518 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



This species includes as varieties the Bullace, the Mustang, the 

 Bullate- Grape and both kinds of the Scuppernongs. The berries 

 are of pleasant taste, but in some instances of strong flavor ; they 

 are the largest among American grapes. All the varieties derived 

 from Yitis vulpina are perfectly proof against the attacks of 

 Phylloxera vastatrix. Although in infected districts a few insects 

 may sometimes be found on it, yet no ill effects are ever manifested. 

 The flowering season is about six weeks later than that of the 

 European vine. This species is not easily propagated from cuttings, 

 but must be raised from seeds or by layering. As this is a very 

 large species, the vines should be planted 20 to 30 feet apart, and 

 grown in bower-fashion or on trellises. It does not bear pruning*, 

 but some of the superfluous wood may be trimmed off during 

 summer. It is only suited for mild climates ; even in the latitude 

 of Washington it succumbs to the cold, being thus not hardy like 

 most other North-American species in Northern Germany. The 

 bunches contain generally only from 4 to 10 large berries, but are 

 produced abundantly all over the plant. The berries are of a 

 brownish-yellow color with a bronze-tinge when ripe ; the peel is 

 coriaceous, the juice vinous, of delicate perfume resembling muscat. 

 The grapes do not ripen together, but successively during about a 

 month, and drop off the stalk when ripe. To gather them a sheet 

 is generally spread under the vine and the latter shaken. The 

 Muscadine vine grows sometimes to an extraordinary size, rising to 

 the top of the tallest trees. A Scuppernong, planted on the island 

 of Roanoke, covers the almost incredible area of more than 40 acres ; 

 another is mentioned by M. Labiaux as extending still further. 

 Vitis vulpina' is not suited for stock, on which to graft the 

 European vine [Planchon]. Hybrids of this species with the 

 European and with other American vines are but little fertile, but 

 by further crossing the first hybrids can furnish fertile sorts, 

 whereas crosses between Vitis vinifera, V. aBstivalis, V. cordifolia, 

 V. riparia and V Labrusca in any way are hardly less fertile than 

 the original species [Bush and Meissner]. Dr. Regel refers to 

 Y. vulpina also Y. parviflora, Roxburgh. The important memoirs 

 " Les Vignes Americanes," published by Planchon since 1875, 

 should be consulted in reference to American vines. 



Voandzeia subterranea, Thouars. 



Madagascar and various parts of Africa, as far south as Natal. 

 This Earth-Pea is annual, and pushes its pods underground for 

 maturation in the manner of Arachis hypogasa. The pods are 

 edible and consumed in some tropical countries. The crop from 

 this plant has been particularly rich in Arnheim's Land, never 

 less than a hundred fold. The seeds, soaked in water for a night 

 and then boiled, afford a nutritive and palatable food [M. Holtze]. 

 Each pod has generally only, one seed, somewhat larger than a pea. 

 [Dr. Henkel].' 



