CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 193 



one of interest ; and there are many situations where its 

 application may possibly be advantageous even in this 

 country. It is often noticeable, that, where vines ramble 

 over the surface of dark-colored rocks, they ripen much 

 better than elsewhere. Walls are too expensive if erected 

 expressly for this purpose. Close board-fences will answer 

 nearly the same purpose. These may be painted with 

 coal-tar, which is very cheap, and very quickly applied. 

 While it is true that the wall will soon become covered 

 to a considerable extent with foliage, yet it is also true 

 that the sun's rays will always penetrate to more or less 

 of the black surface, and cause a decided change of tem- 

 perature. The practical value of the plan should have a 

 cautious test of actual trial. In this connection it should 

 be stated, that vines upon close board-fences have been 

 found in many cases to suffer from mildew. This has 

 been attributed by some to a want of circulation of air, 

 and by others to the extreme heat of mid-day and the 

 great change at night. 



It is prudent and it is wise to expend freely and largely, 

 with well-informed judgment, in the production of fruit of 

 superior excellence. He who, at a proportionate cost, can 

 excel in the quality of his fruit, or the time of ripening it, 



13 



