COUNTER ESPALIER TRAINING, 



The circumference of the base should be twice, and in tem- 

 pestuous situations thrice that of the summit, as the vine thence 

 derives strength and support. The crops produced by this 

 course of culture are very abundant. A vineyard of two thou- 

 sand stocks trained in this manner with every necessary atten- 

 tion, yields an annual produce of twenty-six thousand gallons 

 of wine, while on the other hand six thousand vines cultivated 

 after the common mode of low training, yield in ordinary sea- 

 sons but from eight hundred to thirteen hundred gallons, and 

 in the best seasons only two thousand six hundred gallons. 



Counter espalier training. 



This system is now pursued in a number of the French de- 

 partments, and much approved. In plantations where it is 

 adopted, the rows are planted six feet apart, parallel and 

 athwart each other, so as to be equally benefited by the sun. 

 The training commences at the third or fourth years' growth 

 of the vineyard, at which period, posts about four feet high 

 are placed in regular lines, at half the height of which there 

 is a line of lattices placed crosswise, and at the top another 

 range placed in a straight line. 



When the vines are of sufficient growth, the shoots at both 

 sides are led backward and forward in an oblique manner 

 along the range of cross trellices, until the espalier is perfectly 

 formed, and the spaces at each side of the stocks are entirely 

 filled up. They are trained after this manner until they reach 

 the upper trellice to which they must be tied. After the trel- 

 lices are completely filled in this way, the ends of the shoots 

 should be clipped off. This mode of serpentine training has 

 a very advantageous effect on the circulation of the sap whose 

 passage is rendered more regular and conducive to an abun- 

 dant yield. The shoots have the full benefit of the solar heat, 

 by which means the fruit ripens well and perfects its flavour, 

 and the crops are rendered abundant. 



