336 APPENDIX n. 



layerings (coverages). Thus the interest of the capital employed 

 in these constructions is economized. Some of the cultivators 

 of Thomery have also constructed a sort of counter espalier 

 that is to say, a lesser wall opposite the principal bearing wall, 

 in masonry 45 inches high and 6 to 8 inches thick. Only one 

 of these little walls is placed 100 inches in front of the principal 

 walls the most favorably situated. In this manner they derive 

 every possible advantage from their best exposures. 



This subdivision of the inclosures not only enables the culti- 

 vator to obtain a larger harvest, but it likewise offers the 

 advantage of diminishing the currents of air, concentrating the 

 heat by the radiation, and thus hastening the ripening of the 

 grape. 



It has sometimes been attempted to use for trellises the walls 

 by which terraces are supported. The superfluous moisture of 

 the soil draws to the bottom of the wall and injures the vine stalks. 

 For almost every other kind of fruit-tree very projecting copings 

 offer more inconveniences than advantages, but for the vine the 

 case is different. On the one hand, these copings take place with 

 those movable fruit-houses which we have recommended for cov- 

 ering espalier trees in order to preserve them from the chills of the 

 spring ; and on the other, they shelter the vine from the mois- 

 ture of the rains and dews, which results in a more active vege- 

 tation and a more prolonged development, injurious to the 

 ripening of the grape. Finally, these projections preserve the 

 clusters from the first cold weather of the autumn, and thus 

 delay the time of gathering and facilitate their preservation. 

 All the walls of Thomery are finished by tile copings. Their 

 projection is greater in proportion to the height of the walls, 

 being 14 inches for walls of 156 inches, 12 inches for those of 

 117 inches, 10 inches for those of 100 inches, 8 inches for tKose 

 of 80 inches, and 5^ inches for the little walls of the counter 

 espalier. In the last case they are inclined only from one side. 



The walls thus built are white, being covered with lime. This 

 color at Thomery has given the most satisfactory results. 



AVhen the method of construction allows, smooth finished walls 

 (palissage a la loque), should be used; we may then dispense 



