THE NEW ROCK GARDENING 85 



his plants well, not only when they are in bloom, but 

 when there is only their foliage by which to recognize 

 them. Even in the case of the species, he can only ac- 

 quire this familiarity by seeing them frequently and at 

 different stages of their growth, with the labels beside 

 them ; while when it comes to the varieties, the habit 

 and leafage are often so much alike that it is impossible 

 for the keenest plantsman to name them except when 

 they are in bloom. There are not wanting flower-lovers, 

 possessed of a wide knowledge of Alpine plants, who 

 suffer from the distressing weakness of momentarily 

 confusing and forgetting names, and who may find them- 

 selves standing in pained confusion when asked by a 

 visitor for the name of a plant which is as familiar to the 

 grower as his own children. 



These things make it impossible to do without labels 

 entirely. The best that can be done is to keep the number 

 used as low as possible, and to take care that they are 

 not unduly conspicuous. For example, if there are 

 two or more pockets of a particular plant one only need 

 have a label. Zinc labels, written with a special acid 

 ink, are favoured by many plantsmen. It is desirable 

 to get them with a fairly long shank, certainly not less 

 than three inches and preferably five, because with a 

 short stem they are never secure, and will spend most of 

 their time prostrate on the ground. A pointed match 

 makes a very good pen. It is desirable that the ink 

 should be put on thinly, and that it should be varnished 

 over when dry. Early efforts with zinc labels a're apt 

 to leave either a blur or a shadow, in both cases illegible. 

 Personally I prefer a small wooden label, say a 5-inch, 

 touched with white paint, not only for the sake of the 

 quicker writing, but for the greater firmness in the 

 soil and the easier reading. There need not be more 



