GRAPES. CULTIVATION, SOIL, ETC. 273 



parts of a wall which can only be covered by branches, 

 the roots of which are very distant ; but we recollect that 

 when a branch has extended beyond a certain distance, it 

 no longer gives fine clusters but at its extremities ; the 

 spurs of the centre no longer produce any thing but inferior 

 bunches, [grappillons,] and generally die of inanition. 

 This inconvenience doubtless occurred to the Thomery 

 gardeners ; and by an admirable calculation they fixed upon 

 the length of eight feet for each vine ; * * * * yet though 

 only eight feet in length, they do not throw out extraor- 

 dinary shoots, because the plants being set but twenty 

 inches asunder, their roots dispute or contend with each 

 other for nourishment. The cover of the wall also, ex- 

 tending over the vine nine or ten inches, by contributing 

 to check its too luxuriant growth, its fruit has all the qual- 

 ities which it is susceptible of acquiring. 



According to this system, when once the cordons are 

 completed, the pruning and training become so uniform 

 and simple, that it may be intrusted to any intelligent 

 workman. But what may render the practice of still 

 greater consequence in a northern climate, is, that the 

 fruit of these small spurs always ripens earlier than on the 

 strong wood. 



TILLAGE, MANURING, &c. In tillage they use no 

 other instrument than the hoe ; they stir the ground but 

 lightly, lest they should injure or disturb the roots : this is 

 done twice in the year, first after the summer training, 

 which generally takes place [there] in May, and again 

 when the leaves fall ; the ground is, besides, always kept 

 perfectly clean and loose on the surface, to admit the air 

 and dews. They manure their vines every three years, 

 always preferring old manure nearly consumed, and of a 

 light, warm nature. They are justified in this practice by 

 the result, for their grapes are always superior, in size and 

 delicacy of flavor, to any others to be met with, either at 

 Paris or elsewhere. 



MANAGEMENT AND CARE OF THE FRUIT, &c. While 

 the fruit is yet very small, the bunches should be looked 

 over, and the extremities of such as are very long, cut off, 

 for they generally ripen late and imperfectly. Such varie- 

 ties as the Frontignacs, which have very close bunches, 

 should have their berries thinned out at the time when 



