416 THE CULTURE OF THE VINE AT THOMERY. 



eacli otlier about forty feet_, and ten feet high. This 

 height has only obtained during the last fifteen years^ 

 before which period they were rarely higher than six 

 or seven feet. The change has been advantageous for 

 two reasons; firsts the grape growers have been able to 

 increase the space required for their purpose by taking pos- 

 session of a larger portion of air instead of having to buy 

 fresh ground ; and secondly^ the high walls 

 are found to improve the appearance and ^32. 

 quality of the grapes. The walls are built of 

 hard stone quarried in the neighbourhood. 



Fig. 231. 



Sulpliur Distributor employed at Thomerj. 



the stones being laid with mud only. The 

 face of the wall is then covered with a 

 mortar made of lime and sand, and is ^ obtain 



finally covered with tlie same material the Cordon, 

 thinned to a cream. 



Every wall is topped with a roof of pantiles, surmounted 

 by a row of gutter tiles. These roofs project about ten inches, 

 and below them are fixed at every yard iron rods, inclined 

 slightly downwards. These supports project about twenty 

 inches beyond the edge of the tiles, aflPording altogether a 

 support of at least two feet six inches wide. Upon this is 

 fixed, when occasion requires it, a coping of bituminized felt, 

 or, where economy is necessary, a piece of thin plank. The 



