282 SCIENCE OF GARDENING. Part II. 



1382. Number-bricks. For plants in the open ground, bricks set endways and rather 

 obliquely in the soil, and the number painted on a black or white ground, answers well 

 where they do not require to be often removed. This mode is extensively used in the 

 herbaceous and tree arrangements in the nurseries of Messrs. Loddiges. 



1383. The name-stick differs from the number-stick in having the name written 

 or printed at length, instead of a number, figure, or sign referring to some list 

 or catalogue containing the name. Any of the written number-sticks will serve also for 

 a name-stick; but frequently the upper end is broader, square, round, or oblong, 

 (Jigs. 167, 168. & 170.) and inclined to the stem, so as the name may meet the eye at 

 a parallel angle for reading. A very neat sort of naming-instrument for plants in hot- 

 houses, which do not require to be often removed, is formed of white earthenware, on 

 which the name may be written with ink or pencil, or printed. A variety of other 

 devices for numbering and naming planted plants, by instruments inserted in the ground, 

 might be mentioned : in the garden of the Ducal Palace Pitti, at Florence, the name, &c. is 

 printed on slips of paper, and placed inside a small glass bottle, which is fixed on the end of 

 an iron rod, a complex mode, and one which can only succeed in climates like that of Italy. 



1384. For writing the figures or letters on small sticks, a little white lead is rubbed on with a bit of stiff 

 leather, and a hard pencil is then used ; on a larger scale, and on durable materials, the stick is first 

 painted, and the figures or letters afterwards put on in oil colors. On earthenware instruments either 

 ink or oil color may be used. On large sticks the skeleton type may be used. This is the practice in the 

 Paris garden ; the classes, orders, and generic name are cut out of one thin plate of brass, which is 

 applied to the face of the stick, and then oil color brushed over it : the specific name is then added in 

 separate letters, from an alphabet so cut or stampt out of brass lamina. 



1385. The plant-label is distinguished from the number and naming sticks, in being 

 hung or tied to the plant, or nailed, or otherwise fixed to the wall or trellis against which 

 it is trained. There are two species or varieties, the permanent and temporary. 



1386. The permanent label is a slip or plate an inch or more in width, and two or three 

 inches long, of deal, metal, earthenware, leather, horn, bone, ivory, &c. on which the 

 number or name is impressed or written, and it is then hung to trees or nailed on the wall 

 or espalier rail to which trees are trained. The difficulty in the case of hanging labels on 

 trees, is to find a durable tie, or thread, and for this purpose, untanned leathern thongs 

 or catgut is preferred ; silver or lead wire may also be used, the former for select plants, 

 and the latter for commoner cases. 



1387. The temporary label is a shred of paper or parchment, and sometimes of leather, 

 with a string attached, and is used chiefly by nurserymen to designate plants sold. 



1 388. The mode of naming or registering by series, chiefly applies to fruit-trees in kitchen- 

 gardens or orchards, and is done by marking down the names in a book or on a plant, 

 in the same order in which the trees or shrubs are planted in the garden. Thus, suppose 

 the east side of an east wall is to be planted and registered without the use of naming- 

 instruments or labels. Begin at the south corner and write down under that title the 

 sort of trees in the order in which they are planted, placing in the list a number against 

 each name in regular series. Suppose that at any time afterwards, you wish to find 

 which tree is the golden pippin ; then looking in the list, that name is found opposite 

 No. 9 ; counting nine, therefore, from the south corner, will give you the tree, &c. 

 This mode of registering by series is always a very good check to any other mode of 

 numbering or naming. Sometimes it is done on a general plan of the garden, but the 

 plan must then be on a large scale to admit of writing down all the numbers or names 

 of the trees in the spots where they are planted.- 



1389. The essential instruments of direction and designation are the line, rule, level, and 

 common tally. 



Sect. III. Utensils. 



1390. Utensils may be characterised by their property of being adapted to hold, con- 

 tain, or include some material or thing, and either for the preparation of materials, the 

 deportation of plants and garden-productions, or their culture and protection. 



Subsect. 1. Utensils of Preparation and Dejwrtation. 



1391. Preparatory utensils are the screen and sieve. Their construction and use em- 

 brace a variety of operations, mechanical and chemical. 



1392. Screens are used in gardening for fining or sort- 

 ing earths, gravel, or tanners' bark. The mould-screen 

 (fig. 171.) is a wire frame with a jointed fulcrum, by 

 which it can be placed sloping to any required degree ; its 

 use is to separate stones and coarser particles from mould, 

 either in trenching over ground intended for bulbous or 

 other tender and succulent roots, or in turning over compost- 

 heaps. The soil must be well broken with the spade before 

 tlirown on the screen, and it is in vain attempting to use 

 the utensil, unless the earth is dry. 



