436 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



runs riot in natural luxuriance from Delaware and Maryland to 

 the Gulf and westward from the Atlantic to Arkansas and Texas. 

 Scuppernong vines are found on arbors, in gardens, or half wild, 

 on trees and fences on nearly every farm in the South Atlantic 

 states. As a rule, these vines receive little cultivation, are 

 unpruned and are given no care of any kind ; but even under 

 neglect they produce large crops. The vines are almost immune 

 to mildew, rot, phylloxera, or other fungal or insect pests ; they 

 give not only an abundance of fruit but on arbors and trellises 

 are much prized for their shade and beauty. The fruit, to a 

 palate accustomed to other grapes, is not very acceptable, 

 having a musky flavor and a somewhat repugnant odor, which, 

 however, with familiarity becomes quite agreeable. The pulp 

 is sweet and juicy but is lacking in sprightliness. The grapes 

 are not suitable for the market since the berries drop from the 

 bunch in ripening and become more or less smeared with juice 

 so that their appearance is not appetizing. 



Vine vigorous, not hardy in the North, very productive. Canes 

 long, numerous, slender, ash-gray to grayish-brown ; surface smooth, 

 thickly covered with small, light brown dots ; tendrils intermittent, 

 simple. Leaves small, thin ; upper surface light green, smooth ; lower 

 surface very pale green, pubescent along the ribs ; veins inconspicuous. 

 Flowers very late ; stamens reflexed. 



Fruit late, ripens unevenly, berries drop as they mature. Clusters 

 small, round, unshouldered, loose. Berries few in a cluster, large, 

 round, dull green, often with brown tinge, firm ; skin thick, tough 

 with many small russet dots ; flesh pale green, juicy, tender, soft, 

 fine-grained, foxy, sweet to agreeably tart; fair to good. Seeds ad- 

 herent, large, short, broad, unnotched, blunt, plump, surface smooth, 

 brown. 



SECRETARY 



(Vinifera, Vulpina, Labrusca) 



Injured by mildew and rot which attack leaves, fruit and 

 young wood, the vines of Secretary are able to produce good 

 grapes only in exceptional seasons and in favored localities. 



