Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-12

The sod and eliu,ate Of North Caroline ere pecp-
li.riy adapted to the growth and profitable culture
of many choice varieties Of grape When the first
coonists, sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1854,
landed on Roanoke Island, of the coast Of North
Carolina, they were charmed with the great abund-
ance of grapes which greeted their eyes In the
quaint but forcible language of Barowe, Of the
leaders of this early adventurous band we viewed
the land about being, where We first landed. very
sandy and low toward the water-sde but SO full OF
grapes IS the very beating and surge OF the sA
over6owed them, Of which we found such plenty, IS
well there as in all places else both on the SAND ana
on the green soil, on the hills in the plans Is
well as on every little shrub, also climbing To-
wards the tops of high cedars that think 10 All .:e
world the like abundance IS not to be touno- LUIS
is not an overweight picture, applying, as aoes'
to the Scoupernong and other varieties IN tne'r na
tive luxuriance.
rarietiss are almost innumerable. A brief descnp-
tion of some of our more important native species
and varieties will be here presented
Scorpvpxoxe GKaPEs-This is . variety of Pstss
Rotundifolia. 1t is = white grape, very luscious
and sweet In the whole Albenarie region of North
Carolina it is found in great abundance. Ii attains
it's greatest perfection the sandy soils of the east
ern portion of the State although it has been sue
cessfully raised in elevated localities vine
on Roanoke Island said to have been planted there
by the first colonists nearly half an acre OF
IL
branches According to late eyewitness it con-
tnues to grow, and only wants extension OF seal
folding 1t should never be pruned; give 1t room
and let it run" Seedlings from this grape, IN most
cases, show propensity to run into the common
nsuscddine, the usual specific type found IN many
States of the Union
TIE CArAwBA GRAPE-This is q variety Of Pn!s
La6rusca, so called from the province of Labrusque,
in France The name, however, IS a misnomef. 1t
should have been called Tit1 4nserieaaa. as it is
distinct from any species of the Old World This
excellent variety originated the headwaters OF the
Catavba river n & mountainous portion of Western
Carona-the Switzerland of America 1t IS red
grape, with tne, aromatic favor, and, in the Ian
guase Of Mr. Longworth, of Ohio, whose success in
wine-making is we'll known, is destined TO prove
mine of wealth to many an enterprisIng citizen OF
the United States superior wine, the sparkling
Catawba" IS now made from it, and ils cultivation
is extending into many localities of the South and
West Other varieties Of choice grape are OCCASION
ally found in the western part of the State, embEa
cling the counties Of CASTOR, Lincoln, Catawba,
Burke. Buncombe, and others, all watered by the
Catavba and its tributaries, only requiring skifu
culture to bring them into notoriety.
The ISABELLA GRAPE,-This is another variety of
Fits Labrusca. 1t was sent from Brunswick cOun-
ty North Carolina, to Col George Gibbs, Of Brook
lyn about the year 1870 and planted in his garden
The elder Prince first saw it there, some years al
forwards, in fcur;shng condition, and gave it the
Gibbs, wife of Col. Gibbs. Although not highly
esteemed the preceding variety, vet is still used
table grape, and successfully raised in certain
localities
The LINCOLN GRAPE-This is also 4 variety Of
Titis Labrusea. 1t originated few years ago in
Lincoln county, North Carolina, and is regarded as
fine table grape. Under proper culture it might,
no doubt, be turned to good account There are
still other varieties Of this species of grape found in
different parts of the United States which our limits
will prevent US from noticing
1t viii be thus seen that the low sandy soils Of the
eastern and the high .abIeands of the western por-
ton of North Carolina have furnished their respec
tive choice varieties Of grape the Scoupernong Qn-
dian s,reet ater the representative of the one and
the Catawba of the other. And what, it may be
here asked, prevents North-Carolina from becoming
at distant day, emnently wine producing State
Blest by nature with consenial soil and climate,
success would surely attend we'll directed efforts in
cultivatng the grape Let some of her enterprising
citizens engage judiciously in the business and
long may expect to see the tasteful addition of
uias included among the staple commodities Of the
Old North State. c. L 81.
Lincoln County, n c.