78 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



stocks. It needs a rich, sandy soil, and close pruning, as 

 it is exceedingly productive, apt to overbear and then drop 

 its leaves. Bunch below medium, compact, shouldered ; 

 berry below medium, oblong, pale red, with beautiful 

 lilac bloom ; skin not thick, but tough, very sweet, high 

 flavored, and juicy. Ripens before the Concord. Spe- 

 cific gravity of must 100. 



PURITY. I think I must also place Mr. Campbell's 

 little grape in this class, as it is very evidently a seedling 

 of Delaware. I saw it, for the first time, at the Cen- 

 tennial, and as he says it is hardy, healthy, and produc- 

 tive, it may become a valuable wine grape. I think it 

 well named. Bunch small, rather loose, shouldered ; 

 berry below medium, pale yellow, transparent, sweet, and 

 juicy, with no trace of foxiness or native flavor discerni- 

 ble. I have no doubt it would make a delightful wine. 



VITIS VULPINA, THE SCUPPERNONG. 



It may be expected that I shall say something about 

 this class, of which some of our Southern readers expect 

 so much. I will simply observe that I have tried to 

 cultivate, and once fruited the Scuppernong, or South- 

 ern Muscadine, but found it entirely useless, and all the 

 correspondence I have had with Southern grape-growers 

 has led me to the belief that we cannot expect real 

 grapes, worthy of the name, from that class, nor from 

 the Mustang of Texas. The Scuppernong and its vari- 

 eties differ entirely, in all their habits, from all other 

 grapes. The fruit drops as soon as ripe, is deficient in 

 sugar, has a very tough pulp, and strong flavor. I ven- 

 ture to assert, that another decade will see these grapes 

 dropped from the roll altogether. 



I do not write for our friends on the Pacific coast. 

 They have so far cultivated mainly the vimfera, and have 

 a different climate and soil, so it would be preposterous 



