Supporting the Vine. 157 



of supports, which is generally pretty heavy, Mr. Mira- 

 mont, a land-owner at Maurecort, near Pontoise, has 

 proposed to tie together the shoots of the plants nearest 

 one another, giving them the form of Figure 62. 



[FiG. 62.] Self-supporting Vines. 



These rows of pyramids are far enough apart to al- 

 low of their easy cultivation. This mode of training 

 vines always leaves the grapes partially shaded from 

 the sun ; besides, it is very probable that these pyramids 

 would soon be thrown down by the wind. 



Vines Supported by Trees. In certain southern re- 

 gions Italy, Beam, Savoy, etc., etc., the annual ex- 

 penditure for grape-stakes is saved by training the vines 

 to trees [Fig. 63]. We have already explained [page 

 127], how injurious this system is to the quality, and 

 even to the quantity of the produce, on a given surface. 



Vines Trained to Grape-Stakes. The support most 

 generally used consists of poles, of various lengths and 

 thickness, which are called grape-stakes. 



These stakes may vary from three and one-half feet 

 to ten feet in length, according to the hight of the 



