The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-11-14
Ghe WessenDer.
THE sCuppERNoNe GRAPE.


An effort is being made both by the
state and the federal agricultural de-
partment to interest the people in
eastern North Carolina in the cultiya-
ton of the scuppernong grape. East
ern Carolina is the home of this grape
and here it can be grown to the great
est advantage and with the greatest
ease. The idea tnat this grape cannot
be shipped is an erroneous one. II
gathered in the proper manner 1t VIII
stand transportation almost as well as
any bunch" grape.
The agricultural department Of the
federal government has made study
of the several varieties of this grape
for the purpose of finding out which
one is the best adapted to cultivation,
with the idea of it's production for mar
keting at a distance; in other words,
which will best stand transportation.
This department and also that OF the
state will gladly correspond with any
tivation of this Luscious fruit for mar
keting. There are also number OF
firms engaged in making wine and
brandy who desire to see the procuc-
ton of the scuppernOng Increased.
These PERSONS offer great inducements
to persons to plant vineyards of this
we take the following letter from Pro-
fessor w. F. Massey on this subject,
which will be of interest to all VINO
now have scuppernong vineyards or
who contemplate going into this busi-
ness:
Great interest is now being taken
in the scuppernong grape as the best
wine grape in America. A gentle
man from the north who had tried
unsuccessfully the growing of the
northern grapes at Southern Pines
recently wrote me that he WAS aston
ished at the luXuriance Of the SOUP
Ierno1g there without fefta Zation
or care, and was determined to go
into the culture OF this grapt There
is eItairly a great future .Jr cup
pernong culture in the gray sandy
soils of the eastern part of the state.
Parties in st. Louis are trying to
corner the whole crop in North Caro-
lima for the purpose of helping out
the California wines. The great
vineyards of Garrett & Co, in Hall
fax and Cumberland counties, are
turning out the finest of wines in i'm
mense quantities and parties all over
the land sare getting interested in
scuppernOng wines from the high
quality of their goods. l know of no
more promising industry in eastern
North Carolina than the cultivation of
the scuppernOng for the WinemakerS
Unlike the grapes of the bunch or
Labrusca class, the scuppernOng is
free from fungus attacks and insect
enemies, and it is a grape that -four
iSheS in our sandy soils as it does no
where else. It's longevity is another
thing in its favor for the original SOUP
pernong vine, the parent of all soup
Dernons is still tiourishing on Roanoke
island though nearly 800 years old. A
scuDpernOng vineyard will be the
greatest resource for old age that a
man can plant. and it will grow on
land that is almost worthless for any
thing else. Therefore We advise plant
ing scuppernOngs in suitable soils and
localities
1t is said that the proper way 20
plant ;he scuppernong is to place the
vines twenty feet apart each way, max
ing one hundred and ten vines to the
acre. 1t is claimed that in five years
the minimum yield per vine will be not
less than four bushels-four hundred
and forty bushels to the acre-worth
seventy-five cents per bushel which
makes three hundred and thirty dol
lars Per acre This is crop
which never fails. 1t requires little
or not cultivation. The gathering
and marketing IS about all the expense
attached and there is a ready market
for all that can be produced Why do
not our people take to this profitable
use of their land?