in Provence and the Cevennes. 337 



view for a short time, and examining the ruined church, 

 we commenced the descent to the railway station of Gon- 

 faron. On the way down we passed tliroiigh a magnificent 

 forest of Spanish chestnut, which has hitherto been worked 

 on tlie method known as furetage, or selection of coppice- 

 shoots, with a view to its yielding vine-props. We observed 

 one remarkable group of eleven stems, each about 3| feet 

 in girth, growing on a large circumference. At first we 

 supposed that the chestnut must coppice at a great age, 

 but a closer inspection showed us that the space within the 

 circle of stems was occupied by the stools of several gene- 

 rations of coppice-shoots, the diameter of the ring being 

 increased at each felling. The failure of the vine during 

 the last few years has greatly reduced the demand for 

 props, and the owners are now, in consequence, beginning 

 to graft for fruit. The method employed is that known 

 in France as the " whistle-graft," which we were shown 

 how to make. It is made on coppice-shoots of two years, 

 or even of one year old, a small quantity of fruit being- 

 obtained the third year afterwards ; but the crop very 

 rapidly increases, and is a very profitable one. 



After descending for a short distance further, we came 

 upon a small sledge drawn by a horse, and used to drag- 

 vine props down to the cart-road. It consisted of two 

 rough side pieces shod with iron, and joined by cross-bars ; 

 two upright stakes at each side sufficing, with the aid of 

 cords, to secure the load. We were fairly astonished at 

 the performances achieved with this simple apparatus. 

 The road or path was steep, and zigzagged, and had 

 such an uneven surface that we should have thought 

 it impossible to get the sledge down without upsetting 

 it. But the horse, who seemed to know his business 

 thoroughly, started off at a brisk pace, cleverly negotiating 

 the sharp turns ; while the driver, who walked behind, 

 holding a cord which was attached to the sledge, put on 

 the drag, pulling sideways when necessary, in order to 

 counterbalance the numerous inequalities in the surface 

 of the road, and the sledge went swinging down the track, 

 on what seemed to us its dangerous course, but we saw it 

 landed on the cart-road without accident. It would have 

 been easy to make a good road ; but apparently the present 



