When the mining operations in Neyveli were extended in 1968, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation authorities had to shift and re-lay an orchard with 924 plants like grafted mango, lemon, acid lime, jack, coconut, arecanut and grape most of them procured from the Government Model Orchard-cum-Nursery at Timmapuram in Salem district. At the time of shifting most of the trees had established themselves well with a trunk base ranging from 9 inches to one foot and were just then in yield.

Test excavations around the trees up to their branch spread revealed they had put forth network of roots up to 3 and 4 feet from the base. For transport and transplantations of trees on a large scale cranes and tractor trailers were used. No watering was done around the trees to be lifted to their new location to keep the soil harder and drier for better shape. The roots of the trees under normal conditions were found to travel underground to the extent of the branches over the ground. It was noticed during the transplantation operations that if the trunk of a tree was 12” in diameter, the ball of earth would be between 4 and 5 feet diameter. In all the cases trenches were cut around the trees beyond the diametrical length the trenches being sufficiently broad for tying and lifting plants operations inside the pits. The ball of earth was sectioned off in such a way as to taper down underground where root fibers were thinner. Wherever the soil was found sandy and likely to crumble, the ball of earth was wrapped with sack or tarpaulin bits and then securely tied. Special slings were used around the ball of earth before lifting plants with cranes.