The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-27
FL
OF THE
.~SCUPPERNONG A

Scuppernong Grape, that we give a
few of the NOR: important details in a
circular letter. We wish to state, in the
beginning, that we are better posted
as to wine making than grape growing,
and did not suppose there were any
Ian owners in Eastern North Carolina
Who did not know as much about grape
growing as we do. AS there does not
seem to be a full knowledge, however,
we give what we know for what it Is
worth.
The Scuppernong will grow and pro-
oduce grapes on any OF the sandy lanos
Couth of Norfolk, Va, While certain
we think we may safely say that any
land which grows cotton or corn nicely
will produce Scuppernong grapes. Tney
do not seem to bear well West OF Middle
North Carolina. THE HOME OF THE
GRAPE rs IN THE EASTERN PART
OF THE STATE"
Cuttings may be secured in great
quantity by taking any Scuppernons
vine and letting it fall on the ground III
June and throwing a few shovelsfull OF
dirt on it at from two to three feet from
the outer ends Of the limbs. These take
root quickly in the fresh earth, and can
be taken up and cut off any time from
November 1st to March list, and set out.
Care should be used in selecting thrill
ty vines with nice grapes, as the VINE
re~produces the kind. Seeding (Vlnes
from the seed) are not worth planting,
as you do not know what III OF grapes
they will produce.
The land should be laid off nicely, in
rows of twenty feet apart, the vines
being set out ten feet apart in the rows
and DIanted out Of the ground not less
than seven feet should be set to eacn
vine These should be where practlca-
BILE, of cedar, oak, or lightwood, as the
setting of new posts cuts the roots OH
the vines. A good cutting will reacn
almost to the top of the post Wnen set
out. or grow to the top in one year. IL
properly cared for. The best metnou
ia to wire the vines. When TINS dohe'
rows of posts, we'll braced, nave TO De
set out around the edge OF the VINE
ward. to which are attached the larger
wires. Down each row a No. 10 galVah-
lied wire is run as a governor WIRE
and stapled to the top of eacn posi-"
Across these governor wires you Stretcn
at first, one No. IA wire. II Wen praceu
at the ends, this gives all the posts
secure bracing. AS the vines gro" anu
spread out, you add one each SIDE or the
No. IA wire, other wires, always Keep
ing good arbors for the vines to run Oh
II YOU let the branches fall down ano
have to support their own weight, thes
do not grow so rapidly. The vine snouio
not be allowed to bunch up IN KNOTS
but be kept spread out and GROWING
uniformly in all directions. 1t take!
about no vines to set an acre properlS
laid off. These can be bought through
MS at 5 cents each. If you cannot Se
them from a nearby ! -.
The land should be cultivated VIII
crops that do not grow too hlgh' dh'
the vines kept free from trash arouh'
the roots, which grow close to the tol
of the ground, do not cultivate uhoe
the branches, as the roots extend an
draw sustenance as far as the branche
run. Hence if you pillow close 10 LII
vines YOU tear up the roots. Inc pes
method we know is to keep the roots d
around the body OF the vine, anu d
far as the branches extend, mulche
with a heavy coat of wood-moulo al
straw. n home of the vines IS III III
piny woods, where, in the flch FHsi
sell. is spreads hundreds OF feet. IL
best vines we have ever seen were
old garden plots where they were neVe
nlowed. but the weeds kept down.
good plan is, perhaps to nave shee
Craze under the vines; but the pest PA
is to keep in cultivation the lana III
shaded. and to keep the weeds do"h {
the rest by having a heavy mulc
While fertilizers may produce unusua
ly heavy crops, we advise using coar
harm manure in connection with hea>
ooo+inos of wood-mould and straw,
as to keep the soil light and prooucti'
While the vine will grow and proou
on light sandy land that VIII naro
grow COW peas, yet it should not pe t
Dected to get good crops from poor lan
The soil should be fertilized as direct
above. Arbors a be made OF woo
az are frequently seen, on a small sea
b,,t the enpenses of wooden arbors on
large scale is considerable. GalVahlZ
,cire on good posts is the cheapest
4be long run. and makes much less VIC
once the vineyard is well "lreu.
mans only a few posts each year., d
q little wiring to take up the Sid
nlaces and the hauling in of coal
manures We do not believe in ploWl
close TO the vines. It breaks the 70
and inevitably damages the vines.
AS to gathering, the preferable pi
is to gather by hand, and in small VII
yards this can be done. We pay 81
cial prices for selected, hand-gatne
cranes. But in a large vineyard |
is not practicable. Poles are attacl
to strong sheets made of canvass e.
about ten feet square, and with leat
handles and a man to each side OF
sheet. it is easily carried around
tween the posts, which are set IN e
rows. Another man or boy, VIII
forked stick, shakes the vine gel
lust above the sheet, and the !
grapes fall and are caught. Child
pick up the few grapes which 1all 9
side the sheet. The vines snoulo