tar czf - SOURCE_DIR | ssh USER@REMOTE_HOST "cd REMOTE_DIR; tar xzf -"

# or if the tar is sufficient on the other side:

tar czf - SOURCE_DIR | ssh USER@REMOTE_HOST "cat >REMOTE_DIR/backup.tgz"


##</code><code>##

     -j, --bzip2
           filter the archive through bzip2

     -J, --xz
           filter the archive through xz

     -z, --gzip, --gunzip --ungzip
           filter the archive through gzip

##</code><code>##

     -T, --files-from FILE
           get names to extract or create from FILE

##</code><code>##

     -X, --exclude-from FILE
           exclude patterns listed in FILE

##</code><code>##

tar czf - SOURCE_DIR | pv | ssh USER@REMOTE_HOST "cd REMOTE_DIR; tar xzf -"

# or if the tar is sufficient on the other side:

tar czf - SOURCE_DIR | pv | ssh USER@REMOTE_HOST "cat >REMOTE_DIR/backup.tgz"