THIRTY-THIRD Bltf-NNIAR SESSION 
93 
tion and wonderful productiveness. This small area is surrounded and some- 
times divided by high stone or brick walls upon which are trained peaches, 
pears and grapes. The gardens of the National School of Horticulture, lo- 
cated at Versailles, are a good illustration of combined fruit and vegetable 
gardens. Here are not only the surrounding walls, but also division walls 
running in every direction, all utilized by carefully trained grapes, peaches 
and pears. Many of these walls are ten feet high, the upper portion being 
reached by a light, movable stage or platform. 
Pigs are quite largely grown in open culture in the fruit gardens near 
Paris. They are kept well pruned and are planted closely. The trees are set 
in a slanting position so that they can be bent down and covered with earth 
for protection in winter. Varieties of a light-yellowish green color seemed 
to be preferred although those of a dark-purplish color were sometimes seen. 
It would seem that this fruit might be successfully grown in higher latitudes 
in this country provided the same care was employed. 
The grape is the banner fruit of Prance. It overshadows in acreage all 
other fruits combined. To a greater or less extent the grape is grown over 
nearly all the cultivated or non-forested portions of the country. In the 
vicinity of Paris grapes are grown for dessert use, and are matured under 
glass or upon walls. A short distance from Paris, near Pontainbleu, the 
celebrated Thomery vine-growing district can be seen. Here the Chasselas 
grape is grown in great perfection. The vines are trained upon high, and 
usually white-washed, walls and on somewhat lower trellises between these 
walls. The walls have projecting coping and the vines on the trellises are 
also protected from above either by light boards or by some kind of oiled or 
bitumenized cloth. These projections from the walls and coverings over the 
trellises are movable and can be used or not as may be desired. 
Grapes and Wine. 
In much of Southern France grapes and wine are the principal product. 
Here the mode of culture is quite different, the difference being caused by 
a corresponding difference in climate. The method is essentially the same as 
that practiced in the warmer parts of California. With comparatively little 
rainfall and a mild and fairly equable temperature, the grapes are grown 
without the aid of trellises, stakes or supports of any kind. They are planted 
closely and are never allowed to grow much above three feet high. The 
branches spread in a somewhat circular form and are confined to an area 
whose diameter is about equal to the height of the vine. The main stem of 
each vine is usually from fifteen to eighteen inches high. On the top of 
this are a few short, stubby arms, and from these each year come the fruit 
bearing shoots. The shoots are pinched off or kept well shortened during 
the growing season. No special training, except to see that each shortened 
shoot has its allotted space is required. 
Formerly it was a common practice to plant the grape vines no more 
than three feet apart, but this practice together with the severe pruning 
and often a none too fertile soil so weakened the roots that they became an 
easy prey to the phylloxera. Such treatment is unnatural to say the least. 
A grape vine whose natural habit is to climb and make long shoots is planted 
