THE SCUPPERNONG GRAPE. 37 



land not shaded, and to keep the weeds down on the rest by having 

 a heavy mulch. While the vine will grow and produce on light sandy 

 land, yet it should not be expected to get good crops from poor land. 

 The soil should be well fertilized, as for peaches. We do not believe 

 in plowing deeply or close to the vines. It breaks the roots and 

 inevitably damages the vines. 



As to gathering, the preferable plan is to gather by hand, and in 

 small vineyards this can be done. But in a large vineyard this is not 

 practicable. Poles are attached to strong sheets made of canvas, 

 each about ten feet square, and with leather handles and a man to 

 each side of the sheet, it is easily carried around between the posts, 

 which are set in even rows. . Another man or boy, with a forked stick, 

 shakes the vine gently just above the sheet, and the ripe grapes fall 

 and are caught. Children pick up the few grapes which fall outside 

 the sheet. The vines should not be beaten hard, as not only do you 

 thus get green fruit, but damage the vines by breaking the tender new 

 growth, which produces the cropknext year, or most of it. The leaves 

 can be fanned out by a fan-mill or picked out by hand ; a fan-mill is 

 best, and can be moved along as you go over the vines. The vines 

 should be gone over as often as the grapes ripen, as you cannot gather 

 all the grapes at one time without getting green or overripe fruit, 

 either of which lowers the grade of grapes. 



A word as to profit. An acre will, at three years old, with good 

 care, produce about one ton of grapes. At four years old it should 

 yield from three to four tons of grapes ; at seven years from planting 

 the acre should produce from eight to ten tons of grapes each year, 

 and this yield should continue indefinitely, or rather as long as proper 

 care is given the vineyard, as the life of the Scuppernong is more 

 than a hundred years. 



The present price per ton of grapes, in good condition, is $25. 

 These find sale at the wineries of this and adjoining States. Were 

 the grapes more plentiful the price would be less, say from $15 to 

 $18 a ton. This will give some idea of the profit to the grower, and 

 when the expenses of setting an acre and maintaining it in bearing 

 condition a total failure of the Scuppernong crop has never been 

 recorded are considered, no crop of a*ny kind will give equal returns. 



North Carolina has in the coastal region many thousands of acres 

 which would produce this crop, and many farmers would find it a 

 safe investment, and one which in time would lessen the anxieties of 

 declining years, by the annual sales from twenty or more acres in 

 this fine wine grape. 



