no 



and are not of sufficiently heavy stock. Zinc labels are kept in 

 stock of various sizes to suit customers. I have preferred the 

 English labels No. 21, measuring four inches long and one and 

 one-fourth inches wide, with two holes punched in oiie end. They 

 are large enough for any names, which smaller labels are not, 

 and yet they are not conspicuously large. 



" Fresh, clean zinc may be written on with chloride of copper, 

 or chloride of platinum ink, which makes a strong black mark. 

 As some trouble has Occurred from effacement of the writing 

 ink from corrosion of the zinc, the following method is adopted 

 which is most satisfactory. New labels are oxidized by exposure 

 for a month or two; when the surface is roughened slightly, 

 they are ready for use. Rub a little rather thick oil paint on the 

 label with a rag, then write with a soft lead pencil while the paint 

 is fresh. Such a label I have used for fifteen years and it is 

 almost imperishable if kept above the manure about plants, which 

 will corrode the zinc badly. The label is attached to the rod by a 

 copper wire, which is vastly superior to galvanized wire, as the 

 latter soon rusts and drops off or at least soils the label. It is 

 claimed that there is galvanic action between the copper and the 

 zinc, but after long experience I am confident that this is an error 

 under open air conditions. In the moist air of a greenhouse, such 

 galvanic action may take place." 



It is also very advisable to make a map, or record the planting 

 plan in a book in addition to labeling the plants. It is always the 

 case that some labels get moved or lost, and in emergency it is 

 necessary to have a map plan on paper to refer to. 



Tree peonies are very easily injured by late spring frosts. The 

 buds are apt to swell and begin to open with the very first warm 

 days of spring, and are thus caught and the bloom for that season 

 killed by late frosts. To avoid this it is only necessary to keep a 

 sharp lookout, and on the first indication of a frosty night spread 

 sheets, papers or some other protecting material over the plants. 



One of the stock objections to peonies is that they tend to bend 

 over so as to be easily beaten to the ground during a heavy rain, 

 and thus the blooms become all spattered with dirt. To avoid this 

 it is necessary to support the stems for a part of the year. This 

 is an easy matter. When the plants are in rows two stakes may 

 be driven at each end of the row and stout wires stretched between 

 them. Cross supports of string may be passed back and forth 

 between these two leading wires. When the clumps are isolated and 



