natural w a y t h a n a
c h e m i c a l m i x t u r e like C o n f i d o r .
T h e results a r e o u t s t a n d i n g . T h e t r e e s h a v e far m o r e
l e a v e s a n d h a v e r e g a i n e d their b o w l e r hat s h a p e . With
m o r e leaves, t h e y n e e d m o r e w a t e r - precisely t h e a m o u n t
indicated by my great-grandmother!
Features of Containers nsed at Freyr
T h e Containers at Freyr a r e still basically m a d e of w o o d a n d
h e n c e in c o n t r a s t t o t h e 19"' Century variety t o b e s e e n in
m a n y classical g a r d e n s , w h e r e t h e s t r u c t u r e is o f cast iron
a n d t h e s p h e r e at t h e t o p of e a c h p o l e h a s a n oval s h a p e .
T h e size o f t h e Containers w a s s t a n d a r d i s e d to o n e c u b i c
m e t e r b y m y f a t h e r , Architect F. B o n a e r t . B e f o r e , s o m e Cont a i n e r s h a d b e e n slightly b i g g e r o r slightly smaller.
E a c h o n e - m e t e r - h i g h p o l e ( w i t h a s e c t i o n of 0.11 m b y
0.11 m ) is c o n n e c t e d t o e a c h of its t w o n e i g h b o u r i n g p o l e s
b y t w o p l a n k s of 0 . 7 8 m in length. T h e l o w e r p l a n k , 0 . 1 5 m
a b o v e t h e g r o u n d , h a s a s e c t i o n of 0 . 1 8 m vertically a n d
0.05 m horizontally. The higher plank, 0 85 m a h o v e the
g r o u n d , h a s a s e c t i o n of 0.12 m vertically b y 0.04 m horizontally. B e t w e e n t h e s e t w o p l a n k s is a m o v a b l e b o a r d , a p plied against t h e e a r t h a n d h e l d b y o n e bar, o n e e n d of
w h i c h is f i x e d t o o n e p o l e , t h e o t h e r e n d falling into a h o o k
lixed t o t h e n e i g h l x n i r i n g p o l e .
A Ixiard is p i e r c e d with t w o h o r i z o n t a l r o d s ( o n e at \A o f
t h e total h e i g h t , t h e o t h e r at 50 t o r e i n f o r c e t h e b o a r d a n d
t o a v o i d its w a r p i n g c a u s e d b y t h e h u m i d i t y g r a d i e n t b e t w e e n t h e i n n e r part f a c i n g w e t e a r t h a n d t h e o u t e r pari
w h i c h is d r i e d b y air.
A p i e c e of an iron in L - s h a p e is fixed t o t h e b o t t o m of e a c h
p o l e (0.23 m a b o v e t h e g r o u n d ) a n d t o its t w o l o w e r p l a n k s ,
w h i l e t h e foot o f e a c h p o l e is encircled b y an iron Square.
A l o n g t w o o p p o s i t e l o w e r p l a n k s , t h e iron in L - s h a p e is
f i x e d t o e a c h p l a n k . T h e s e t w o L's s u p p o r t h o r i z o n t a l
p l a n k s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e b o t t o m of t h e Container.
O n t h e o t h e r t w o l o w e r p l a n k s , t w o iron p i e c e s in
T - s h a p e c o n n e c t o n e p l a n k with t h e other. Each T is
a t t a c h e d t o t h e m i d d l e o f t h e p l a n k at 'Ä of its length. T h e y
s u p p o r t t h e b o t t o m of t h e Container.
Until 1975, o a k w a s u s e d . It w a s later r e p l a c e d b y t e a k ,
w h i c h w a s less e x p e n s i v e a n d t h o u g h t m o r e resistant.
Since t h e p r i c e f o r i m p o r t e d w o o d i n c r e a s e d , w e h a v e
used oak again.
T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n o a k a n d teak is not s o m u c h t h e
w o o d t h a n its quality. With p o o r o a k , a Container b r e a k s int o p i e c e s within 15 years. With rxx>r t e a k , it is t h e s a m e , e x c e p t that t e a k d o e s not b r e a k into p i e c e s but c a r b o n i s e s a n d
l o s e s its s t r e n g t h . With g o o d w o o d , a Container lasts a r o u n d
2 5 y e a r s a n d o v e r 30 w i t h e x t r e m e l y g o o d w o o d . The i n n e r
p a r t s of t h e Containers w e r e p a i n t e d with lead-iron mlnilUD.
As this p r o d u c t b e c a m e p r o h i b i t e d , w e h a d t o c h a n g e t o t h e
less e f f e c t i v e linseed oil.
Usually, t h e b r e a k i n g of a Container Starts at t h e b o a r d s ,
t h e n at t h e l o w e r p l a n k s a n d their I.-shaped r e i n f o r c e m e n t s
a n d finally at the p o l e s a n d their feet. T o d a y , a deficient
b o a r d is r e p l a c e d b y m a r i t i m e p l y w o o d .
Improvement oftbe Containers
C h r i s t i n e H e r m a n , architect, H e a d of t h e H e r i t a g e Mainten a n c e D e p a r t m e n t (Walloon Region), Louis Schokert. architect ( S c h o c k e n Architect B u r e a u ) a n d Nathalie d e Harlez
B. A. e x a m i n e d t h e p r o b l e m of i m p r o v i n g t h e durability of
a Container. T h e cost of t h e s t u d y w a s fully s u p p o r t e d b y
t h e W a l l o o n Region a n d t h e realisation of five Containers
w a s s p o n s o r e d with u p t o 60 %.
T h e n e w Containers h a v e k e p t t h e typical external design
a n d structure, but h a v e b e e n e n l a r g e d slightly (1.05 m instead
of 1.00 m). This is t o allow a berter protection of t h e internal
w o o d e n parts a n d h e n c e t o p r o l o n g their durability. Also, t h e
k n o w - h o w transmitted b y t h e family w a s r e c o r d e d by t h e
Heritage M a i n t e n a n c e D e p a r t m e n t in various d r a w i n g s .
T h e p r o j e c t Started with a s t u d y o f t h e existing Containe r s a n d t h e c u r r e n t l y w e a k s p o t s . High quality o a k is u s e d
i n s t e a d of l o w e r industrial quality, w h i c h w a s p r e v i o u s l y
u s e d . T h e e x t e r n a l fittings a r e of w r o u g h t iron i n s t e a d of
r o l l e d iron. O n l y t h e internal parts a r e m a d e of rolled iron.
C u r r e n t l y , w o o d e n a n d iron p a r t s r e m a i n p a i n t e d in w h i t e
( a l t h o u g h iron parts s h o u l d b e p a i n t e d in black). I m p r o v e m e n t s t o t h e s t r u c t u r e h a v e b e e n a p p l i e d b y metal reinf o r c e m e n t s i n s i d e t h e Container a n d b y s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e
w o o d e n f l o o r b y a n iron grid. T h e w a t e r a l o n g t h e lateral
b o a r d s , p l a n k s a n d p o l e s d r a i n s off better, s o that t h e
w o o d e n p a r t s will n o t stay h u m i d a n d b e c o m e v e n t i l a t e d
i n s t e a d . This h a s b e e n p e r f o r m e d via a n internal Biter a n d
d r a i n i n g cover, w h i c h is s u p p o s e d t o e n h a n c e t h e d u r a b i l ity of t h o s e w e a k s p o t s . T h e n e w Container m o d e l h a s l i e e n
patented.
95
Moving of Ihe trees
Changing Containers and fertilisers
M o v i n g t h e t r e e s b a c k a n d forth b e t w e e n t h e w i n t e r h o u s e s
a n d t h e g a r d e n h a s also i m p r o v e d t h r o u g h time. B e f o r e t h e
S e c o n d World War, a h e a v y w o o d e n c a r w a s u s e d . T h e c a r
w a s p l a c e d b e s i d e t h e tree, w h i c h w a s t h e n tilted a n d p u t
i m ( w o feet. Next, s o m e w o o d e n l o d s w e r e p l a c e d at a
slant f r o m t h e g r o u n d u n d e r t h e Container u p t o t h e car.
Finally, s o m e w o o d e n r o d s w e r e laid transversally o n
that slant u n d e r t h e Container, o n w h i c h t h e C o n t a i n e r w a s
t h e n rolled o n t o t h e car, like t h e E g y p t i a n s m o v e d h e a v y
stones.
A n e w lighter steel car w a s d e s i g n e d after t h e war, s o that
it w a s p o s s i b l e t o t u r n it a r o u n d u n d e r t h e tilted Container,
w h i c h w a s t h e n l o w e r e d d o w n o n t h e car. T h e car w a s narr o w e n o u g h s o that t h e m i d d l e part of t h e Container c o u l d
rest o n it, high e n o u g h s o that t h e feet of t h e Container h u n g
O n e of t h e w i n t e r h o u s e s h a s a d r u m in its attic a r o u n d
w h i c h a r o p e is w r a p p e d . T h i s r o p e c a n b e l o w e r e d a n d
a t t a c h e d t o t h e t r u n k of a t r e e t o lift it w h i l e c h a n g i n g its
Container. B e f o r e t h a t , t h e f o u r b o a r d s a r e r e m o v e d a n d a
layei of 0.10 m o f e a r t h is t a k e n a w a y f r o m t h e lateral
sides, roots included. T h e n , o n e has to c h e c k that holes
a r e p r o v i d e d at t h e b o t t o m of t h e n e w C o n t a i n e r t o e a s e
t h e f l o w o f w a t e r . T h e w a t e r is d r a i n e d f u r t h e r b y p u t t i n g
p i e c e s of b r i c k at t h e b o t t o m o f t h e Container. After that,
s u l p h u r is s p r e a d o n t h e s i d e s of t h e e a r t h t o p r o t e c t t h e
r o o t s f r o m v e r m i n . T h e t r e e is l o w e r e d i n t o t h e n e w Container, w h i c h is filled o n its f o u r s i d e s w i t h a m i x t u r e of
a r a b l e e a r t h , h e a t h e r e a r t h , a n d c o m p o s t , all o f w h i c h is
lamped.
Ii h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d by t h e A r b o r e t u m of Mei.se that w e
simply u s e c o m p o s t for
r h o d o d e n d r o n s . Earlier,
sheep droppings mixed
with w a t e r w e r e u s e d a s
fertiliser b e t w e e n t h e
c h a n g i n g o f t h e lateral
aaAjLt
m
earth, w h i c h h a p p e n e d
w h i l e p o t t i n g (at that time,
r o u g h l y e v e r y 15 years).
With t h e last g a r d e n e r , fertilisers w e r e not u s e d a n y more, although the period
l i e t w e e n p o t t i n g h a d inc r e a s e d d u e t o t h e improved moving method.
So it w a s n o s u r p r i s e that
t h e first a d v i c e of t h e Arlx>retum o f Meise w a s o n
fertilisers: c o w m a n u r e
a n d m i n e r a l salts (ASEF).
This h a s b c c n a p p l i e d for
two years and has proved
t o b e o u t s t a n d i n g . The
trees have b e c o m e lusher
than ever before.
So far, t h e roots' n e t work has not b e c o m e too
d e n s e b e t w e e n p o t t i n g . H o w e v e r , that m a y c h a n g e with t h e
n e w Containers a n d a l o n g e r durability. It m a y r e q u i r e a n
i n t e r m e d i a r y r e f r e s h i n g of e a r t h .
m
—
Pfg. j Freyr today
o u t s i d e t h e car in t h e v a c u u m w i t h o u t t o u c h i n g t h e g r o u n d
( w h i c h w o u l d h a v e h i n d e r e d m o v i n g t h e Container). Neve r t h e l e s s t h e h e i g h t of t h e c a r h a d t o b e q u i t e low: o t h e r w i s e it w o u l d h a v e p r e v e n t e d Its t u r n i n g u n d e r t h e tilted u p
Container.
I h e tilting Operation w e a k e n e d t h e Container a n d red u c e d its durability b y M c o m p a r e d to its c u r r e n t value. But
a v o i d i n g rolling u p t h e Container h a d i n c r e a s e d its life e x p e c t a n c y b y 'A with r e s p e c t t o t h e p r e v i o u s "Egyptian"
m e t h o d . A f t e r w a r d s , d i f f e r e n t varieties o f tractor o r
S c h a e f f e r u s e d a f o r k p a s s i n g u n d e r t h e cast a n d lifting it b y
m c a n s of t w o o p p o s i t e lowei p l a u k s resting o n t h e fork.
T h e w o o d e n car w a s p u i l e d b y h o r s e s , t h e steel o n e b y a
tractor.
D u e t o a w a r m e r climate, t h e trees a r e b r o u g h t into t h e
g a r d e n a l r e a d y o n 1 May (15 d a y s earlier t h a n b e f o r e ) a n d
similarly t h e t r e e s a r e also m o v e d t o t h e w i n t e r h o u s e s
a r o u n d m i d - O c t o b e r (15 d a y s later than b e f o r e ) .
96
Conclusion
It is s a i d that o r a n g e t r e e s a r e delicate. C o n s i d e r i n g w h a t
t h e y h a v e g o n e t h r o u g h at Freyr, y o u start d o u b t i n g s u c h a
Statement. H o p e f u l l y , t h e trees will still live o n for a w h i l e .
H o w e v e r , a s t h e y a p p r o a c h their f o u r t h Century of existence, n o o n e c a n forecast their f u t u r e .
PlCTURE CREDIT
All pictures by Auguste de IX-cker