CHAPTER XI 



TRELLISING THE VINE 



Vine Trellis should consist of stout posts, split 

 gum or box for preference. Mallee and sandalwood 

 posts cannot be recommended, as the white ants 

 usually destroy these in a few years, but they will 

 not touch the river gum or box. The posts should 

 be of 6 feet length, and inserted about 1 foot 10 

 inches into the ground, leaving them about 4 feet 2 

 inches above the ground. 



It is not advisable for the posts of the trellis to be 

 more than 24 feet apart, as if further apart than this 

 the wires are apt to sag too near to the ground when 

 under the strain of a heavy crop of fruit, and for 

 some of the fruit to come in contact with the earth 

 and be spoiled in consequence. Thus, if the vines 

 are planted 8- feet apart the posts should be inserted 

 midway between every third and fourth vine, there- 

 by making the posts 24 feet apart and 4 feet from 

 each of the vines between which they are inserted. 



To further prevent undue sagging of the wires 

 when carrying a heavy crop, the bottom wire of a 

 trellis should not be closer than 2 feet 6 inches to 

 the ground. If the trellis is to have three wires, 

 then the second wire should be about 9 inches above 

 the bottom wire, and the top wire about 9 inches 

 above the middle one. 



On a two-wire trellis the bottom wire could be 

 raised to 2 feet 9 inches from the ground, and the 

 top wire to about 4 feet. Threa-wire trellises are cer- 

 tainly more convenient for pruning, but owing to 



