Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-13
For the Journal.
Cultivation Of the Grape nd Wine Ma TX i'm 9
i'm North Carolina.

I'm North Carolina.
no. 4.
MEssRs. EDITORS In my last attempted
to show that the Scuppernong, in all its
known varieties, was the best grape fol
vineyard cultivation in Eastern North
Carolina. Admitting this to be a fact, it
will be in order to treat
1st Of the soil proper for it's successful
cultivation.
I'd. It's management in the vineyard
and
3D. Of arboring the vines, and the best
distance to be given them in the vineyard.
The soil most suitable for the Scupper-
nong grape, [ take it, is that in which it is
Indigenous mean the deep sands of the
Eastern shore of North Carolina, sometimes
styled, by way of despair, "pioe 6are1as -
and perhaps its most congenial habitat is
within reach of the salt breezes of our
Sound regions [ do not pretend to say
that it may not be protitably grown beyond
the reach of the actual sea-breezes but I
DO think that there is its favorite locality
All of the sandy, long-leaf pine region of
the State seems to be adapted to it's growth );
but beyond this, in the stiff, red lands of
the West and at the foot of our mountains,
it does not prove SO prolific, nor is the fruit
at all equal in flavor to that which it yields
in the East. An open, sandy soil, then,
seems to be the preference of this vine :;
and where sea-shells are mixed with the
soil, or where mari can be literally applied,
| it appears to flourish most luxuriantly.
Accordingly, where mari can be had, this
fertilizer should at once be added i'll plant
ing your vineyard, as it will Immediately
stimulate your vines into more wonderful
exuberance of growth. Thus a great por-
ton of our Eastern lands, otherwise it
would seem, doomed to hopeless barren
ness, can be put into most profitable cult
walton. Nor is this an item of small conse-
quence to our State where this character
Of soil prevails SO extensively, and the cul-
tivation of which merits the attention of
every public-spirited citizen, who is desi-
rous of fully developing all the resources
OF the State. Having, then, selected soil
such as have described, and of which any
quantity can be had in our Eastern coun-
ties, from Currituck to the South Carolina
line, let us attend to the second point [
proposedto treat of, viz the management of
your vineyard. Plant your vines not more
than thirty or thirty-five feet apart each
way Set them in hills, made by first dig
ging holes spade deep, and about three to
four feet square, filled up with we'll de-
composed swamp-muok, OR else surface-soil,
properly manured Put stake to each
vine (which must be rooted plant, tie it
close up to its support, and let it run the
first season.
| In this section we generally plant out in
February or March If your vine be a
vigorous set, and confined in it's growth to
shoot as If Shnnl1 ha ~ H.
reach the top of the stake, some seven and
a half or eight feet, by autumn. OF course
the hill should be we'll MANFRED, and kept
free from grass and weeds all the season
Now, as to arborlng, During the ensuing
winter set four good posts of rich pine if
possible, IN square of about eight feet,
and lay good heart-rails, two feet apart, on
the top, the posts having been previously
sharpened and notched above to receive
your rails. Your posts should be put at
least two feet in the ground, to insure
steadiness to the arbor. Lay on the top
brush, so that the young vine may have
something to cling to, and if your plant
has been we'll MANFRED, il will run over the
arbor next year, After this, continue to
arbor and rail as the vine demands it, and
your vineyard will soon produce hand
some return of fruit. To any one who has
seen an arbor for the Scuppernong vine, a
further description will be superfuous.
Those who have not, and intend to cult
vate the vine, had better make q personal
inspection of the manner of arboring be-
fore they undertake to do it. The whole
process will be understood at q glance. In
course of time, think arbors of wire will
be found most economical for a series of
years, as certainly they will be the most
durable, if well constructed and made oil
strong wire. However, in this pine region,
where timber is, as yet, 20 plentiful, the
method first described viii be the least ex-
pansise. Every one must decide this mat
ter for himself, according to his location
Meantime the soil of your vineyard may be
cultivated in any crop you please. How
ever, care must be taken, when blowing in
your vineyard, not to tear up the ground
to any depth under the arbors, as the roots
would thus be injured and thevine retarded
in its growth. Tn short, AZ the. cultivation
required is, to keep. down the weeds as YOU
would around any other plant carefully
raised, and to scarify the soil with rake
or prong-hoe, taking care. as before. OBJ
served. not to lacerate the roots manure
with mari, swamp-muck, bone-dust, stable
manure, or any other, powerful fertilizer, |
and your thirty or thirty five, feet square
VIII soon present q continuous arbog over
head. Whether Pruning would benefit this
Vine, and Improve either the, quantity ort
the quality Of the fruit, 7 am unable to
decide, as the practice has never prevailed
IA Ia THIS ls section With regard to the Scnpper-
laag, where it both bears abundantly and
its fruit is Of the best quality. 7 viii re- !