The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-26
THE scUPpERNoNG INDUSTRY.
Commissioner Watson Has Found
Market for Scuppernongs and
Large Business May be De-
yeloped.

Columbia, July 24.-Commlssloner
Watson's efforts to find a market for
South Carolina grown scuppernongs
as an initial stop toward developing
the scuppernong industry on a large
scale, this State growing the finest
type of these grapes in the vorl.:
from the mountains to the seaboard,
has just resulted in an order for the
first car load from a big champagne
and wine making concern at Her
mann, Mo.
.sOf course on the success Of the
marketing of this first car load said
Commissioners Watson to The Daily
Items correspondent, largely de-
pends the, future of the industry, and
it is Of the highest importance to ees
the fruit to its destination in good
shape. .sssBut have nosfear OF the re-
suits THE finest scuppernong grapes
81 the world are grown right here in
Se1th Earolina,, and the crop eau be
spfodueed in great abundance any-
where In either the coast, middle OF
Piedmont sections. # the fruit ear
Be- gotten to market In good condition
splendid prices can be obtained, 1
have every reason to believe"
: This first car is toebe made up from
twoewen known South Carolina vim
yards, and II the experiment proves
successful Commissioner Watson ex-
poets to see a general revival and ex-
tension of the industry. Scapper-
nong growing has never been ex-
.tensive in this State, though the fruit
grows luxuriantly almost anywhere
in the State, but since the dispensary
law went into effect forbidding the
manufacture and sale Of wine the few
paying vinyards that existed then have
been allowed to "run down" to
great extent. The Missouri people in
tend to use the South Carolina soup
pernong as a basis grape In the manu-
of champagne, and If the hopes Of the
manufacturers 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 on
extension Of the industry in North
Carolina and Georgia, particularly
fine scuppernongs being grown in
North, Carolina where it is said there
is one vine whose ramifcations cover
nearly ten acres.
One Of the largest and most proli-
fc scuppernong vinyards in this Stat"
is near Columbia now the property of
Lieut.. Gov. John T. Sloan. Up to 1891
this was operated with great success
/ by Mr.. E. NJ. Stovber, but with the
coming of the dispensary he had to
abandon the business. The Seaboard
now splits the plantation in twain.
In Darlington county the'. are a
number of large and productive vines
as there are elsewhere Throughout
the State, but there are few vineyards
r,ow.
The scuppernong grape was intro
duted into Aiken county over so
years ago by DR.. ]. c. W. Mcdonald,
wbo planted several large vineyards,
but his business was practically wiped
OF. by the civil war. There are
many handsome single vines at dwell
ings in that county, however, the
largest in the State being that at Mr..
| A. J. Seigler's place, eight miles from
Aiken county court house near Crofts
Istation.
| Commissioner Watson has a graft
flying report from his Belgium and
Holland special representative, Mr.
lC. j. C. Van Wyngarton, VINO went
over the first of the summer with
stereoptican and literature to give
lectures. He writes from The Hague
that he has succeeded in arousing 6
lively interest and is coming t.
America in few weeks to prepare
for the coming of the immigrants
Commissioner Watson has appointe(
a special representative at The Hague
in the person of Oscar P. Schuler, ant
Mr. F. w. Grauert will sail in a few
days in the Hamberg American line
for extensive work in Germany.
Many Unidentified.
San Diego, Cal, July 22-Tht