The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-04-14
GREAT Possibilities FOR
GRAPE CULTURE IN TEXAS
Vineyards Can Be Established Over a
Wide Area In Southern States.
MuscadInes Best Adapted.

Washington, D. c. Muscadine
grapes can be grown successfully over
a very large area in the southern and
southeastern portions OF the United
States, according to specialists Of the
United States department of agricul-
ture.
1t is stated that there are at least
250,O00,000 acres OF land along the
Southeastern Atlantic coast and the
gulf coast which are we'll adapted to
the culture Of these grapes, and large
percentage Of which is at present un,
titled, 1t Is, In fact, only during the
last ten years that the production OF
MusCadine grapes, which are especial
ly suited TO this territory, has as.
sumed commercial Importance.
Muscadine grapes are used chiefly
for wine making, but when carefully
picked and handled there Is a Consid-
cradle demand for them as table
grapes. They also make excellent jel-
lies, preserves, catsups, etc. The
ScuppernoRg, a llght-colored variety,
and the Eden, Flowers, James, Mem
DRY and Thomas, dark-colored Varie-
ties, are the only varieties listed In
catalogues and grown In q CONNER
cial way. OF these, the Scuppernong
is much preferred FOR wine purposes.
MusCadine grapes can be success
fully grown wherever cotton thrives,
and can be grown on almost any Of
the tillable soils along the Atlantic
coast from tie James river to Florida
and from Florida along the gulf coast
to Texas, their natural habitant ex-
tending along the sea well into the
mountains. The best results are OBJ
tanned on sandy loan soils that are
well drained and contain a fair amount
Of fertility and organic matter.
It is important that the subsoil be
we'll drained. II Muscadines are to
be planted on new land, the land
should be well prepared and some an.
nual crop requiring cultivation be
grown on 1t at least one season.
The first two seasons after planting,
hoed crops, such as melons, peanuts,
cotton or tobacco, may be grown be-
tween the vines. After this legu,
minous crop, such as cowpeas and
soy beans In the summer, and vetch,
bur clover or crimson clover in the
winter may be grown to regulate the
soil moisture supply and fertility.
II the vines are properly supported
It Will do no harm to Craze COWS
sheep, or hogs on the winter cover
crop in the vineyard In early spring
before the vine growth starts. After
the second season the winter cover
crops should be plowed under In the
spring az soon as, possible after graz
Ing, cutting for hay or harvesting foI
seed, followed with cultivation through
the early part Of the summer.
In addition to good cultivation ant
interCrOpping, commercial fertilizers
should be used to give best results
with Muscadine grapes. 1t is also con
sidered good practice to mulch young
vines with stable manure. Nitrogen
GUS fertilizers applied to young vine;
induce them to make a robust growtl
and to bear profitable crop the thirt
year, results which, under ordinar!
conditions, would not have been attain
ed before the fourth year. After thu
vines have reached bearing age. will
proper culture and intercroppirg, the,
! will need but little nitrogen to keeI
them thrifty, but will require NOR,
phosphoric acid and potash.
All the leading fruiting varieties o
Muscadine grapes have been proven
to be self-sterile and set no fruit IN
less their blossoms are pollinated wit
the fertile pollen Of male vines.
Until re emily 1t was a common be
lief that Muscadine vines could no
be pruned without killing them. Thi
has been shown to be a mistake
The Muscadine grapes are very pre-
ductive and up to the present tim
remunerative prices have been secure
Tor the fruit.