514 MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



For about six months of the year these labels are gathered up 

 in bundles, each family kept by itself. When each label is taken 

 out a small stake is put in its place, for convenience in returning 

 the labels. 



The label for a family is larger and the text somewhat extended. 

 It did not seem possible to arrange the families in order of rank, 

 for most of them need a change every few years. For each family 

 a spot was selected of suitable size and exposure to sun and shade. 

 For instance, there was only one place just suited to ferns and 

 that could not be at one end of the list if placed to show the relative 

 rank. Preferably each species was given room enough to fill the 

 eye, a patch three feet in diameter not only for appearance, but 

 there is less risk of losing all of the plant in case of severe cold 

 weather or hot, too wet or too dry. 



In some families a few trees were planted, and these were occa- 

 sionally cut back or a small tree substituted for a large one. 



The writer soon learned that to grow violets and keep them true 

 to label they must be scattered not nearer than eight feet of each 

 other, because when mature they shoot their seeds in every 

 direction, some of them to a distance of ten feet. The same is 

 true of some species of plants of the family Euphorblaceae, Geranl- 

 aceae, and species of oxalis, balsam and others. 



Poison ivy and poison sumach are grown on an island not far 

 from the path that visitors may not touch them. 



Aquatics placed in the larger pond were not equally content 

 with a reasonable amount of space. The most rampant one of 

 the lot was Cabomba from the south. We had to draw off the 

 water, clean out the surplus plants and prepare a separate place 

 for Cabomba. 



On the banks of the brook tarred paper subdued quack grass, 

 proving much superior to common salt. 



Moles and quack grass frequently invaded the garden from the 

 surrounding campus. This was most successfully prevented by 

 the following device: dig down a narrow trench about eighteen 

 inches deep, leaving one wall smooth and sloping a trifle; on this 

 wall we placed a coat of cement mortar an inch to an Inch and a 

 half thick, carefully filling in the dirt. Quack grass stopped then 

 and there; cement was preferable to hemlock boards and lasted 

 longer. 



