! ! í
1784. O f levels (figs. 427. and 428.) there arc a variety of sorts ; but the most con-
A'eiiicnt is half a sqiuu-e, with an iron index in the angle marked with ninety divisions or
degrees. The use of these degrees is to facilitate the laying out of slopes : at a perfect
level the plummet will hang at 45° ; and for a slope it may be any lesser number in
ascending, or any greater nmnber iu descending from a fixed point. This level may also
be used as a square to set off right angles, or indeed angles of any description.
1785. Parker's level (fig. 429.) consists of
two upriglits for holding quicksilver, wliich
communicate by a horizontal piece, which is
fitted to a staff with three legs five feet high.
This level is described at length in the Encyc.
o f Agr. § 2498., and may be used as a substitute
for a spirit-level.
1786. The adjusting horizontal level (fig. 427.) is pecuiiarly useful in laying out i
or regulating the slope of lawns or borders, as is also the foUowing instrament.
1787. Dalziets level (fig. 430.). This is an instrament of a veiy simple description,
lately invented, for ascertaining the relative elevation of unequal sm-faces. I t consists of
(i----- ----- Y ' i -
1
i '
. -lA
a wooden bar (a ) with a foot at one end (b), and at the other another larger foot with
a groove and scale (c), to which the bar is connected by a screw and nut. In using this
instmmcnt, two points of different altitude being chosen, the support of the bar (6) is to
be placed on the higher, and (c) the foot of the scale on the lower; while tlic position of
both is secured by a slight turn of the thumb-scrcw. The bai-, being brought parallel to
the horizon with the plummet (d), will indicate that the upper pai-t of the scale is to be
advanced, or the reverse, keeping its foot on the point of support, until some one of the
graduations coincides with, or is visibly parallel to, the upper edge of the bar. The
difference of altitude sought is seen in figures, without calculation. Any person that
understands the use of a level Avill sec a variety of levelling operations on a small scale
that this implement is calculated to simplify: for example, if it be required to construct
an inclined plane, rising an inch in a foot, the inner edge of the scale is to he brought
six feet from the foot end of the horizontal piece, and rendered perpendicular to it, by
making the graduated line at six inches coincide with the horizontal edge of the bar.
Being fixed immoArably by the screw in that position, the smface of the ground is then
to be worked until the plummet hangs perpendicularly. The fii-st six feet of the inclined
plane having been thus constnicted, other portions are to be taken successively
throughout the remainder. I f a plane of a diifcrent inclination is required, as of half
an inch in a foot, the scale is to be shifted to three inches, and so on. (High. Soc. Trans.,
vol. V. p. 575.)
1788. The spirit-level, with a theodolite, compass, and telescope, is used for laying
out extensive gi-ounds. The most convenient axe put together, and assume the form of
a stout walking-stick.
1789. TUcstaffis used in layingout straight lines. I t maybe a straight rod of six or
eight feet long or upwards, and one inch in diameter ; Avith the first six inches at the top
painted Avhite, the second black, and the third six inches red. Two points of the desired
straight line being found or given, any greater number of points arc found by placing
other staffs or rods so as they sliall range, and the first staff conceal from the eye, placed
behind it, all the rest in the line : the use of the three different colours is to render the
ends distinctly visible when the gro u n d is fresh d ug, white or covered with snow, or
green, as in pastures. •, , , t • i
1790 The straight'edge, for a gaváan, m a y ¡ÚSO servQ for a pm mb -ralc. I t is merely
a slip o f b o a rd with stra ig h t p arallel edges an d sides, of an y len g th fi-om fom-to ten
feet, Avith th e ad d itio n o f a plummet for occasional use as a plumb-rule. I t is used
to foi-m an d prove smaller levels, betAvecn points settled, b y th e b o rn in g -p ie c e s ; o r to
prove beds o r borders of even o r plan e surfaces. As a plumb-rulc, this implement
is also used to place espalier rails, tem p o rary walls o f boards, a n d even s tan d a rd trees.
The stake is any straight piece of wood of an inch or two in diameter, and from
one to four feet in length. There are two so rts; the one short and thick, of one foot or
cighteen inches in length, an d used, by being driven into the ground in levelling, as resting
places for the level, or fixed indications of surface alterations; the other, comparatively
slSider and long, may cither be covered with Avhitewash, or the loAvcr half dipped in
whitewash, and the upper half in a black Avasli, or they may be painted as the staffs. The
last kind is used for tracing out lines of any description, or for indicating the situations
of trees or other objects. Twigs and bits of lath arc commonly used as substitutes, but
wlierevcr con-cctness is any object, tho trifling expense of two or three hundred of such
stakes should not deter gardeners from procuring them.
Subsect. 3. Instruments o f Designation.
1792 The object o f designating instruments is to reco rd an d ren d e r ascertainable the
ind iv id u ality o f objects, an d chiefly of p l a n t s ; cither as species, genera, o r varieties. A
tally o r stake d riv en into the soil, an d rem a in in g fast, is, mechamcaUy considered, a
wedge h e ld in equilibrium b y tlie resistance o f the earth. W h erev er tlicre is a variety o f
plants cultivated, it becomes necessary to be able to m a rk an d distinguish them, as well
when iu a groAving state, as Avhcn in a state o f hybernation, o r recen t insertion m the
s o il—I n sending p lan ts to an y distance, th e samo th in g is requisite. For b oth pm-poses
th e n ame is cither Avritten on some in stm m cn t, and a tta ch ed to o r placed beside the p la n t ;
o r a n um ber is m ad e use of instead o f the name, from which reference is m ad e to a
w ritten list. Of bo th these a considerable variety is used in gardening.
1793. Tke common tally (tailler, Fr.), or number-stick (fig. 431.), is a slip of lath, or
deal or a piece of a rod, nine or tAvelvc inches long, shai-pencd at one end
a n d ’souai-ed at the other. Tlic numbers, to nine inclusive, arc cut on the
face with a knife in Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, V I, V II, V III,
IX .) ; reading always from the inserted or sharpened end. Ten is
formed by a notch or tally on the near angle, and, placed behind the above
numerals, extends the scries from eleven to nineteen. TAvcnty is fonncd
by t\vo notches, thirty by tlu-ce, and so o n : the nine numerals above
being placed after the notches, so as to form the intermediate terms of the
series. Fifty, instead of five notches, is formed by a cross_ cnt, or channel,
like I, on the face, with a similar one on the riglit side joined to it. One
humU-cd is formed by joining to these two cuts a similai- cut on the othcr
side, that is, a channel continued on three sides ; and one himdred and
fifty, by a cut or channel continued on the four sides of the stick. Ninety
may be more readily fonncd by using tho mark for one hundred, and placmg^ a notch
behind it, to signiiy 100 less 10, than by using the cuts for fifty, and adding four
notches before. Other high numbers may be simplified in the same manner. A little
reflection will show tiiat this mode of numbering may be carried to almost any ex te n t;
and in some nurseries, particularly in Scotland, wc have known it caiTied as tar as five
hundred, whicli is formed by only three rings for 150 x 3= 4 5 0 , and a h alf ring for oO.
Particular attention must alAvays be had to read fi-om the root or insertion end.
1794. Seton's botanic taUy (figs. 432. and 433.) is a highly improved method ot numbering,
devised by Alexander and George, sons of the late Dr. Anderson. I t proceeds
upon the same general principles as that above, hut with different miuks, “ e tc n c ip to ^
( ? . 432.) h e in l denoted by as many single distmct cuts, of easy and ‘ ^
cufion i and any mmiber, however high, requmng no more marks than " “
ficnires written with a pen. “ The only way in Avhich the memory is apt to imScive, in
f r : ? “ ¿y conLunding t & < /I & S, A & V, with each other (as a-ehild
TH Hi A