Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-09-20
seuppcrnong Grapes.

ter ',''''' - 80 :, :, =, =
/ Yd ask me to state what know of the "scup-
pernRg grape. My dear fellow, volume as large
as a0uteh cheese would not convey to others what
knw-my full experience, experiments and expen-
ses lregard to that luxury of the old North State,
the npretending, honest, true, unrepudiating old
Morn State! Why he who never ate scuppernong
graes perfectly matured, has no idea of Gods bles-
sing bounty and goodness in the grape " Hne."-
Suct a grape was never dreamed of in Madeira or
sum, Italy; the south of France has nothing to be
compared with it; Andalusia has nothing so sweet,
so rll so positively superior to all other produc-
hOnsof the vine.
The first vine of this name found in Tyrrel
county, North Carolina, near the banks of Scupper-
nongriver, small tributary of Albemarle Sound, |
by some of the party composing the first Anglo-Sax
on settlement on Roanoke Island, headed or COM
manded by Sir Walter Raleigh One small vine,
root and all transplanted very soon after on
Roanoke Island, where only few years since saw
it, then in iourishing state, owned by man NAM
ed Cuthbert and was told by old Abraham |
Baum, then "a years old, that when he boy
the vine was the largest on the Island. 1t covered
nearly half an of ground and bore beautifully
Ito the very extremity of the branches 1t continues
Ito grow, and only wants extension of scaholdng
Ut should never be pruned give it room and let 1T
| run. When too thick, the covered under small
branches die, rot, crumble and fall down, making
good manure
This superlative vine will not grow from cutting
oee time in thousand but it is easily prOpagated
by turning young vine to the earth, doubling it
gently and covering the double carefully with rich
loose soil. 1t takes root very soon, and the next
may be severed from the parent branch tran
spored in earth the new roots) to any distance and
safely transplanted which should be in dry loose,
but rth soil. Decomposed shells, sand, iron filings
and psrngs of leather admirably adapted to
hasten the growth It will bear in three years from
the planting, and invariably produces better fruit
when salt water.
Asa table grape. when perfectly ripe there is
noneequal to it. For making wine, twice as much
can be made from acre. can be made from any
grapt in the world. For many years, a delicious
grape cordial or preserved grape juice, has been
madein the eastern or northeastern part OF North
Carolina. When few years old it is very rich and
sweet, and although it is called and known Soup
pernolg wine, it is not wine, it never is permit
ted erment brandy being added to the juice imme-
diately after its being expressed 1t is, when careful
lv prepared desirably, rich and luscious cordial.
Various attempts have been made to make gen
uine vine from the juice without adding spirits; IN
only one instance, to my knowledge has success at
tended the trials: and then by ACCIDENT and why
good vine was the result then could not be accer-
tanned or discovered. The pure juice was left in
large cask and three years after it was found redu-
ced nearly one half by evaporation and leakage, the
remaing liquid being wine ofthe very best descrip-
ton. Samples were sent to New York, Baltimore
and Charleston when the most accomplished wine
bibbers of the day, without knowing what it was,
pronounced it most excellent indeed and worth four
dollars per gallon The same process has since then
| Dcen 1OllOWeQ, as nearly as possible, DuI the
liquid has been found always after the lapse Of
years something like hard cider. But that good
wine can be made from the grape, there is doubt
That this grape will flourish and bear we'll in any
region near the Gulf in Florida, Alabama LOUISIANA
and Texas there is no doubt and that in every re
spect it is most superior grape, there is boubt
It must not be planted in low wet marshy grounds
Sandy hilly shelly loamy soils where the influence
of the sea atmosphere can be felt, is decidedly thu
best Have said enough for you
From Cummings Hunters Life in South America
Habits the Lion.
One of the most striking things connected with tn
lion is his voice, which is extremely grand and pc
HnJarE sFk9g It consists k At me en 4f low dee
" audible signs at other times, startes the
with deep-oned solemn roars repeated several time
in quick succession each increasing in loudness Il
the third fourth when his voice dies away in five
or SIX low mutled Sounds very much resembling dis
tant thunder. At times and not unfrequently a
troop may be heard roaring in concert assuming
the lead and two three, or four more regularly ia
king up their parts, like persons singin a catch
Like our Scottish stays at the ruttng season, they
roar loudest in the cold, frosty nights; but
casion their voices to be heard in such perfec
tion intensely powerful, as when two or three
strange troops of lions approach fountain to drink
at the same time. When this occurs, every member
of each troop sounds bold roar of defiance at the
opposite parties and when roars. all roar to-
gether, and each seems to vie with his comrades ir
the intensity and power of his voice. The power anc
grandeur of these nocturnal forest concerts is nc0n
ceivably striking and pleasing to the hunters
The effect is greatly enhanced when the nearer hap
pens to be situated in the depths of the Forest the
dead hour of midnight, unaccompanied by any atten
dant and ensconced within twenty yards of the foun
tain which the surrounding troop of lions are ap
preaching. Such has been my situation many score!
of times; and though am allowed to have tolera
BILE good taste for music, consider the catches with
+ which then RECALLED as the sweetest and mos
natural ever heard. AS general rule, lions roal
E during the night; their signing means commencing
the shades of evening envelope the forest: anc
: continuing at intervals throughout the night
In distant and secluded regions, however ] have
constantly heard them roaring loudly late as nine
and ten o'clock on the bright sunny. In hazy and
rainy weather they are to be heard at every hour in
the day, but their is subdued 1t often happens
that when two strange male lions meet at fountain
f terrific combat ensues: which not unfrequently
ends in the death of one of them. The habits of the
lion strictly nocturnal; during the day he lies
concealed beneath the shade of some low bushy tree
or vide spreading bush, either in the level forest
q tie mountain side. He is also partial to lofty
reeds fields of long rank yellow grass such oc
cur in low-lying valleys. From these hants he sal
lies forth when the goes down, and commences
his nightly prowl. When he is successful in his
beat and has secured his prey he does not much
that night, only uttering occasionally a few low
means; that is, provided ntruders approach him
= otherwise the would be very different
[ remarked fact connected with the lions hour OIL
drinking peculiar to themselves; they seemed un
> willing to visit the fountains with good moonlight
" Thus! when the early the lions deferred
theirhour of watering until late in the morning
= and then the late they drank at a very
n earlyhour in the night. < Owing to the taw.
ny c{or of the coat with which nature has robed
him, pc is perfectly invisible in the dark and altho
II haR often heard them loudly tapping the water
n unde. my very nose, not twenty yards from me,