Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-20
THE SCUPPERNONG GRAPE.

Editor Southern Planter:
The States of Virginia, North Car
olina and South Carolina have a yalu-
able grape in the Scuppernong. 1t
reaches its greatest perfection in the
counties bordering the Atlantic.
1t has been tried with Indifferent
success in many other States. The
vine grows quickly, is long-lived,
hardy and vigorous and almost immune
from disease.
1t is the largest domestic grape
known, often measuring two and half
to three inches it circumference.
When the fruit is ripening its fragrance
fills the air with a delicious aroma.
The skin is thick and tough, but the
fruit soft and juicy with a lucious flavor
peculiarly its own. 1t is extremely
popular in the South for the table. and
as wine grape the demand far ex-
ceeds the supply.
Commercially, this grape could be
made most valuable asset in the sec
ton indicated, but as yet very little
attention has been given to it as a
means of revenue. With care and cul-
tivation thrifty vine will produce
more than double the amount of fruit
and wine per acre of any grape in the
world. The vines commence to bear
the second year. 1t is estimated from
vines five years old, an income of from
$500 to $500 per acre can be secured.
while more than double that amount
can be depended on in ten or twelve
years.
In fifteen years an acre should weld
an income of from 81, 900 to 81, 500. A
we'll cared for vineyard has been known
to yield over thousand bushels to the
acre in good season.
The market price this year has been
from $1-75 to $500 per bushel of sixty
pounds. Under present conditions the
possibilities are immense. 1t is a crop
that never fails, and the cost of cult
walton, after the first year, compared
with the labor expended on cotton, to-
bacco, peanuts, etc, is trifiine' One
hundred and ten vines to the acreis
enough. Each vine should average
eight to ten bushels.
GOOD grape growing lands can be
bought to-day for $S to SIP per acre.
and we have shown that in fifteen years
ten-acre farm should yield an income
of from $40. 900 to $l5, 900 per year.
Before planting the ground must be
we'll plowed and fertilized. Posts
placed at intervals of 10 or IL feet. z
feet high, with wire or Stats overhead
make the most approved arbor. No
trimming is done to the vines, and as
the fruit ripens it is quickly gathered
by shaking it into sheets or canvas
placed beneath.
The larger vine shown in the illustra-
tion is believed to be over 800 wears
old. 1t is still growing, hearty and
vigorous, on Roanoke Island, N. c.,
not far from the original landing place
of Captain Amadas and his colonists,
and where for the first time the flag of
and England was unfuried to the breezes
of the new World.
The smaller vine is but four wears
old; it extends a distance of over so feet
from end to end, and at least 10 feet of
the vine to the left does not show in
the picture. 1t yielded we'll the past
season, and would have been better
had it been trailed on an overhead
arbor, instead of on an upright one. 1t
shows the rapid growth of this species.
1t is located on Carriers Creek, Ian
caster county, Virginia, not far from
the Rappahannock river.
A. ID. DART.
Irvington, Va,