216 



AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



Fig. 101. 



a rather soft pencil, and the label be then fastened to the tree 

 with copper wire, about No. 18, or lead wire of a little larger 

 size, being careful not to set the wire tightly upon the tree, 

 but making allowance for growth. 



Metallic labels may be made of zinc, or lead, or tin, which 

 may be punched and wired to the tree, as 101 c. If zinc is 

 used, it may be written on with the following mixture : Take 

 two drachms of sal ammoniac, two drachms of verdigris, one 

 drachm of lampblack, and two and a half ounces of water ; mix 

 carefully in a mortar with a small portion of the water, then 

 add the rest and bottle it. Keep it well corked and sealed 

 when not wanted, and shake it well before using it. Whatever 

 metal is used, however, it is much better to stamp the name 

 or number upon it with a punch. A set of letters and num- 

 bers, of steel, may be bought for three or four dollars, which 

 will last a lifetime ; or cast brass, or pot metal, or iron letters 

 and numbers, which will punch the labels almost as well, may 

 be obtained at a cheaper rate. If lead, or even tin, is used, 

 common cast-off type from the printers will punch it satisfac- 

 torily, though for the latter brass or steel types are better. 



A single line drawn upon the metal will enable any one to 

 keep the letters in a proper position, and when finished, the 

 strip can be flattened again with a wooden mallet or block. 

 Perhaps the best labels for growing or large trees may be made 

 with strips of tin or lead, the latter being best on the whole, 

 from half an inch to two inches wide, and of any necessary 

 length, upon one end of which the name is to be punched as 

 above directed, and the other, being passed around the tree as 



