576 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Vitis vulpina, Linne.* ( Vitis rotundifolia, Michaux. ) 



The Muscadine- or Fox-Grape. South-Eastern States of North- 

 America ; extends also to Japan, Manchuria and the Himalayas. 

 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 Vitis 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 Washing- 

 ton it succumbs to the cold, being thus not hardy like most other 

 North-American species in Northern Germany. The bunches con- 

 tain generally only from 4 to 10 large berries, but are produced 

 abundantly all over the plant. The berries are of a brownish-yellow 

 colour 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 [Plan- 

 chon]. 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. asstivalis, 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 V. vulpina also V. 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 hypogsea. 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 



