The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-08-31
WILL DO WELL
IN THIS STATE
THE MUsCADINE GRAPES
Possibilities of Profit on Vine
yards Which Can be Establish
ed Over Wide Area in South
east-Several Varieties

Muscadine grapes can be grown
successfully over a large area i'll
the southern and southeastern
portion. of the United States, ac-
cording to specialists of the de-
partment
In Farmers Bulletin No. 100, a
new publication dealing with this
subject, it is stated that there are
at least 250,000,000, acres of land
along the southeastern Atlantic
coast and the Gulf coast which
are well adapted to the culture of
these grapes and a large percent
age of which at present is untitled.
1t is, in fact, only during the last
10 years that the production of
Muscadine grapes, which are es-
pecially suited to this territory,
has assumed commercial impor-
tance.
Muscadine grapes are used
chiefly for wine making but when
carefully picked and handled
there is considerable demand for
them as table grapes They also
make excellent jellies, preserves,
catsups, etc. The Scuppernong,
a light colored variety, and the
Eden, Flowers, James, Memory,
and Thomas, dark colored varieti-
es listed in catalogs and grown in
commercial way. Of these, the
Scuppernong is much preferred
for wine purposes.
Muscadine grapes can be grown
wherever cotton thrives, and can
be grown on almost any of the
tillable soils along the Atlantic
coast from the James river to
Florida and from Florida along
the Gulf coast to Texas, their nat
ural habitat extending along the
sea well into the mountains. They
succeed also along the Mississippi
River as far north as southeastern
Missouri and the Tennessee Riv-
er.
The best results are obtained on
sandy loan soils that are well
drained and contain a fair amount
of fertility and organic matter.
1t is important that the sub
soil be well drained. If Musca-
dimes are to be planted ON new
land the soil should be well pre-
pared and some crop requiring
cultivation be grown on it at least
one season.
The first two seasons after plant
ing, hoed crops, such as melons,
peanuts, cotton, or tobacco may be
grown between the vines. After
this a leguminous crop, such as
COW peas and soy beans in the
summer, and vctch, but clover. or
crimson clover in the winter, may
be grown to regulate the soil mois-
ture supply and fertility.
If the vines are properly sup
ported it will do no harm to Craze
cows, sheep or hogs on the winter
crop in vineyard in early spring
before the vine growth starts. AT
ter the second season the winter
cover crops should be plowed UNI
der in the spring as soon as pos
sible after grazing cutting for
hay, or harvesting for seed, fol
lowed with cultivation through
the early part of the summer.
In addition to good cultivation
and inter-croppng, commercial
fertilizers should be used to give
best results with Muscadine grap-
es. 1t is also good practice to
mulch young vines with stable
manure. heterogeneous fertilizers
applied to young vines induce
them to make a robust growth and
to bear a profitable crop the third
year, results which under ordi-
nary conditions would not have
been attained before the fourth
year. After the vines have reach
ed bearing age, with proper cul-
ture and inter-crOpping they will
require more phosphoric acid and
potash.
All the leading fruit varieties
of Muscadine grapes have been
proven to be Self-sterile and set no
fruit unless their blossoms are
pollinated with the fertile pollen
of male vines. The crOss-pollina-
tion is brought about by insects.
Therefore, it is necessary to plant
vines here and there in the vine
yard, one such vine to every