Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-23
The ;farm aud 9ireside.
FsoIa the Fairfield Herald.
LUCERNE IN FAIRFIELD.

WHAT QUANTITY OF 1T NAY BE GROWN ON A
HALF-ACRE LOT.
By permission of Major Hammond and Colo
mel Rion, we give our readers all account OF
the success with which lucerne can be raised
in Fairfield. Colonel Rion refers to Mr.. W.
B. Creight and Mr. Thomas Jordan for proof
that the 1000 pounds mentioned is much be-
low the correct figures:
W1NNsBoRo, S. c., 9th September, 1850.
Major Harry Hammond, United States Super
visor.
DEAR MAJOR I am in receipt of your let
ter of the 4th instant, and proceed, as request
ed, to give you an account of my experience
with
LUCERNE IN FAIRFIELD, s. c.
1 have lot containing one-half acre, which
was a part of an old, worn out field. plant
ed it in corn for few years, when nut-grass
became great pest. In order to kiltthe nut
grass had it plowed five times, quite shallow,
during July and August. In September, 1873,
it was we'll manured, and then plowed with
two-horse turning plow, followed by bull
tongue. The subsoil is a stiff red clay. The
red clay lies near the surface and was turned
up so that the lot looked like purely red clay
soil 1t was then narrowed with a revolving
harrow then, on September 18th, planted
clover. 1t came up well and gave Inc two
good cuttings in 1874.
In 1875 got one poor cutting, the nut-grass
having nearly choked the clover out. On the
7th of September had the lot plowed with a
turning plow, narrowed, and planted with ten
pounds of lucerne seed broadcast. 1t came up
thick, and so did the weeds; 50 that in March,
1876, nothing was visible except the weeds.
had the lot cut close to the ground, and six
how 10 Of mo (cha1n the
face The lucerne grew up with some weeds.
After the next cutting, the weeds disappeared,
and have never been able to contend with the
lucerne since ; and the nut-grass is visible only
scatteringly, so that search is necessary to dis
cover that there is any. The lucerne gave four
good cuttings in 1876, the summer following
the fall when planted. I keep three horses
and two cows. l compared my hay bill from
March to October, both inclusive, OF 1876,
with the same expense for like period of 1877,
and found it to be $64 greater. But used
only "East River" hay which IS costly. In
1878 had ten cuttings, averaging over p feet
each. the lucerne being very thick. Each of
these ten cuttings off the half-acre would
weigh over four thousand pounds 1000 lbs
In 1879 we had drought and the lucene was
cut only six times.
This summer we have had another drought,
and to this time have had only four cuttings.
1 first cut about the middle of March and stop
early in October. Each summer 1 give the
whole lot heavy top dressing of stable ma
nure following each day rs cutting, with dress
ing for the surface cut, until the whole lot is
manured. The lucerne remains green all the
year, stand from six to eight inches high du-
ring winter.
No replanting is necessary. There are
plants in garden here, which the old lady to
no known l.
vidual plants for over fifty years. l never al
low any animal to Craze upon my lucerne.
The half-acre affords green food sufficient for
my three horses and two COWS.
My success has induced some ten or eleven
citizens of this town to plant lucerne lots, all
successfully. AS lucerne is not cotton, none
of the planters Of this county have attempted
to raise lucerne and this county imports large
quantities of hay and baled fodder each year.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAS II. RION.