The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-21

Mr. T. r. COIe, special agent OI the
bureau of plant industry of the de-
partment Of agriculture. has been
spending some time in The south At
lantic states making a study for the
government Of the scuppernong grape.
His tour extended as for south as Mo-
bile. He was in this city d few days
ago and we had the pleasure OF meet
ing him and hearing an interesting &C
count of his work and the purposes Of
the agricultural department in making
this investigation.
Mr.. Coles study is Of the Wits rotun-
difolia." that is. the round leaf grape
which includes the scuppernong, the
mish. the Flowers, the James and the
Thomas.
The purpose of the department is to
develop an improved species Of soup
pernong-one that will stand shipping
and Will grow more in punches so il
will become a market grape; also n
that has fewer and smaller seed and
thinner skin. Mr. Cole, while looking
up the different varieties Of this class
of grapes is also making a study of the
character of soil best adapted TO its
growth, atmospheric influences, the
effect of cultivation, etc.
There is probability Of the govern
ment establishing an experiment sta
ton in this state for developing i'm
proved scuppernong grape culture. If it
is located in this state our agricultural
department will be asked 20 join that
Of the government in the work and
aid it not only in the development
of the marketable grape, but also in
walton.
1t would be a great thing for Our
state were such experiment station es-
tablished within her borders. 1t would
encourage the cultivation Of the soup
pernong, and even in it's present I'M
improved condition this grape is a very
lucrative crop for the farmer and
trucker. There are immense possibili-
ties in it under present conditions. 1t
is a crop that never fails. It's cultiva-
ton costs little or nothing. There is
a ready market at good prices at the
three or four wineries in the state. The
land on which the vines are planted
can be cultivated in other crops until
the vines become large enough to bear,
so the owner does not lose the use Of
his land while the vines are reaching
the bearing age, which is four or five
years. All things considered the SOUP
pernong is the ideal crop for the small
farmer in this section of the state
a sure crop. easily and cheaply cultiva-
ted, an increasing demand for the
fruit at good prices. TO what better
use could the trucker put his land.
These are the conditions now where
the grape is put to only one use-mak-
ing wine. The agricultural depart
ment expects in it's Investigation to
look into the matter of other uses to
which it can be put, especially the
skins, which are now thrown away,
being of no value. If vinegar or alco-
hol and perhaps Some other by-pro-
ducts can be made from them it will, of
course, greatly increase the market
value of the grapes
The scuppernong grape is going to
become an important farm product in
this section Of the country. The de-
mand for It is now increasing rapidly
is increasing faster than the produc-
ton and there is no danger of it not
keeping MP with the supply.
Every farmer in this section of the
country should have a few acres IN this
grape. The sooner the vines are set
out the one will they begin to be
profitable.