ERECTIONS, ETC. 



315 



be affected by our frequent severe westerly gales. When in 

 bloom, or when the fruit is ripening, would be the period 

 that they would be most liable to suffer. However, as they 

 would frequently produce a full crop, an astonishing quantity 

 of fruit may be produced on a very small space of ground 

 by erecting walls of this description, built parallel to, and * 

 not far distant from, each other — say, at the nearest, from 

 twenty to twenty-five feet. If from local causes bricks can- 

 not be had, a good substitute will be found in strong ranges 

 of plank fencing made of well-seasoned wood,' and closely 

 jointed, having three or four good coats of oil paint. Grapes 

 raised in this way will be nowise inferior to those produced 

 on walls : indeed, we would prefer such to any wall of stone 

 that could be erected, it being of a more even surface and 

 more convenient for training, and not giving harbor for in- 

 sects, &c. A very great advantage will be derived by having 

 a coping on the wall or fence, projecting eight or ten inches, 

 turning on a pivot, so as it can be used in time of heavy 

 dashing rains while the vines are in bloom, or when the fruit 

 is ripening, which are the only periods that it will be of ac- 

 tual service, for all dews and light rains are indispensable to 

 the health and maturity of the vine; and if the fence is 

 north ^and south, the. light and heat excluded by it would be 

 a serious drawback on the ripening of the fruit. We say, 

 therefore, if it is not on a pivot, the plants will be better 

 without it, unless it have only one or two inches of a pro- 

 jection, the dripping from the coping will fall on the foliage, 

 and that will carry it entirely free from the fruit; but we 

 urge the great utility and even necessity for movable coping. 

 Espaliers or trellises are in common use for the training of 

 the vine, also arbors : the former suit admirably in small 

 gardens where it is not desirable to go to expense, but the 

 latter should be avoided as the worst possible construction 

 for growing grapes ; the interior is always filled with a cur- 

 rent of cold air highly prejudicial to the maturity of fine 

 fruits; but for coarse grapes it is a matter of little conse- 

 quence, as they are at best only fit for producing shade. Up- 

 right trellises in city gardens may be made eight feet high, 

 with the spars not more than six inches apart ; and these 

 should be made of the very best materials, and supported 

 every three feet by uprights. Strong wire makes an elegant 

 substitute for the cross slats, which, if kept well painted, 



