no Mar.. 1911-] Tlic Wine Industry in Southern France. 



199 



-the implements u.sed have undergone some change — far less than might 

 • be expecteil, however — the result aimed at, in the way of perfection of 

 tillage, has altered remarkably little since remote antiquity. It is true 

 that seme new ideas involving a modification in the depth of cultivation 

 have recently been put forward in certain quarters. This innovation, 

 which will be referred to pre.sentl\, has not displaced the ancient sy.stem, 

 'except in a few special cases. 



Implements Used. 



Thoroughness, rather than speed, .seems to be the principle which 



.guides the choice of vineyard implements in Herault. Australian 

 visitors cannot fail to be struck bv the very primitive nature of the 

 ploughs, more especially. They conclude that in this branch, at least, 

 we have nothing to learn from France, and are emphatic as to the great 



-superiority of Australian implements. 

 It is, in fact, rather start- 

 ling to find, in this region, 

 which may be said to repre- 

 sent the last w'ord in the way 

 of intense culture of the vine, 

 that the wooden plough of 

 ancitnt Rcme is still in very 



:frequ'.-nt use. This almost prehistoric implement, of which a diagram is repro- 

 duced, is the prototype of all the single furrow ploughs now used m Herau.t ; 

 it therefore deserves more than passing mention. Known in French as 

 Araire, and in Langucdoacn (the patois of the country) as Araire, it con- 

 sists of a wooden foot provided with a long steel share. Sometimes it 



"is flrawn bv a pole to whirh a jKiir of l)ul]ocks are harm-ssffl : at others 



ARAIRE ANCIENT WOODEN PLOUGH. 



IKON M(J|)UU AI TO.N 01 AKAIKI. 



I>y a liorsf or mule, ulien it is lilted with shafts. In the tor.v.er case it 

 is known lo;allv as diiuhlia ; in tin* latter as fo'trcal. It has no mould- 

 l)(;ard and throws the soil equally to either side. In order to do good 

 work the furrows, such as they are. must be drawn close together. The 

 .sc/d is worked to a depth of from fi to 8 inches. This. tog<Mher with 

 the need for close furnnvs just referred to. implies much ('ei-piT working 



