ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS. 69 



tion of sunshine on the surface of the wall. If the 

 height of the wall be less than six feet, a projection had 

 better bo dispensed with, but if it reach that height, 

 one of four inches in width may be used, and this may 

 be increased half an inch every foot the wall is higher, 

 until it reaches the width of twelve inches, which will 

 give a height of twenty-two feet for the wall. It is 

 seldom that a mere wall reaches this height ; but what- 

 ever height a wall may be, if the width of the coping 

 correspond to these proportions, the advantages derived 

 therefrom will be as great as can be obtained in these 

 aspects, without, in an injurious degree, excluding the 

 solar rays. It may be remarked, also, that a projec- 

 tion of less than four inches in width on a vine wail is 

 calculated to do more harm than good, as the drip will 

 fall on the fruit, which, in any stage of its growth, will 

 greatly injure it. 



Mweablc wooden copings may be ussd with great ad- 

 vantage, as they produce all the benefit of fixed copings 

 without any of their disadvantages. Copings of this 

 description may project a little more than the propor- 

 tions above-mentioned, those being intended to apply 

 tojixed copings only. If temporary copings be used, 

 the proper periods of the year for their application will 

 be as follows : first, from the twenty. first of March to 

 the middle of May, to protect the young shoots from 

 the injurious effects of late frosts, and from descending 

 cold; secondly, from the first expanding of the blos- 

 soms, until the berries are well set ; and, thirdly, from 

 the period of the berries becoming transparent, and 

 showing symptoms of ripening, until the fruit be all cut 

 from the vines. During this last-mentioned period, the 

 coping will prove of the greatest advantage in keeping 

 the fruit dry, for it may be remarked, that as soon as 

 grapes begin to make their last swell, which is indica- 

 ted by^ :heir becoming transparent, not a drop of rain 



