MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES USED IN HORTICULTURE. 165 



cases done with a black-lead pencil on a smooth surface, on which a little 

 white lead has been previously rubbed in with the finger, which, when 

 written on in a moist state, is found greatly to increase the 

 durability of the impression. Sometimes Indian ink is used 

 on a white painted ground, which, being a body colour, pre- 

 sents a more conspicuous and durable impression than common 

 ink, which is only a stain. The most durable letters, next to 

 impressions stamped in lead, are those in black oil-paint on a 

 white ground. For plants in pots, a tally, formed of wood, cut 

 with a common knife from thin laths, rubbed with white lead, 

 and written on with a black-lead pencil, is one of the most 

 convenient and economical forms and materials. Fig. 96, which 

 consists of a shank of wire with the head of wood, is a form 

 for pots, as the wire does not injure the roots : the plate is 2|- 

 inches long and 1 J inches broad, and about a quarter of an 

 inch thick ; the piece of iron wire is about three-sixteenths of 

 an inch thick, and is painted black, while the wooden plate is pjg gg yjfoorfe« 

 painted white. These tallies are very conspicuous and very label, with a shank 

 durable. For herbaceous plants, or low shrubs, or trees in 

 the open air, the tally, fig. 97, is very neat and durable, and much more 



economical than would at first sight 

 appear. It is formed of cast-iron, with 

 a head of the same metal, in which is 

 a sunk panel, into which the label 

 with the name is placed, and after- 

 wards covered with a piece of glass 

 neatly fitted in, and puttied like the 

 pane of a window. The label should 

 be a slip of wood, lead, pewter, or 

 earthenware, as not being liable to 

 rust, shrink, or warp, from drought 

 or moisture. Previously to putting 

 in the labels, the tally should be car- 

 bonised by heating it nearly red-hot 

 and immersing it in oil, as is practised 

 with gun-barrels to render them im- 

 pervious to the action of the atmo- 

 sphere. This being done, a coat of paint 

 may be dispensed with, or the iron- 

 work may be painted black, and the 

 part on which the name is written 

 white; or the label may be simply 

 rubbed over with a little white lead, 

 and the name written with a black- 

 lead pencil. In the Glasgow Botanic 

 Garden these tallies have been used 

 extensively for the last fifteen years. 

 The label is there formed of wood, 

 and the writing by a black-lead pen- 



Vaccinium 

 myrtillm 



Fig. 97. Cast-iron tally, with the label of wood cil, after prcviously rubbiug in a little 



placed in a sunk panel, and covered with a piece white lead. For plants in grcenhoUSes 

 of glass secured by putty, , . t ' , ^^• 



or stoves, very neat porcelain tallies 



