GRAPES. 179 



green or decayed berries should be clipped from the bunches 

 with sharp-pointed grape scissors. The 5- and g^pound bas- 

 kets are the most common packages, but they are not only 

 more inconvenient for packing in the car, but are too close 

 for the far South, in hot weather. The square box or crate, 

 with four 5-pound baskets, such as seems to be in general use 

 in California, is far better, and they should be well filled, so 

 the cover will fit tightly, to prevent shaking. The catalogues 

 will furnish a very extensive list for those who want variety, 

 even though inferior grapes. 



But there is one other grand but neglected old grape for 

 home use, both for the table and for wine. I allude to the 

 Scuppernong, which, while it grows everywhere like a weed, 

 has failed hitherto to set its fruit. The cause is now very 

 plain. Simply the old trouble of pistillate blooms. Mr. S. 

 N. Richardson, of Alvin, tells me that he has tried it, and 

 named a party in Columbia who had the same experience on 

 a large scale. If the common male Muscadine, which blooms 

 just when the Scuppermong does, is planted close by, instead 

 of dropping its fruit, as it always does, the latter will bear 

 every year, and most profusely. This is a very important 

 fact, for this famous old southern vine, if trellised, will cover 

 an acre, and asks no other favors than a good annual dress- . 

 ing of potash in some form, and then to have its roots let 

 alone. For chicken yard, around back doors, or wherever 

 shade is desired, it will not only answer that useful purpose, 

 but also bear loads of delicious grapes for wine or table use. 



As to distance for planting, eight feet each way between 

 the Labrusca varieties will be sufficient, but twelve feet or 

 more is best for the Herbemont and Lenoir in the immediate 

 coast country. Around San Antonio and in Southwest 

 Texas, however, they succeed well stump-pruned, like the 

 Vinifera in California, but the climate is dryer in that portion 

 of Texas, and vines are less subject to rot. While clean 

 cultivation is now the rule, I propose planting a small vine- 

 yard, as an experiment, with twelve feet between rows and 

 vines four feet in the rows. After cultivating for a year very 

 shallow, they will be put down to grass and mowed often 



