THE CULTURE OF THE VINE AT THOMERY. 417 



bituminized felt is stretched on frames of wood^ about 

 ten feet in length by eighteen inches in width, the felt 

 being fastened to them by means of small nails. These 

 frames are chiefly used when the grapes are perfectly ripe, 

 which is generally about September 15, or when there 

 is danger of the fruit being spoilt by heavy rains. Formerly, 

 before these methods of shelter were employed, large quan- 

 tities of grapes were continually 

 lost through becoming rotten with 

 the wet ; since their adoption, 

 however, there is no fear of such a 

 result. The size of the temporary 

 copings to be used is always de- 



FiG. 233. 



Fig. 234. 



Layer of Vine raised and 

 planted in basket. 



Low Espalier of Vines trained vertically, 

 four feet high. 



pendent on the aspect and height 

 of the walls. With walls facing 

 the south and ten feet high, 

 frames containing felt at least 

 thirty inches in width ought to be 

 used. With a western aspect, they 



ought to be even wider, in order to avoid all danger from 

 the heavy rains. With the old low walls, frames twenty - 

 four inches wide for the south, twenty-eight inches for the 

 west, and sixteen inches for the east, were found to be quite 

 sufficient.''-' 



After selecting a proper position and soil, the most 

 important point is the sulphuring to prevent the Oidium. 



