60 



OPEN AIR GKAPE CULTURE. 



Terraces. — From our directions for the selection 

 of a vineyard site, it will be seen that we prefer a gen- 

 tle slope to the south or southeast. If this slope does 

 not exceed an angle of eight degrees, or a rise of one 

 foot in seven, it will be unnecessary to adopt any 

 peculiar system of arrangement. For a rise of one in 

 four it will be necessary merely to make very slight 

 terraces, the borders being made eight feet w^ide 

 and half the descent being taken up by the slope 

 given to them, will leave but twelve inches of a ter- 

 race, which may be easily secured by a row of sods, 

 boards or stones, or even the earth beaten hard and 

 kept carefully dressed up. But when the inclination 

 of the ground much exceeds this amount, it becomes 

 necessary to form regular terraces which is best 

 done as follows : 



Find' out the actual slo23e or inclination of the 

 ground, which is easily done by taking an eight-foot 



Fig. 2. 



board, and after laying one edge on the ground and 

 levelling the board, find the length of the perpendi- 



