Abstract: .[.A carriage movable by a power unit along a track carrying a drive shaft connected sequentially to a plurality of drill rods. The drill rods are supplied by spaced apart transversely movable rack assemblies having upwardly opening spaced recesses therein. Transverse, spaced apart support arms are mounted for pivotal movement in vertical planes about a common axis selectively to an upper position in alignment with the drive shaft and to a lower position beneath the drill rods carried by the rack assembly. The rack assemblies are moved to position drill rods sequentially in alignment with the path of movement of the support arms..]..Iadd.A drilling apparatus and more particularly a drilling apparatus adapted for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth and including thereon improved drill rod carrying and transfer means.