182 THE VINES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



on " The Origin of the Catawba Grape " were given 

 last year (1859) in an article for the American 

 Farmer. 



3. Muscadine. (V. vulpina, Linn.) Known also 

 as Bullace^ Bull Ciraiye^ and Bullet Grafe^ and far- 

 ther south as Fox Grape; in Florida, as 3Iustang 

 Grape. It extends northward as far as jMarj'land 

 and Kentucky, from whence southward it is one of 

 the most common vines. In tliis State it is found, in 

 various soils, from the coast to Cherokee, but most 

 luxuriant in light soils of the Lower District, cover- 

 ing the loftiest trees. The bark is pale and smooth, 

 that of the smaller branches dotted with minute 

 warts. The leaves are about 3 inches long, thin, 

 smooth and shining, coarse-toothed, and nearly round 

 and heart-shaped. The berries are in small bunches, 

 larger and thicker skinned than an}^ of our other 

 Grapes, varying in color from whitish through differ- 

 ent shades of red and-pur[)le to ebony black. The 

 quality of the fruit varies as much as its color, being 

 now of a sharp acid flavor, and again of luscious 

 sweetness. 



The Sciippernong^ now so famous as a Table and 

 Wine Grape, is a variety of this species. There are 

 still found in the Lower and Middle Districts, espe- 

 cially in the former, wild vines bearing a whitish or 

 amber berry, like the original Scuppernong^ but of 

 various qualities, as in the case with the colored 

 kinds. Some of them are no better than the com- 

 monest Muscadines ; and no one is superior, if equal, 



