464 



ll'OUTICULTUKAL TOUR. 



branches he finds to check considerably the vigour of the 

 wood growth, and promote fruitfulness, comparatively few 

 gourmand shoots appearing. — Small plum-trees trained in 

 this inclined way to a low wall, even with a northern aspect, 

 were yielding fine fruit. — Mr. Noisette stated, that it is not 

 uncommon at Paris, on a south wall 8 or 10 feet high, to 

 have single shoots of the muscat of Alexandria vine trained 

 at the top of the wall, over peach-trees ; but he remark- 

 ed, that the vine necessarily tends to shade the peaches, 

 and deprive them of the free circulation of air. — He then 

 shewed me another wall, the shelter and reflected heat of 

 which were economised in a different way. Peach-trees are 

 trained immediately next to the wall ; and, in front of these, 

 at the distance of three feet, is placed a small trellis or 

 slight railing, to which vines are trained, somewhat in this 

 form. 



The vine-stocks are planted only three feet from each 

 other: but as each plant is trained alternately to the upper 

 and to the lower cross-rail, each shoot has of course an ex- 

 tension of six feet. In planting the vines, the roots are 

 carefuliy directed outwards. — M. Noisette also shewed me 

 a triple contre-cspalier of vines ; the outermost trained at 

 the height of only 1 foot from the ground ; the second, at 

 2 feet high ; and the third, or inmost, at 3 feet from the 

 ground. It is, I understand, a common remark of vignc- 

 rons, that the nearer to the ground the bunches are pro- 

 (liK(d, the richer is the flavour of the grapes. These low 

 vines bore at this time very few bundles, but the plants 

 were healthy. An evident objection, however, arises from 

 th« circumstance, that the roots of so many vine-plants 



