The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-11-01
THE sOUPPERNONG GRAPE ON TIE
GULF COAST.

DiCh llunu luc SOuSt, duu SO'Viihe ohS
ninety miles from Bay ST. Louis, Miss,
to Mobile, Ala, the scuppernong grape
finds its true home and flourishes as
nowhere else. Here is offered the
most tempting opportunity known to
the world to-day for grape culture and
wine-making. Other wine-making
grapes than the scuppernong, notably
the Concord and the Herbemont, have
been tried here, but only with modcr-
ate success. Owing to peculiarities
of climate and to the sandy soil, there
is a tendency to run excessively to
wood, resulting in rank growth Of
vine, with small fruitage. But nature
seems to have created the scuppern0ng
almost exclusively for this restricted
and favored section, for, while it may
he cultivated with more or less success
in several Southern States near the
sea coast, or what was formerly the
sea coast, it is only in the region re-
ferrcd to that it thrives beyond ON
pare.
There are five well-delned varieties,
all growing to perfection within the
limited territory above mentioned,
and the owners Of this land possess,
in its rare adaptability to scuppernong
culture, a boon Of immense value.
The scuppernong has none Of the
shaggy bark peculiar to other vines,
and it bears only from the old, not
the current shoots, as they do. The
grape contains indisputably q much
larger percentage of saccharine than
any other grape known. This quality
of itself gives it inestimable value, as
every wine-maker knows that the use
of sugar, and the acetic process en-.
gendered thereby, causing deteriora.
ton with age. The scuppernong
blooms later than any other variety,
and natures earlier, hence early and
late frosts carry no danger. 1t is Il
remarkable fact that from the earliest
records obtainable, reaching back
early into this century, no disease,
either natural or acquired, has ever
been known to the scuppernong, eth
err in wood, leaf or fruit. Rarely, in
deed, does it fall short Of a heavy
crop, and entire failure isunknown.
The writer asserts from personal
knowledge, gained by long experience
and observation, that no other grape
on earth produces so great a weight
of fruit to the acre. Vines trans
planted from layers have given the
third year three bushels per vine, with
q vines to the acre. After the third
year the increase is phenomenal, de-
pending on location, training and cult
walton. Vines six years old have given
80 bushels, while y to Is bushels per
vine may be depended on, even with
secondary care aud cultivation. Even
at the modest price Of so cents per
bushel, the large profits can easily be
discerned.
The vine lives to a great age ; how
great has never been determined, as
some known to he a hundred years old
are still in luxuriant bearing. The
hull Is thick, the aroma fragrant, and
the pulp the sweetest and most lus.
ci0us known. Neither insects, birds
or blight eve attack it. Considering
the ravages of the p%hylOxera and
fungous diseases, which have practi.
cally desolatcd the vineyards of Eu.
rope and California, too much weight
cannot be given to the last mentioned
fact. The finished product Of this
delicious grape is unexcclled, either
still or sparkling. AS sherry, port,
~claret, madeira, hook or white wines,
or as sparkling champagnes, this won
derful grape has no equal. 1t cxcels
!, in effervescing qualities, and these
added to its native sweetness, togeth'
or with the are natural elements
make it Of all others the grape FOL
, sparkling wines.
J The field for this industry is large
and almost untouched. This is NJ
more strange than that the rich phos
Q pilates, now a source Of untold wealth
0 to Florida, should have remained I'm
known for generations or, that the
wonderful sulphur beds Of Louisiana
sufficient for the worlds supply,
should have lain dormant until thu
present year. or all the inviting
fields offered in the South, nothing
. compares with the opening here pre-
sented.
T.. NOTE.-We are personally acquaint
y ed with the gentleman who has furn
ished the notes for the above article
and we know him to be thorough,
c0nversant with the subject. II an!
OF u readers desire further and NOR
I specific information, We will cheer
h fully furnish addresses, knowing hOv
;, full OF promise Is such a movement t,
l this section Of country.
y
A petition is out In Lincoln count,
IncI-tn~ nAv NDuo ~ rnoI,r fNl-~n 7