156 Vineyard Culture, 



tion during the night. Now, if the stems creep over, 

 and cover all the surrounding earth, this last can not be 

 warmed ; and the bunches enveloped by the leaves are 

 shaded from the action of the sun. The stocks them- 

 selves, being partly shaded, are imperfectly developed, 

 and yield but a small quantity of produce the following 

 year. The buds, also, being loose, are frequently 

 broken off during the summer, by the violence of the 

 winds. And, lastly, most of the bunches in contact 

 with the soil, rot in wet seasons, and exercise a very 

 injurious effect on the quality of the wine. These va- 

 rious obstacles are removed as soon as the trunk and 

 the shoots of the vine are so supported that the soil and 

 the whole plant receive, in a sufficient degree, the ac- 

 tion of the sun's rays. 



In fact, the advantages of staking the vines are so 

 evident in all vine regions, that in France, out of sev- 

 enty-six districts which cultivate the vine, sixty make 

 use of stakes. The sixteen districts which do not use 

 the stakes, almost all belong to the southern region ; 

 and there the only motive for not using them is that of 

 economy, and the little value of the product of the vine. 

 Besides, those varieties are chosen, the wood of which 

 is sufficiently stiff to partially sustain itself. There is 

 no doubt, however, that the quantity and quality of the 

 produce would be materially improved, were those vines 

 provided with stakes. 



Various Modes of Support. — Let us look into 

 the various means employed to attain this end, and as- 

 certain the one which gives the best results, with the 

 least expense. 



Self-supported Vines. — In order to avoid the expense 



