112 GENERAL ADVICE 



black ink or black type. Two strong wire legs 

 are soldered to the label, and these prevent it 

 from turning around. These labels are, of course, 

 much more expensive than the ordinary stake 

 labels, and are usually not so satisfactory. 



For labeling trees, various kinds of zinc tallies 

 are in common use, as shown in Figs. 112 and 

 113. Fresh zinc takes a lead pencil readily, and 

 the writing often becomes more legible as it be- 

 comes older, and it will generally last three or 

 four years. These labels are attached either by 

 wires, as a, &, Fig. 112, or they are wound about 

 the limb as shown in c, d and e, in Fig. 112. The 

 type of zinc label most in use is a simple strip of 

 zinc, as shown in Fig. 113, wrapped about the 

 limb. The metal is so flexible that it expands 

 readily with the growth of the limb. While these 

 zinc labels are durable, they are very inconspicuous 

 because of their neutral color, and it is often 

 difficult to find them in dense masses of foliage. 

 The common wooden label of the nurserymen 

 (Fig. 114) is perhaps as useful as any for general 

 purposes. If the label has had a light coat of 

 thin white lead, and the legend has been made 

 with a soft lead pencil, the writing should be 

 legible for four or five years. Fig. 115 shows 

 another type of label which is more durable, 

 since the wire is stiff and large, and is secured 

 around the limb by means of pincers. The large 

 loop allows the limb to expand, and the stiff wire 



