The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-09-23
From the National rntelligencer.


NATIVE GRAPES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The soil and climate of North Carolina
are peculiarly adopted to the growth and
profitable culture of many choice varieties
Of grape. When the first colonists, sent out
by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1884, landed or
Roanoke Island, on the coast Of North Caro-
lima. they were charmed with the great album
dance Of grapes which greeted their eyes.
In the quaint but forcible language of Bar
lowe, one of the leaders of this early adyen-
turous band, awe viewed the land about us,
being, where we first landed, very sandy and
low towards the water side, but SO full of
grapes as the very beating and surge of the
sea oyerflowed them, of which we found
such plenty, as well there as in all places
else, both on the sand and on the green soil,
on the hills as in the plains, as well as on
every little shrub, as also climbing towards
the tops of high cedars, that | think in all
the world the like abundance is not to be
found" This is not an overweight pic
ture, applying as it does. to the scupPer-
nong and other varieties in their native
luxuriance.
The original species of the grape are fe,c,
but the uarieties are almost innumerable. A
brief description Of some Of our more inn
portant native species and varieties will be
here presented:
ScuPPRRsoSG GRAPEs.-This is variety
Of Tiiis Rotmadifoiia. 1t is white grape,
very luscious and sweet. In the whole AL
bemarle region Of North Carolina ii is found
in great abundance. 1t attains its greatest
perfection on the sandy soils Of the eastern
portion Of the State, although 1t has been
successfully raised in more elevated locaii-
ties. A vine on Roanoke Island, said to
have been planted there by the first colo
nists, covers nearly half an acre Of ground,
and bears abundantly to the extremity OF its
branches. According to a late eye witness,
"it continues to grow, and only wants an
extension Of scaffolding. II should never
be pruned; give it room and let IT rum"
Seedlings from this grape, in most cases,
show propensity to run into the common
muscadine, the usual specific type found in
many States Of the Union.
THE CATAwBA GRAPE.-This is variety
Of Tiis Labruscd, SO called from the pro-
vince Of Labrusque, in France. The name,
however, is misnomer. II should have
been called Jiis americana, as il is distinct
from any species Of the Old World.
! This excellent variety originated on the
headwaters Of the Catawba river, in noun
famous portion Of North Carolina-the Swift
zerland of America.
II is a red grape, with fine, aromatic flavor
and, in the language Of Mr.. Longworth, o
Ohio, whose success in wine making is wei
known, is destined TO prove a mine o
wealth to many an enterprising citizen o
the United States. A superior wine, tn,
Sparkling Catawba," is now made from i
and its cultivation is now extending int,
many localities Of the South and West
Other varieties Of choice grapes are occa
sionally found in the western part Of tn,
State, embracing the counties Of CASTOR
Lincoln, catawba, Burke, Buncombe an,
others. all watered by the Catawba and IT
tributaries, only requiring skiliul culture Z
bring them into notoriety.
THE ISABELLA GRAPE.--This IS anOthe
! variety Of IIfis LabnscG. II was sent fron
. Brunswick county, North Carolina, to Col
George Gibbs, Of Brooklyn, about the yea
1910, and planted in his garden. The eide
Prince first saw il there, some years alter
wards, in nourishing condition, and CAV
il the complimentary name OF Isabella, aite
. Mrs. Isabella Gibbs, wife Of Col. Gibbs
Although not so highly esteemed as the pre-
ceding variety, yet is still used as tabl
, grape. and successfully raised in certain 10
. calities.
TmE LINCOLN GRaPE.-This is also yarl
ETY. of ITfis Labrusrd. II originated ie'
; years ago in Lincoln county, North Caro-
, lima, and is regarded as fine table grape
! Under proper culture il might, no doubt, b
! turned TO good account. There are stu
. other varieties Of this species OF crap
found in different parts Of the United States
: which our limits will prevent US from nc
|, ticing.
Il will thus be seen that the low sand
! soils Of the eastern and the high table land
. of the western portion Of North Carolln
|, have furnished their respective choice yari'
! ties Of grape, the scuppernong Indian s're
!. paier) the representative Of the one, an
!. the Catawba Of the other. And what,
]. may be here asked, prevents North Carolln
!. from becoming at no distant day, eminentl
a wine-producing StateI Blest by natuI
with a congenial soil aud climate, suece,
would surely attend well directed efforts
n eultiyating the grape. Let some Of her e.
: tcrprising citizens engage judiciously
the business, and ere long we may expect
see the tasteful addition Of pine include
|. among the staple commodities Of the "
.. North State. Y. l.. VI.
Lincoln county, N. G.