166 OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



in some parts of the country. In the celebrated 

 Thomery vineyards, the walls are built of clay with 

 a cap of thatch. It is probable that walls built of 

 well made sun-burnt bricks would last a long time 

 and answer a good purpose if properly protected by a 

 cap or eave of board or straw. 



But, for all practical purposes, our reliance for vine- 

 yard training, in the present state of our experience, 

 must be upon properly arranged trellises. "We will, 

 therefore, give what we consider the best mode of con- 

 structing them. 



If the vines have been planted two years previously 

 at distances of eight feet in the rows and the rows six 

 feet apart, the first step to the erection of the trellises 

 is to set up a post between each vine and slightly in 

 advance of the rows, so as to facilitate bending the 

 vines for winter protection.* These posts may be of 

 such size and material as the vine dresser may pro- 

 cure. Cedar, chestnut, locust or oak make the best, 

 and a good size is four inches deep (across the rows) 

 and three inches thick. They should stand from seven 

 to nine feet out of the ground and be sunk not less 

 than two andci half feet if three feet, all the better. 

 The two posts at the ends of the rows must be placed 

 so that they cannot be drawn inward. Various de- 

 vices for effecting this are shown in Figs. 39 and 40. 

 * See page 101. 



