SPECIAL VINE CROPS 217 



vated in these countries and in some of the tropical islands near 

 them. The plant has smooth, waxy bark and is of a light green 

 color. In planting, shoots about a yard long are set out at the 

 foot of a tree, upon which the vine climbs and grows. At the end 

 of the third year the vines begin to bear small, delicately scented 

 blossoms. Later these drop off and pods about the size of a large 

 banana take their places. 



The pods are gathered just before they mature, and are dried 

 and put through a sweat under sheds. This develops and fixes 

 the aroma so characteristic of vanilla. From these pods and their 

 beans is made the vanilla extract of commerce. 



EXERCISES 



1. Visit a grape vineyard, if possible, and learn all you can about grape. 

 culture. Ascertain what varieties have been tried in your locality and the 

 results. 



2. Estimate the cost of setting out a vineyard of five acres. 



3. Estimate amount of fruit that may be expected and calculate the 

 value when grapes are worth forty cents a basket. 



4. Which is more valuable, all things considered, five acres of grapes 

 or five acres of strawberries ? Prove your statement. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Name some of the special vine crops. 



2. Discuss grape culture. 



3. Name some of the commercial uses of grapes. 



4. Name some of the leading varieties of grapes. 



5. Discuss hop culture. 



6. Name some of the uses of hops. 



7. Discuss the culture of black pepper. 



8. How is white pepper made ? 



9. Describe the vanilla vine and its fruit. 



REFERENCES 



American Grape Growing and Wine Making, George Husmann. 



Grape Growers' Guide, William Chorlton. 



The Hop, Herbert Myrick. 



How the World is Fed (Industrial Reader), Carpenter. 



North America (Geographical Reader), Carpenter. 



