40 



during a year, in good ground, mixed with vegetable mould, art- 

 set out in the month of November, viith their first roots, at about 4 

 inches from the wall ; they are planted 15 inches deep, and over against 

 the perpendicular joists 2 feet high. Each slip gradually gives a belt 

 on both sides of the stalk, which is led horizontally along the rungs 

 or supports ; the ground is not to be manured until the second year 

 after planting, and to preserve its nutritive freshness, large flat stones 

 are laid around the slips along the walls, and are not removed or 

 displaced for a number of years. 



Commonly towards the close of February, and always at the wane 

 of the moon, the prumng is performed by cutting away all the brush 

 of the last year or preceding years, until there is but one bud left on 

 each branch or stem from the main stalk, these pruned shoots must 

 also be 7 inches apart from each other. The ascending main-stalk 

 is allowed one bud. 



In the month of jNIarch or May, according as the season is early or 

 not, the clipping is performed; only two spurs are to be left on each 

 second shoot ; and it is always those nearest the wall that will feel the 

 refraction of the sun the most, that are to be preserved. The binding 

 or act of fastening the new stems to the horizontal rungs, with old, 

 soaked rushes, is to be begun when they have obtained such a length 

 that there is danger of their being broken by the rain or the wind. 



The flower, fragrant as mignonette, opens during the last 10 days 

 of June ; the green berry soon follows ; upon which, in abundant 

 years, that the large wood may not be exhausted or overdrawn, so 

 as to injure the next year's crop, upon each shoot the two finest bunch- 

 es only are to be left. The leaves cover and shelter the young fruit 

 against the too great heat of the sun, and damages from heavy rains 

 or hail. But as soon as the heat becomes more temperate, a part of 

 the foliage is taken oflT, leaving only what is necessary to protect the 

 fruit, without hindering the effect of the sun, which colors the grape, 

 or the dews, which mellow it. The cluster being so near the hot 

 surface of the wall, gilds easily, and offers tlie fragrant, firm, sugary, 

 bland fruit, which is the wealth of Thomery. To keep this grape 

 fresh, the bunches are hung from the ceiling by a string slung 

 tlirough the upper branches of the bunch, not tied to the end of tlie 

 bunch stalk. 



