THE VINE. 



293 



equally on both sides of the stems, and are 

 allowed to meet, but not pass each other. 



By the Thomery mode, according to the 

 Bon Jardinier, as many as 320 bunches can be 

 produced on a surface of little more than 8 feet 

 square. In this calculation it is supposed that 

 each horizontal of 4 feet 4 inches in length will 

 support eight upright shoots, with two bunches 

 on each; but in this climate the shoots would 



require more space, and besides, the wall, in 

 order that it may be heated by the sun, should 

 not be completely covered with foliage; there- 

 fore only half of the quantity should here be 

 reckoned on for the same space. 



It will be observed, that, in this mode of 

 training, the flow of sap in each plant is divided 

 among sixteen shoots, alLof which are equal as 

 regards origin and position. They all spring 



Fig. 1075.— Vineyard on the Marquis of Bute's Estate, Castell Coch, South Wales. 



from a horizontal base, they are equally up- 

 right, and all are stopped when they attain a 

 certain height, and each should have the same 

 amount of foliage. The stopping takes place 

 in the early part of the season, and in conse- 

 quence of this the bud at the base of the part 

 left gets well matured. Considering the limited 

 development which each plant is allowed to 

 take, the quantity of foliage is in ample pro- 

 portion, and year after year it is almost uni- 

 formly the same; consequently, the elaborated 

 sap supplied for the support of the roots is as 

 regular as is the demand on these for support 

 in return. Such is not the case when Vines 

 are trained in a rambling manner and without 

 system; for in that case the roots are perhaps 



to-day in full communication with the large 

 amount of foliage on a number of long shoots, 

 and to-morrow all these may probably be cut 

 away without considering that the roots must 

 suffer severely from the shock, the portion of 

 foliage left being frequently less than that 

 suddenly removed. It is not so with the Thomery 

 system, in which the shoots have only their 

 points taken off" in a young state, rendering the 

 removal of perfect foliage for the most part 

 unnecessary. 



From what we have observed of the system 

 abroad, as well as the favourable results which 

 have, in some instances, been obtained in Eng- 

 land by adopting it, we think that the Thomery 

 system is the best that can be pursued in our 



