The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-23

Farm an article by j. NJ. d. Miller, of
Iuka, Miss, on the Scuppernong grape.
Mr.. M. says it stands at the head of all
grapes in the South, both for wine and the
table, never rots, mildews, or fails under
any circumstances to yield immense crops
of large, luscious, magnificent berries, and
that it is the sweetest of all grapes except
its own Seeding, the Sugar grape, and its
culture so simple, requiring no pruning, no
studying when, where, or how to cut or
train, that any one can cultivate it. lie
this be true, it is certainly very desirable
grape. Please give your opinion of it in
the Weekly Tribune as to its real merits.
Some writers in Florida say it makes good
wine by the addition of sugar. If so sweet,
why add sugar? Is sugar added to the
California wines?
The Scuppernong grape grows wild in
all the Southern States, from Virginia to
Florida. But every attempt to grow it
further north than Virginia has failed
the vine being too tender to stand a north
ern winter. The writer has tried to grow
the Scuppernong three different times in
New Jersey, but each time with the same
result. In the Southern States the vine
grows freely, and bears abundantly of
small branches of round berries, that have
a remarkable tough skin. 1t is valued for
wine grape where grown, but the
quality for table use is very inferior, with
q strong foxy flavor, tough skin, and the
flesh very poor. A person might acquire
liking for this grape for the table, but it
must certainly take long time for one
familiar with the quality of well-ripened
Catawba, Delaware, or Iona. The large
wine manufacturers of California say they
do not use any sugar. in wine-making in
that State.
THE PEERLESS POTATO.
G. NJ, Schenectady, N. Y, writes as
follows:
II bought one quart, and cut them in
single eyes, and planted them on heavy
ground, rather wet, and had Early Rose on
each side of them. When | dug them in
the Fall, there was great yield, but fully
one-tnird rotted; but no disease in the
Early Rose, and they are neither first nor
second quality for eating. Now, would
like to know if you have heard of them
rotting with any Others"
AS a rule, the Peerless potato has given
satisfaction to those who have planted it,
both in productiveness, quality, and free
dom from rot. In few instances, COM
plant has been made of the quality, but
the bulk of the testimony is strongly in IA
vor of the Peerless as table potato.
Planted on rich clay soil, near Newark,
New-Jersey, last year, the yield was large,
but the potatoes not fit to eat, nor did they,
in this instance, improve in quality by keep
ing.
THE WINTERS LESSON.
AT length we hear from Texas that our
long, cold winter has been hard on her vast
herds, as well as those farther north. The
season has been dry as well as cold the
prairies are bare of grass and the cattle
are dying by tens of thousands. Whoever
would buy hides cheap will doubtless find
them in Texas about these days. We es-
innate the total loss at one million, while
those that survive will be gaunt and feeble,
with their calves barely able to stand up.
Henry Bergh is needed in all our great
Western pasture-ground. This covering
the land with herds that are never fed, let
ting them take their chance of living or
dying whenever feed is short, is at once
wasteful and cruel. ANY great cattle.
grower might have fenced (by ditching,
if not otherwise) a few hundred acres a
ySdl IEpHC0 dllu SldChCu LIE w Ilay,
and saved herewith thousands Of the
cattle that have since starved to death.
Now that the steed is stolen, shall there
not be at last bolt on the stable door?
A POKE AT PORK.
A letter from S. B. Clark, Oswego, N.
Y, in which he asks correspondents of the
Club to give cures for kidney worms,
brought up the old question regarding the
wholosomeness or otherwise of the flesh of
swine.
DIR. Crowell-A man who can get even
poor beef to chew had better eschew the
flesh Of swine.
Mr.. Wells-I would use the pig for lard,
or convert him into oil for lubrcating
purposes, but wouldn't eat him unless
starved to it.
Mr.. Bruen-I have been a partaker of
pork from my youth up. Even in this,
my seventy seventh year, | want nothing
better than slice of a pig that has been
fattened on corn.
Mr.. Ely-You all see, gentlemen, that
Mr.. Bruen is not only the Oldest, but the
straightest man here. This is an unfavor-
able comment on the anti-pork theory.
DR.. Crowell-Not at all. Mr.. Bruen
started with the constitution of horse.
He married the best wife in the world, has
always had all the comforts of home, a
cheerful life, and everything that keeps a
man happy, and consequently, healthy.
lie has retained his vigor despite the fact
that he eats pork. No knowing what he
might have been had he accustomed him
self to more rational diet.
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