127 



Diagram of Thomery espalier, before pruning (Foex). 



The fig. (after Foex), is not as good as I would like it. It does 

 not show the two wires of the trellis, which may be placed at distances 

 similar to those mentioned when describing the 

 method of training according to the Bordeaux 

 ^ espalier. It consists of two main arms set 

 $ horozontally on each side of the stem along the 

 I lower wire. Along those permanent arm spurs are 

 | left at intervals of nine to ten inches. The inter- 

 ^ val between the first spur on each permanent 

 g arm is 12 inches or a little more. It is essential, 

 ~' more particularly in the case of trellised vines, that 

 .fi there should be one stem only to each vine ; in the 

 1, case of the Thomery espalier it is important that 

 J the right and the left arms should start at nearly 



1 as possible from the same level, so as to better 

 J equalise the flow of sap and avoid wide blanks 

 ^ being created and much of the space available over 

 costly trellises remaining idle. To guard against 



2 this, the arms should be encouraged to spring from 

 I the stem at about the same level and they should 

 o be trained sharply along the first wire, thus giving 

 -^ to the vine the form of the letter T. For this 



purpose, as soon as the stem has grown three or 

 four joints above the lower wire it is pinched just 

 a,bove the bud which is level or is nearest to that wire ; this is done 

 sometimes in the summer. Fi om the end of this still tender shoot 

 another small shoot will grow, and this is also pinched back, generally 

 when it is on or two inches long. The vine being still in full 

 growth, another shoot will soon appear from that terminal bud 

 which has been strengthened by this process of pinching back. This 

 shoot is allowed to grow, it carries at its base a cluster of two, or it 

 may be more, buds. At pruning time, when mature, cut back to the 

 point (a) indicated on the fig. From these shoots will grow, the 

 stronger two of which are bent down, directly they cease to be 

 brittle, to the wires, where they are fastened . 



Before the end of the season, and when they are a foot or two- 

 long, these horizontal shoots are pinched back, with the result that 

 they will throw up laterals which will form the bases of the spurs. 



