The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-07-27
TO BUILD UP SCUPPERNONG TRADE
An Effort Will Be Made to Create
New Market For These Grapes.

New Market For These Grapes.
Columbia Cor Charlotte Observer:
Commissioner Watson's efforts to
find :. market for South Carolina Soup
pernongs as initial step toward devel-
o2ing the scuppernong industry on a
large scale, this State growing the fin
est type CT these grapes in the world,
from the mountains to the seaboard,
has just resulted in an order for the
first car load from big champagne
and wine-maIing concern at Hermann,
No.
"Of course, on the success OF the
marketing Of this first car load" said
Co.. ~'iSsicner Watson to The Observer
correspondent. largely depends the fu-
ture .: the industry. and it is OF the
highest Importance to get the fruit to
its destination in good shape. But l
have no fear of the results. The finest
,".---,- -~-~oe n tho world are
grown right here in South Carolina,
and the crop can be produced in great
abundance anywhere in either the
coast. middle or Piedmont sections. Il
the fruit can be gotten to market in
good condition splendid prices can be
obtained. have every reason to be-
lier""
This first car is to be made up from
two we'll known South Carolina vine
yards. and if the experiment proves
successful Commissioner Watson eN-
poets to see q general revival and eX-
tension of the industry. Scuppernong
growing has never been an extensive
industry in this State. though the frui1
grows iuxuriantly almost anywhere "
the State Since the dispensary Nv
went into effect. forbidding the manu-
facture and sale OF wine. the few pay
ing vineyards that existed then have
been allowed to run down to great
extent The Missouri people intend to
use the South Carolina scuppernong as
a basic grape in the manufacture OF
champagne. and If the hopes Of the
manufactures are realized to even any
reasonable extent market will be
promptly opened for all that South
Carolina can grow. and it is expected
that the success OF the experiment in
this State will promptly result in an
extension of the grape industry into
North Carolina and Georgia. particu-
larly fine scuppernongs being growing
in North Carolina, where. it is said,
there is one vineyard whose ramifica-
tions covers nearly ten acres.
One CT the largest and most prolific
scuppernong vineyards in the State is
hot M, nrnnprtv
Of Lieut.. Gov. John T. Sloan. Up to
1891 this was operated with great sue
cess by Mr.. z. NJ. Stevber, but with the
coming of the dispensary he had to
abandon the business. The Seaboard
now splits the plantation in twain.
In Darlington county there are
number Of large and productive vines,
as there are elsewhere throughout the
State. but there are few vineyards now.
The scuppernong grape was introduced
into Aiken county over fifty years ago
by DR.. J. c. W. Mcdonald, who plant
ed several large vineyards. but his busi-
ness was practically wiped out bN the
Civil War. There are many HANDSOME
single vines at dwellings in that coun-
ty. however, the largest in the State
being that at Mr.. a. j. Seiglers place,
eight miles from Aiken court house,
near Croft station.
Commissioner Watson has graft
flying report from his Belgium and
Holland special representative, Mr.. c.
]. c. van Wyngaarten, who went over
the first o. the summer with stereopu-
con and literature to give lectures. He
writes from The Hague that he has sue
ceeded in arousing lively interest and
is coming 20 America in a few weeks
to prepare for the coming of the immi-
grants. Commissioner Watson has ap-
pointed a spe, 81 representative at The
Hague in the person g. Oscar P. Schu-
lcr, and Mr.. 2. w. Grauert will sail
in a very few days on the Hamburg
American Line for extensive work in
Germany.