SOILS AND CULTIVATION IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



403 



ScarletOak. 



Ouercus 



^ cocc metis. \ 



Simplest label for trees. 



either for its beauty in the home landscape or for its uses for fish or 

 water store, it may often be worth considering whether the best way 

 would not be to let the water off and turn the mud bed into a handsome 

 grove of Willows and Dogwoods, and an excellent covert at the same 

 time. I know nothing among trees quite so good in effect in the 

 landscape, winter and summer, as the white, red, and yellow Willows, 

 with an undergrowth of the red Dogwoods. 



LABELS. Where possible it is best to do without labels, except 

 where we grow many kinds of things that differ by slight shades, as 

 Carnations and Roses. The contents of a garden are usually in a state 

 of change ; we are continually adding to and taking from them ; new 

 plants are introduced ; a severe winter kills a number of shrubs, which 

 we determine not to replant. Fashion changes 

 the garden vegetation too, and then the perma- 

 nent labels, cast and burnt into hardware and 

 cemented in cast iron, are thrown aside. I 

 prefer a label which can be used again, such 

 as a cast-iron label of " f shape " or, in other 

 words, a slip of cast iron with an oblong head 

 slightly thrown back. These are cast very 

 cheaply in the iron districts. We have to paint 

 them and write the names of the trees on them 

 when they come to hand ; but that can be 

 readily done by a handy painter in winter. In 

 a large garden, where much naming is required, 

 the best way is to train a youth who is likely to 

 remain in the place, by placing a copy of the 

 desired kind of letters before him. It is an 

 advantage to give the label a coat of copal 

 varnish when the letters are dry, and generally 

 to use white letters on a black or dark ground, 



and give three coats of black over one of red lead. These are the 

 best labels for the shrubs and choice young trees of a pleasure ground 

 or flower garden. The painting will last for twenty years, and if we 

 cease to cultivate the plants to which they belong, the labels may be 

 repainted. 



With big trees it is always a mistake to use a ground label. The 

 best labels for large trees are made of pieces of tin about 4^ inches 

 by 3! inches. About half an inch of the upper edge should be bent 

 at a right angle so as to form a little coping for the label, two holes 

 should be made just beneath the little angle, through which a strong 

 copper wire should be put and firmly nailed to the tree. Place it so 

 as to be easily read, at about 5^ feet from the ground. Paint it dark 

 brown or black with white letters and it will last for many years. All 



D D 2 



Position for tree label. 



