412 THE CULTURE OE THE VINE AT THOMERr. 



that had shown no signs of shrivelling burst their skins, 

 and the sap of the vine that had forced itself into them 

 began to drip from them Surely even in such a case as 

 this it would be a gain to the grape grower to cut his grapes 

 a few weeks before any danger of such a thing existed,, and 

 thereby keep them a little longer from bursting their skins 

 and giving forth what cannot be very rich in sugar ! The 

 expense and care required to keep grapes during the dull 

 and cold months of winter in the ordinary way is very con- 

 siderable^ and the inconvenience and loss of space are great. 

 The latest writers among grape growers recommend the 

 surface of the '^interior borders to be kept perfectly dry 

 and to remain so all the winter, care being taken that as 

 little sweeping or raking takes place as possible, for by this 

 means dust is raised which settles on the bunches.''^ Prac- 

 tically speaking, houses treated in this way are nearly use- 

 less for anything except keeping the grapes, consuming 

 fuel, and wasting labour. Remove the necessity of keeping 

 grapes on the vines long after they are thoroughly ripe, 

 and the houses may be filled at a season when every inch of 

 the room in vineries is wanted for storing plants. 



The Culture of the Vine at Thomery. 



At first I had intended to say nothing whatever about 

 the grapes grown against walls in the open air, but further 

 consideration has shown me that the culture of the 

 grape in this way may be attempted with profit over 

 a large part of the southern and midland counties 

 of England, and therefore an account is given of the 

 successful and highly interesting culture of the Chasselas 

 Grape near Paris, where it mast be grown against 

 walls as well as with us. Respecting this grape, it 

 may be well to notice that when well ripened against 

 walls the French think it the best grape ever grown, and 

 superior to our hothouse grapes, fine as they look. Here 

 I am simply stating an opinion without endorsing it, 

 merely adding that this estimate is not solely confined 

 to those who have no opportunity of judging both sides 



