ti
wonld confound tlie figures 6 and 9) ; but tills slight inconTenience will be remedied by
the following key, whicli may be easily borne in the mind. Let ns recollect that, in
writing, we naturally draw a stroke from the right, at top, to the left, at bottom, thus /,
and not in the opposite du-ection, thus \ : now, in aU the ahovo numbers, which differ
from each other in the direction of the diagonal line, that which is in the direction usual
in writing precedes the other, thus / \ /I N A A ; the other two, A & V, wiH not
be confounded, on recollecting that V is the usual numeral notation of five.” As an
example of application, suppose we take species 341, variety 8 ; the tally will be cut as
in Jig. 433. The long cut (—) between the number of the species and the number of tho
variety, is used merely as the sign of separation ; by the use of which several numbers
may be cut on ono stick. I t is a fixed rule, that the number should always read from
the root or sharpened end of the tally, bocanse it is convenient for tho operator to hold
that end in his hand in cutting the marks.
1795. A n improvement on Seton’s tallyis shown in Jiy. 434.; new signs are made by th e
addition of notches ; and these signs, it is alleged, are equally as simple and comprehensive
as Seton’s, equally easy to cut by the gardener, and not so apt to be confounded with
each other.
1796. The Ttmrnn tally (Jig. 435.), is a suggestion o f ours, founded on the principle
that all signs, not in general use, ave apt to be forgotten by thoso who use them, when
I i l '
i 1
they have been a very short time out of practice. F o r example, a nurseryman who
should use Seton’s mode of numbering for his friut trees, must either attend to every
thing connected with those numbers himself, or be dependent upon one or more
individuals, who might suddenly leave him, or fall into bad health. For this reason,
the names of things printed or written on tallies are b e s t; and the next best are Roman or
Italian numerals. In the Roman tally the Roman numerals are employed, using the
common notch, now universally employed by nurserymen, as a mai*k for 10 ; imitating
the letter L for 50 ; making a mark, as nearly as practicable with a knife, on a stick,
resembling C, for 100 ; a Greek I) for 500 ; and M for 1000. The units are supplied
by notches from 1 to 9, in the same manner as in the common tally (Jig. 431.).
1797. Tlie written number-stick varies in foim, size, and materials. The simplest kind
is a flat piece of lath, smoothed and pointed with the knife, and either painted, or more
commonly rubbed on the face with white lead at the time of using, with numbers
corresponding with those of genus, species, and varieties written on it. Sometimes
types and printers’ ink are used : when the paint is dry, common ink or black paint is
idso made use o f ; aud, in some cases, the number is impressed by a cold type, or burnt
in by one heated to redness. A little white lead rubbed on Avith the finger, and the
name immediately Avritten Avith a hard black lead pencil, will last as long as the Avood,
and is, on the whole, the best mode. Various sizes are used, from laths formed with the
knife, thi'ee inches long and half an inch broad, to pieces sawed out of deal, two or three
inches broad, and from eighteen inches to three feet long ; the upper part painted white,
and the loAver part pitched, charred, or coated Avith some preservative liquid, for durability.
With respect to materials, fir deal is most commonly u sed ; but oak boards, or
old oak spokes, are occasionally made use of in botanic giu’dens.
1798. The stamped numbering-instrument is formed in various Avays ; the simplest and
most economical are triangular slips of lead, clipped or stamped from sheet-lead of four
pounds to a superficial foot, or slips of copper, as in fig. 437.: for plants
in pots, they need not be longer than three inches, or broader at the
head than half an inch. On these the number is stamped with a type, or
the name at length may be stamped in the same manner. Such tallies
ai-e durable, unobtrusive, and not so readily driven out of pots as those
of w ood; for herbaceous plants they may be of double size and weight.
Fig. 436. shoAvs how to cut out zinc or sheet-lead labels Avith very little
Avaste. ,, , . ,
1799 Leaden tallies are chiefly used for small plants m pots; and
every gardener may cast them for himself. The advantage of leaden
tallies over fron ones is, that they retain the names painted on them a
great deal longer ; and thefr superiority to wooden ones consists m their
being much more durable.
cStt> SiP/ji , 438
1800 A variety o f ingenious tallies have been invented, and among others is one
ig. 439.) which is made to servo for thi-ee p lan ts ; and another (fig. 438.) serves for
ive or six plants. „ , , „ ,
439
1 O Z
V
7
1801. Cast-iron tallies have been found
by nui-serymen to be the most economical.
One of tho simplest and cheapest
kinds of these, for cither numbers or
names, is represented by figs. 440. and
441. These tallies ai*e about six inches
lo n g ; and it requfres from 1600 to 1700
to Aveigh one CAvt., Avhich Avill cost about
tliirty shillings.
1802. Murray’s named tally (fig. 443.)
is, iu our opinion, preferable to all others
for naming herbaceous plants. I t has
been long in use ia the botanic gai-den at
GlasgoAv, and Ave have had it in our garden
at Bayswater since 1827. I t consists
of a cast-metal standard, Avith a long
square head, in the front of wliich is a
hollow box, into which a ticket (a), with
the name written on it, is p u t ; a piece of
glass, cut to the proper size, is then fitted . ,
in over the name and fastened with putty, like the pane of a window. The ticket on
which the name is m t t e n may be of wood, tin, or earthenware; but wood is preferable