Southern planter - The W&M Digital Archive

1908.] THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 17
offered by Dr. J. B. Emerson for the best display of apples.
He took prizes on nearly every entry he made. The officers
of the Society were re-elected with one or two minoi
changes of Vice-Presidents. The Hon. G. B. Murrell,
President; Walter Wh'ately, Secretary and Treasurer,
and Prof. H. L. Price. Recording Secretary. We congratulate
the society on the success of the meeting at which more
new members were elected than at any previous gathering.
THE SCUPPERNONG GRAPE.
Editor Southern Planter:
The States of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina
have a valuable grape in the Scuppernong.
It reaches its greatest perfection in the counties bordering
the Atlantic, and the Sounds of Albemarle and
Pamlico.
It has been tried with indifferent success in many other
States. The vine grows quickly, is long-lived, hardy and
vigorous, and almost immune from disease.
It is the largest domestic grape known, often meas-
uring two and a half to three inches in circumference.
When the fruit is ripening its fragrance fills the air with
a delicious aroma. The skin is thick and tough, but (the
fruit soft and juicy with a luscious flavor peculiarly its
own. It is extremely popular in the South for the table,
and as a wine grape the demand far exceeds the spply.
Commercially, this grape could be made a most valu-
able asset in the section indicated, but as yet very littl€
attention has been given to it as a means of revenue.
With care and cultivation a thrifty vine will produce more
than double the amount of fruit and wine per acre of
any grape in the world. The vines commence to bear the
second year. It is estimated from vines five years old,
an income of from $200 to $500 per acre can be secured,
^iftaws
? i'i?M
^ dk
while more than double that amount can be depended on
in ten or twelve years.
In fifteen years au acre should yield an income of from
$1,000 to $1,500. A well-cared for vineyard has been
known to yield over a thousands bushels to the acre in
a good season.
The market price this year has been from $1.75 to $2.00
per. bushel of sixty pounds. Under present conditions
the possibilities are immense. It is a crop that never
fails, and the cost of cultivation, after the first year,
compared with the labor expended on cotton, tobacco,
peanuts, etc., is trifling. One hundred and ten vines to
(
-#*-
+tf
:
.• ~/'
'-: 0% ft
'.^~
M
|K'C: ^3«ii t:£& :> :..«,/ : ,:,?
the acre is enough. Eac h vine should average eight to
ten bushels.
Good grape growing lands can be bought to-day In
Eastern North Carolina for $8 to $12 per acre, and we
have shown that in fifteen years a ten-acre farm should
yield an income of from $10,000 to $15,000 per year.
The fruit makes a clear, light wine of very delicate
flavor, and, as before stated, the demand so far exceeds the
supply, that the product of a vineyard is engaged in
advance from year to year.
Before planting the ground must be well plowed and
fertilized. Posts placed at intervals of 10 or 12 feet, 7
feet high, with wire or slats overhead make the most
approved arbor. No trimming is done to the vines, and as
the fruit ripens it is quickly gathered by shaking it into
sheets or canvas placed beneath.
Harking back to 1586 we read in the report made to
Sir Walter Raleigh by Captain Amadas upon his return
to England from Roanoke Island, North Carolina, the
following reference to grapes: "Which being performed
(i. e. possesion taken) according to the ceremonies used
in such enterprises, we viewed the land about us, being
very sandy and low toward the water side, but so full of
grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea over-
flowed them that I think in all the world the like
abundance is not to be found, and myself having seen
those parts of Europe that most abound, find such dif-
ference as were incredible to be written."
The larger vine shown in the illustration is believed to
be over 300 years old. It is still growing, hearty and
vigorous, on Roanoke Island, N. C, not far from the or-
iginal landing place of Captain Amadas and his colonists,
and where for the first time the flag of old England was
unfurled to the breezes of the new World.
The smaller vine is but four years old; it extends a distance
of over 30 feet from end to end, and at least 10
feet of the vine to the left does not show in the picture.
It yielded well the past season, and would have done
better had it been trailed on an overhead arbor, instead
of on an upright one. It shows the rapid growth of this
species. It is located on Carter's Creek, Lancaster
County, Virginia, not far from the Rappahannock river.
Lancaster Co., Va.
A. D. DART.
,
''
\
'