Daily national Republican., 1865-08-02
Natiuual gfpablifaa
GRAPES In NoRru CARoLIsA.-ws

GRAPHS IN NORTH CARoLINA.-Wt
copy an interesting article on the nativ'
grapes of this State, extracted from th'
excellent history OF North Carolina by on
well acquainted with the resources OF tn,
state-the distinguished DR.. r. l.. Hawks
of New York.
The mild climate and favorlte soil Of
this State make the cultivation OF tho
grape an easy and profitable employment
Native wines are made, Of fine flavor and
quality, and we hopeto see the day when
this grateful and unlntoxicating beverage
will supercede the fiery brandles and
whlskeysso extensively used In the United
States.
"one familiar with North Carolina will
not be surprised at this abundance Of grapes.
This State might unquestionably be made
the greatest vine growing country on the
Eastern side of the Continent. In the
time of Lawson C7l4) there were six
varieties. OF those which he knew one
yielded q crimson and the other a white
Juice; and four varieties ofthe fox grape;
two being Summer and two q Winter
grape. Besides these, Lawson said he
once saw a spontaneous white bunch grape
in North Carolina. We of this day know
there Is such grape, though some mo.
dern writers have said that no naive white
grape was ever found on this Continent.
Mr.. Wiley, we believe, 10 the first who
has called attention to the fact that tn,
three finest native grapes of our countr,
allspread from North carolina. These al
the Scupernong, the Catawba, and the
Isabella. The scupernopg derives 1t,
name from scupe-nong Creek or River
at the mouth of the Albemarle Sound
The first vine was found in Tyrrell county
by sCme Of the first explorers under ANA.
das and Barlow, aud tradition relates tha
they transplanted q small vine, with its
roots, to Roanoke Island. That vine IL
yet alive and covers an immense extent oil
ground.
The true scupernoug is white grape,
round, very sweet and large, and furnishes
wine like Mslmsey.
But there are no less than five varieties
OF grape about Albenarle Sound, which,
forming the contie atty of the Scupernong
Creek, are called by its name. That which
we have described, however, Is the true
scupernong, and no grape Is more luscious.
The banks Of the Catawba furnish the
native home of the grape known by the
name ofthe River. 1t Is now celebrate d
at the North as atable grape, and in Ohin
as wine grape. II Is still found wild In
North Carolina.
The Isabella is now more generally cult
vated for table use than any grape on the
ointment. 1t is supposed 10 be hybrid
between the Burgundy, introduced into
South Carolina by the Hugueno:s, and the
native Fox Grape of the Carolinas. The
tradition is, that IL first showed itself at
Dorchester, South Carolina. There Cover
nor Benz jamin Smith,or North Carolina,
obtained cuttings, which he planted at
STOCK Mrs. Isabella Gibbs transplanted a
vine to Long Island, where the grape,
which is one of our hardie t., nourished
and attracted attention. It was called the
Isabella, in compliments to Mre. Gibbs
who introduced 1t at the North. 1t is Ger.
tain that the Long Island stock came from
North Carolina Hdwks' Histoyy of Nortl
Carolina, p. 76.-Norh Carolina Adysrti-
sr.