IMPLEMENTS USED BY FRUIT CULTIVATORS. 119 



Fig. 183.— Wooden Tag. 



ture is set on foot, and the greatest confusion follows. Seri- 

 ous and innumerable mistakes are made and perpetuated in 

 this way in all parts of the country. 



Permanent labels are therefore important. The simplest 

 is made of a slip of wood, three inches long and half an inch 

 wide, suspended to the branch by a loop 

 of wire; copper wire is the best (Fig. 183). 

 The name will last three or four years, if 

 written with a pencil on a thin coat of fresh 

 white paint. Better and more durable 

 labels are made of small pieces of sheet 

 zinc, written upon with a mixture of two 

 parts (by weight) of verdigris, two of sal- 

 ammoniac, one of lampblack, and thirty 

 of water. The ingredients are to be mixed 

 ^' in a mortar with a small portion of water 

 at first, and the whole added afterward. Preserve the mixture 

 in a well-corked bottle, shaking it repeatedly at first, and keep 

 the cork downward to prevent the escape of ammonia, and it 

 will remain fit for use for years. Or just as good, use Pay- 

 son's or other indelible ink, sold everywhere for marking linen. 

 A common steel pen may be used. Wash the zinc first with 

 vinegar to remove the oiliness which is generally on 

 the metal. 



The pieces of zinc may be suspended by strong 

 wire. These labels or tallies should be made up in 

 the winter season when work is slack. The wire 

 should be firmly twisted round the zinc, so as not 

 to remain loose (Fig. 184), or else the constant 

 motion from wind will soon wear out the wire. 

 The wire should be nearly as large as a small knit- 

 ting-needle, to prevent cracking ofiE by long use. 

 The loop should be large, and pass round a side- 

 shoot instead of a main branch, to prevent the dan- 

 ger of cutting-in by the growth of the tree; and 

 should be attached below a small fork, to prevent its blowing 

 off the end of the branch. 



The wire may be wholly dispensed with by the following 

 contrivance : cut the zinc into long triangular strips, half an 

 inch wide and from six to ten inches long. Draw the narrow 



Pig. 184.— 

 Zinc Tag. 



