DISTANCES TO BE OBSERVED IN PLANTING. 241 



each other, the vine is trained with a single stalk to the 

 height of two feet, and the plough is frequently used to do the 

 labour. 



In Burgundy, Champagne, and in the environs of Paris 

 and Orleans, and other places in that section of France, the 

 vines are trained as near the earth as possible, each one to 

 a pole or stake, and the labour is done with a pick-axe. And 

 even in Italy, near Barletta, the vines are trained only two 

 feet in height, in order, as it is said, to mature the grapes 

 the more. In some of the islands of the Archipelago, and 

 in a few instances in France, the vine is left to run upon 

 the ground ; and Zalloni states that it does not appear to in- 

 jure the quality of the wine produced from those he noticed, 

 as would probably be the case in a climate less warm and dry. 



Some eminent French writers, taking into particular consi- 

 deration the great quantity of wood consumed in countries 

 where it is scarce, do not object to the culture of the vine 

 without poles where it is practicable, on account of the econo- 

 my which can thereby be exercised in saving time and ex- 

 pense ; but my own impressions are, that in any case such 

 course would be but a false economy, and would cause in its 

 results far greater loss and injury to the crops than the amount 

 saved by it. So plentiful however is the article of wood 

 throughout our country, that it need not be made an object of 

 great consideration. 



In the vineyards in the vicinity of Bordeaux, Rochelle, 

 Lyons, and Angers, the young vines are trained on poles, 

 while the old ones are kept quite low, and the ground is work- 

 ed with the pick-axe. 



The extraordinary difference in vigour and other charac- 

 teristics between the American and foreign vines, indicates 

 that a corresponding variation in the distance at which they 

 are to be planted, is not only reasonable but necessary. And 

 from the greater developement which our native vines seem to 

 require, I conceive that they may be much more successfully 

 cultivated by being allowed to cover a much larger space than 

 is assigned to foreign vines, and that their crops under such 



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