tue boughs of the tree ; and. together, they form a close shrubby cop- 

 pice; the grapes, liidden under the thick mass of leaves, are generally 

 green, and uninviting in taste, because deprived of the action of the 

 sun ; the wine made from them is thin, poor and acerb, wanting both 

 sugar and spirit. When there are two slips, they rise together to the 

 fork, and then are divided and led off to neighbouring trees in oppo- 

 site directions.* This fashion is better than the former for ripening 

 the grape ; and the intermediary ground is devoted to grain or pulse. 

 This method is very pleasing to the eye, but is rarely practised with 

 intelligence and discrimination. The trees are ordinarily too close 

 and cast too much shade. There is, besides, some danger attending 

 the culture ; among the Romans there was an express stipulation al- 

 ways made between the proprietors and vine-dressers, that if the 

 latter, in pruning, should fall and lose their lives, the former should 

 be at the expense of the burial. Besides, the grapes on the very sum- 

 mit of the tree are the only ones that make good wine ; the lower 

 branches are more loaded with cluste rs, but the wine, though abun- 

 dant, is coarse. 



There are some parts where, in place of trees, they make use 

 of tall props 8 or 9 feet in height, of reasonable thickness, and with 

 one or more forks or rests. They are placed as far asunder as their 

 height ; and the branches of the Vines are thrown along them from 

 one to the other, in tiers, forming festoons delightful to the eye, 

 and giving to the fields an air of opulence. This mode is in vogue 

 at Saint Thierry (department de la Marne) and is very costly ; but 

 the grape ripens v/ell, it is so exposed to the air and sun. It can 

 only be made use of in strong, substantial soils. 



In some places, particularly at Weissenbourg (department du Eas- 

 Rhine) the Vine is trained over arbours ; aud in others, it is paled up 

 against walls of various heights. Tne arbour-training suits gardens, 

 but still it were better set aside, for the clusters are too much kept 

 from the sun, and the height at which they are borne exposes them 

 to the chiUing infiuence of the winds. The method only answers 

 where there are very heavy dues after hot days, exposing the fruit to 

 mildew. 



2. Of the low stock. 

 The low training is derived from the Grecians, and was introduced 

 into France by the Phocian colony of Marseilles. From the Soutli 

 the Vine has spread over our country even into Belgium, and with it 



- *Among the Romans, one tree was made to bear as many as ten 

 slips, and never less then three. Columella, de re rustica, lib. V. cap 4 

 Plin. Hi^t. Kat. XVIJ. 23. The trees were placed 20 feet apart. 



