THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— February 24,1857. 363 
The leafstalk and leaflets of the Cycas revoluta afford an 
example of the manner in which the hearing shoots are 
trained from the upright main stem; or the same may be 
represented by fish-bones. The bearing shoots were not 
strong, but firm and well matured ; they were about two feet 
in length ; and at the winter pruning they are cut close to 
the lowest eyes. The upright leading shoot is cut to three 
eyes when the plants are young, but as they get older it is 
cut to only two. 
Where the principle of the Thomery system, en cordon , 
has been adopted, the plants are here three feet apart. Each 
plant, as at Thomery, lias only one horizontal branch to the 
right and another to the left, forming the cordon; but at 
Fontainebleau each of these extends six feet; at Thomery 
only four feet. The cordons formed by the horizontal 
branches are about two feet apart. With regard to the 
comparative merits of these two modes of training there 
was no decided opinion. The first, with the bearing shoots 
diverging from an upright stem, is the more easily managed; 
but, in this country, it is questionable whether the eyes on 
the lower part of the stem would push sufficiently well; for 
in Vineries it is sometimes necessary to bend down the 
upper part of Vines trained upright, in order to insure the 
pushing of the lower eyes. 
The soil where the Vines have an eastern aspect is 
naturally unfavourable, and rather wet; in fact, it was so 
bad that it bad to be dug out to the depth of two or three 
feet, and replaced with better soil, mixed with some leaf 
mould. Manure occasionally afforded, consists of a compost, 
of equal portions of horse-dung and cowdung, and turf 
parings, in alternate layers, turned several times over before 
being applied. Dung alone has been tried, but the compost 
was found preferable—the quality of the Vines manured 
with it being much better than where dung only was em¬ 
ployed. Along the portion of wall facing the south-east the 
soil is of a more favourable nature. 
The Vines are tied to wooden trellis work. The wall is 
furnished with coping, projecting about a foot. Both here 
and at Thomery projecting copings are considered of great 
importance : in England they would doubtless prove equally 
beneficial. Under glass, projecting like a coping, it has 
been proved that Grapes ripen, colour, and retain their 
bloom, much better than they otherwise do on the open 
wall. 
M. Soueliet having ascertained that there was an intelli¬ 
gent proprietaire cultivateur, M. Larpenteur, from Thomery, 
in Fontainebleau, he intimated our object to him. M. Lar¬ 
penteur accordingly undertook, very obligingly, to conduct 
us by the nearest route through the forest to Thomery. 
On reaching the outskirts of the forest we found ourselves 
considerably elevated above the Seine, and had then a good 
view of the village of Thomery, stretching along the side of 
the river and the base of the slope, and of 600 acres of 
walled enclosures for the cultivation of the Vine. Such an 
assemblage of walls is perhaps nowhere to be seen, if we 
except Montreuil. It appeared as if the walling-in system 
was proceeding upwards to the precincts of the forest. 
Plantations of Vines, in the open vineyard mode of culture, 
were seen verging close upon it, almost in proximity with 
the common Heath, which grows abundantly in the forest. 
From this locality Paris is largely supplied with Grapes. 
We were informed by M. Larpenteur that the quantity for¬ 
warded to Paris, by barges down the Seine, from Thomery 
is not less than 30,000 lbs. daily dining the Grape season; 
and the quality of the Thomery Grapes is well known to be 
excellent for the table. This it may be readily supposed is 
owing to the steep slope on which the Vines are planted. 
“ Bacchus amat colles ” is a quotation frequently introduced 
by writers on the Vine; and the south sides of hills are 
recommended. But what is remarkable in the case of the 
Thomery Vines, they are not grown on the south side of the 
declivity, nor does it face the east or west: the ground 
actually slopes to the north and north-east. I inquired the 
reason why the acclivity, equally steep in appearance on the 
opposite side of the Seine, and facing the south, had not 
been preferred ? The answer was, it was found to be too hot 
and dry. Probably, the circumstance of the ground sloping 
as it does first induced the inhabitants to commence build¬ 
ing walls, in order to counteract the effects of their northern 
exposure. At all events, we were informed that the walls 
were first built with the view of affording the Vines an 
aspect directly south; but this was found too hot. They 
then tried the south-east, which proved the best point, as 
regarded the perfection of the fruit. But now, in order to 
suit the market, or, in other words, their own interest, the 
cultivators wish to have the walls still farther to the east, 
or even to face due east. They say there are now so many 
Grapes brought early in the season to Paris from the south 
of France that it is more profitable for the cultivators 
of Thomery to retard theirs till the glut of the others is 
over. 
The different properties form long slips, separated by 
walls. Interiorly each is subdivided by cross walls, about 
thirty feet apart. Formerly the walls were composed of 
clay, plastered over; but they now build them of stone. 
They are about eight feet high, furnished with a coping of 
flat tiles, projecting about eight inches, and worked up to a 
ridge top, in order to throw off the wet. The projecting 
coping is considered of great importance by the cultivators, 
on account of its keeping the fruit dry, and preserving the 
bloom. Wooden trellises are affixed to the wall, and to these 
the Vines are trained in the following manner :— 
A 
