84 



THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



original vine is still in existence. The Muscadine type 

 of grape differs from other species in having a tight, 

 non- shredding bark, nnforked tendrils, a very long 

 growth of vine, very late bloom, and few -fruited clus- 

 ters of globular, thick-skinned, musky-tasted fruits. 



Km. it. The native Muscadine grape. Vitit rotundifolia. 



It grows wild from Maryland southwards, bul it reaches 

 its greatesl perfection south of Virginia. The fruita 

 are purple-black, excepl in the Scuppernong, which is 

 yellowish. This variety bears four to six large grape^ 



in ; , .•luster, which tall to the ground as thej ripen. 



The Scuppernong has Ion-- been highly esteemed in the 

 South, tor although the quality is far inferior to that of 

 the Catawba in the opinion of mosl persons, it makes 

 excellenl wine, and it is a regular and abundant bearerl 



