30 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



shred of cotton-wool or other material bound round it 

 at the point of contact, if the leaf cannot be drawn aside. 



For staking Orchids, bamboo canes are preferable to 

 common deal-wood sticks. 



LABELLING THE PLANTS 



It adds much to the interest of a collection of Orchids, 

 either small or large, if a proper system of recording the 

 plants is arranged for by means of a stock-book, in which 

 the name of each plant is entered as it is acquired, together 

 with the source from which it was obtained, and any other 

 particulars that may be required when the plant flowers. 

 This entry need only be brief, and generally one, or at most 

 two lines will suffice for each plant. If it is intended to 

 keep the plants under numbers, the left-hand margin should 

 bear consecutive numbers from one onward, but if it is 

 desired to have the names on each plant, the names in the 

 stock-book should be arranged in an alphabetical manner. 

 In some collections where numbering is practised the 

 number is written across the top of the label, and the name 

 written lengthwise when desired. 



The common deal label is not suitable, because the 

 base soon decays in Orchid houses, causing danger from 

 fungal growth, and rendering the identification of the 

 plant after the label has perished, or fallen away, very 

 uncertain. The lead number for clipping the rim of the 

 pot, or attaching to the wires of the basket or suspending 

 pan, is less objectionable, but they are only convenient 

 where numbers are alone used. Zinc labels and various 

 other contrivances have been tried, but the best and safest 



