METHODS OF LABELLING TREES AND PLANTS. 165 



Mr. Jackson said that he had never seen any galvanic action 

 between the zinc label and the copper wire with which it was put 

 on. For bulbs he prefers copper wire, because it is easily un- 

 twisted, so as to put the label in a bag with the bulbs. He had 

 not seen any injury to plants from galvanized metal. 



W. A. Manda, gardener at the Botanic Garden, said that they 

 wanted to have plant labels there which could be read without 

 pulling up, but it is difl3cult to combine all desirable points. Those 

 with the arrow points are not thrown out by frost. The only 

 advantage of iron over wood is that the latter might be broken 

 more easily. Leaves and dirt collect sooner on the labels placed 

 in a slanting position, for the sake of being read more easily, than 

 on those in a vertical position. 



J. W. Manning said that he uses labels and stakes of pine and 

 cedar, with the bottoms soaked in tar and the upper parts painted 

 two coats. 



F. J. Dutcher said that he had had his zinc labels eaten off by 

 galvanic action. The round hole for the wire was gradually 

 lengthened to a slot. 



Robert Manning said that he had seen an instance of galvanic 

 action like that described by Mr. Dutcher, but he had seen many 

 more where it did not occur, though the circumstances appeared 

 the same. He suggested that the bottoms of wooden labels and 

 stakes to be driven into the ground should be soaked in crude 

 petroleum, which is much cheaper than linseed oil. 



Mr. Strong thought the wooden labels shown should be driven 

 deeper into the ground than appeared to be provided for. 



Mr. Jackson thought that the time spent in preparing and paint- 

 ing wooden labels to drive down deep in the ground would pay for 

 metal supports. 



Nathaniel T. Kidder suggested writing the names on both sides 

 of zinc labels. They could then be read without turning over, and 

 would also have the advantage that one side might last when the 

 other was worn oflf. 



Mr. Jackson's essay was illustrated with specimens of the various 

 kinds of labels described by him. It was listened to with much 

 interest, and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed for it. 



Notice was given that on the next Saturday, Rev. Frederick N. 

 Knapp, of Plymouth, would read a paper on "Fertilizers: — 

 Agricultural, Physical, Intellectual, and Moral." 



