98 KECOED OF HOETICULTUKE. 



VI. 

 PLANT LABELS. 



Amoxg the various methods and materials used for the 

 purpose of labeling plants, it would be difficult to decide 

 which one or more were really the best. The chief ob- 

 ject with all of them is to employ some means by which 

 we may preserve the identity of each species or variety 

 of plant; and it is not of so much importance how it is 

 done as it is to liave it well done. 



A cheap and simple method is certainly preferable to a 

 costly and troublesome one, even if the latter should be a 

 little more permanent. 



Labels are used for the purpose of giving information 

 relating to the plants on which they are placed ; but in 

 some instances secret signs are used instead of writing the 

 full names, and no one except those who possess the key 

 to these characters is supposed to know Avhat they are. 



This method, how^ever, of labeling plants is fixr more 

 common in European countries than in ours ; and we may 

 here remark that mystic signs and secrets, formerly so 

 abundant among nurserymen, are being rapidly done 

 away with, for we have few men in tlie profession at the 

 present time who desire to keep their workmen in igno- 

 rance regarding the i)lants whicli they are cultivating. 

 As it will not be necessary for us to go back many years 

 to learn all that is of any practical use to us on this sub- 



