55 



The mark itself may be of two kinds. The one is by 

 writing the names of the variety in large, plain letters on 

 the stake, and the other is by writing numbers thereon 

 in the same way ; and when this is done, by entering the 

 numbers in a book, with the varieties opposite. By the 

 first method the variety can always be told on the ground 

 by anybody by simple inspection ; by the second, no one 

 can tell except he who has the book, nor can he often do 

 it without the book. Some prefer one method, and some 

 another, and for various reasons. We advise a combina- 

 tion of both. First, let the stakes be distinctly marked 

 with the name of the variety, then let the first row be 

 marked in a book No. 1, with the variety in it, and so 

 on of the rest. In this way, if the stakes should be lost, 

 or removed, the nurseryman would still have the means 

 of telling what variety he had in every row, and would 

 not be entirely dependent on either the stakes or numbers. 



The first stake should be set at the south end of the 

 west row, where the ro\vs run north and south, and at 

 the west end of the north row, where they run east and 

 west; and the rows should be numbered from west to 

 east, or from north to south. 



As soon as the first bud is inserted, the first stake 

 should be set with name or number facing towards the 

 row, and not from it, as is in some places the fashion, 

 and when budding of that variety ends, another stake, 

 with the isame variety and number, should be immediately 

 set beyond the last bud, and facing the first stake. And 

 now another stake, with the name or number of the next 

 variety, should be set with its back to the back of the 

 last stake, if the varieties end anywhere except at the 

 end of the row. This method should be repeated with 

 each variety until all are budded, and if this be done, it will 

 be almost impossible to confuse the varieties. A flat stake, 

 without name or number, may be driven between the two 



