HOKTICULTUKAL DIVISION. 



339 



when painted and made of soft clear pine, $4.56 per thousand. 

 For more permanent stake labels, we use the one shown in the 

 picture, and which is sawed at the nearest mill. This is cut from 

 clear pine and is 2 ft. long, 3^ in. wide, I^ in. thick, and sawed 

 to a point. These are given two thin coats of white lead, care 

 being taken not to pile them upon their faces until thoroughly 

 dry, to avoid a rough surface for the pencil. The record may be made 

 by a large soft pencil, like a carpenter's pencil, or by a brush and black 

 paint; but for all annual crops the pencil will be found more serviceable. 

 At the end of the season or when the record becomes dim, a thin shav- 



A good Stake Label. 



(24 X 31^ X m in) 



ing is planed off the face of the label, it is repainted, and used again. 

 We gather up these labels from the vegetable garden each fall and 

 dress them up during winter. The label is thick enough to allow of 

 many annual dressings, while the lower portion is not reduced and it 

 therefore lasts for many years and is strong enough to resist the shockg 

 of cultivator or whippletrees. For ornamental bushes this large label 

 is too conspicuous, and for this liurpose we use a pine label 1^ inch wide, 

 ■^ inch thick, and 18 or 20 inches long, and the lower half is soaked in 

 a strong solution of sulphate of iron (copperas), and, after drying in 

 lime water, to preserve it. 



