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116 THE BCUPPERNONG GRAPE. Editors Southern Cultivator: —Experiments in cul tivating grapes of all other species having proved unsatis factory, we were forced to be content with the Scupper nong and varieties of its species. Strange to relate, it required a Boston chemist to discover and divulge the truth,.that after all, this is the best grape in America for wine. Worthless varieties innumerable, grow almost eve rywhere, and it may be that the childish remembrance of the acrid, hard and acid fruit gathered from them, produc ed a prejudice against the species which riper years did not abate. An Episcopal Clergyman, grand father of our lamented General Pettigrew, is said to have been the first to call attention to the celebrated White Scuppernong, now cul tivated so extensively. The Flower’s Grape, a black va riety of the same species, remaining on the vine till frost, was found upon an uncultivated island in a swamp near here, and being transplanted, received the name of its discoverer. We owe our sister State of South Carolina, for the Thomas Grape; and the Pamlico or Mish originat ed in the eastern part of this State, whence first came the Scuppernong. All but the first named are black. Now, that attention is directed to the matter, a few years will probably add many more varieties, adapted to all the various soils and climates of the South. A rather poor, sandy soil, seems to suit it best; provid ed it be artificially enriched with such fertilizers as com monly accumulate near dwellings, namely: ashes, soap suds, bones, hair, old shoes, chips from the wood-yard, leaves, straw, &c., &c. For large vineyards, these mate rials cannot be procured in sufficient quantity, and wc should therefore select a better soil with facilities for get ting marl or lime, and an abundance of vegetable matter, such as leaf-mould, swamp muck, decaying corn-cobs, corn-stalks, &c. Farm yard and stable manures, and the more powerful guanoes, bone dust andpoudrettc may also be applied moderately with benefit. As the roots run very near the surface, and extend at least co equal to the top, the plow cannot be used to work near them unless passed over the ground as a mere skim mer; but a fork (hoe or spade) might be used so as to open the soil without seriously displacing it, or breaking the roots In planting, select well-rooted layers of one or two season’s growth, and be cautious not to allow' a lengthy exposure to dry air before they are put into the ground. A space of several feet should he well broken and en riched, and the roots buried two or three inches deep. If the soil is well drained and porous, so as not to hold wa ter in a puddle, it is best to plant in a shallow basin, thus preventing the wind from blowing away the mulching of leaves or Straw, whichwe consider of prime importance the first year. By covering the earth several feet around the plant, no weeds can grow; but it will grow and thrive in spite of the droughts, which otherwise often destroy a large proportion of them. To have the vine straight and upright, after the plants get well started, pinch or cut off all shoots but one, and tie it tightly to a stake as it grows. The seeond year it will require an arbor, which in this re gion is commonly made with lightwood posts notched on the top and supporting a layer of common fence rails. The limbs of a dogwood, with its flat-spreading branches SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. (cut while the leaves are off) laid upon the rails, affords an excellent support for the tendrils of the vine, whose branches should now be trained in every direction. The wind is the greatest obstacle to training vines symmetri cally, and unless guarded against will roll them up or fold them into an unsightly or tangled mass to the permanent injury of the arbor. Unless discovered and rectified im mediately, the tendrils interlock, and it is almost impossi ble to remedy the misfortune. Let this be remembered, and die vines tied securely, but not so as to bind or cut them. As they extend, apply new ligatures towards the extremities and cut away those behind. After the fourth or fifth year, it is customary to allow the branches to hang over the edge of the arbor, and ligatures are no longer required; but the arbor must be expanded from time to time to prevent the branches from hanging too low, or bending back one upon another. After the vine gets ■ stout enough to bear up well, it is not necessary to have the rails nearer to each other than three or four feet, but they require to be stouter ; enough should be used at all events to prevent sagging. Although pruning is not ne cessary to make abundant crops and a thrifty vine, it is nevertheless highly advantageous to cut out all the dead twigs that accumulate from year to year upon the base of the arbor. A sharp, stout, knife should be used so as to cut close to the green wood and leave no thorns to rend hand or garment when reaching for the fruit. The best time for this work is as soon after the fruit is gathered as convenient. In harvesting, the benefit of pruning will be appreciated, unless the common but outrageous method bo adopted of mounting on the top of the arbor, with flail in hand, and imitating the old mode of threshing grain. Ualf ripe Seuppernongs and mature fruit of the Flowers’ vine, have too strong attachment to mother, to let go readily; and lamming both parent and offspring will not teach them better. As the learned Bostonians have decided against beating criminals and children, so we protest against such inflictions upon the vine and its fruit. As to the distance at which vines should be planted, opinions differ; some advocating sixty or eighty feet; others, twenty or thirty. Experience is wanting to decide the matter; one advantage of the shorter distance is that the ground will soon be covered and shaded, so as not to require work to prevent the growth of weeds; and also the per acre yield will sooner reach its maximum. In stead of waiting fifteen or twenty years to gain this point, you will reach it in six or eight; and afterwards, if the vines get too thick, a portion of them might be cut out. In gathering the Scuppernong, a broad sheet may be spread upon the ground, and over it a forked stick placed against the larger branches by a few succussions will suffice to shake off the fruit. The Flowers’ grape require* to be hand-picked, as they will not fall off until partially decayed. It is impossible to give as yet, the productive capacity of an acre, because we have no acres of well-ex panded arbors to measure; but from observation, and the expressed opinions of intelligent owners of vines, we think it safe to estimate a yield of ten bushels of grapes for eve ry space required to grow one bushel of corn. In a few more years, this matter can be decided if the endeavor is made, as there are many acres planted which may be made soon to reach the point of highest capacity. Enough how ever, is known to decide that the vine is far more lucra-