The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-14

haI-.ASSe Lot.
by permission Of Major Hammond
and Colonel Rion we give our readers
an account Of the success with which
luccrnc can be raised in Fairfield.
Colonel Rion rcirrs to Mr.. W. B.
Crcight and Mr.. Thos. Jordan for
proof that the 4 900 lbs. mentioned is
much 6cloU the correct figures.
WINNsboEo, S. c., 9Th Sept, 1880.
1fGj. Ua':y Hammond, United States
Supervisor.
DEAR Major: I am in receipt Of
your letter of tho 4th inst; proceed, rs
requested, TO give you an account Of
my experience with
LUcERNE IN FA1RF1EfD, SO. CA.
l have lot contcining one-half acre, !,
which was a part Of an old, worn-out
field: l planted it in corn for few
years, when mt-grass became great
pest. III order to kill thJ nut-grass |
had it pIowcl five times, quite shall
low, during July and August. In
September, 1879, it was we'll manurcd
and then ploWcl with II two. horse
turning plow, followed by bull
tongue. The suhsoil is a stiff red
clay. This red clay lies near tho sur
race and was turned up SO that the lot
looked Ike purely rcd clay soil. 1t
was then narrowed with q revolving
harrow. } thcn1 on 10th September,
planted cfore'. IL came up well and
gave me two good cuttings in 1871.
In 1879 | got one poor ctttting, the
nnt-grass having nearly chokcd the
clover out On 7th September l had
the lot plowcd with IL turning plow,
narrowed, and planted with 10 lbs. Of
GtcelWe seed brO0iicuSi. 1t c;.nc uD
thick, aud SO did Tie weeds: SO that
III March, 1876, nothing was visible
except The weeds. had the lot cut
close to the ground, and six barrels OF
gas lime (shclD spread upon the sur
face. The luccrnc grew up with some
weeds. After the next cutting, the
weeds Disappeared, and have never
been able to contend with the luccrnc
since; and the nut-y1'uSs is visible
only scattcringly, SO that search is
necessary to discover that there is any.
the luccrnc gave four good cuttings
in 1876, the summer following the lall
when planted. l keep three horses
and two cows. | com pared my hay
bh! from March to October, both in
elusive, Of 1879, with TIC same expense
for a like period Of 1877, and ] found
1t to sGl greater. But used onlv
Fast Iivcr' hay which is costly. In
100 llad ten cuttings, averaging over
= feet each, the luccrnc being very
thick. -Edrh Of these ten cuttings Off
Tie hal!-acrc would WEIGH orc,. four
thousand pounds G 900 ibs.) In 1879
we Dad drought and the },lucrnc was
cut only six times.
This summer we have had another
drought, and to this time have had
only iour cuttings. | first cut about
the middle Of March and stop early in
October. Each SHmmcr / give tho
whole lot II heavy top drossin" of
Stable manure following each DAYS
cutting, with dressing for the sur
lace clt until the whole lot is nanur-
Cd. The luc"rno rcsnains green al
the year, stand from six TO ciyht inches
high during winter.
RIO rcp'antfng is necessary. There
arc plants in Il garden here witch the
old lady TO whom tho garden belongs
has known rs iniirHiuul l!0His for
over iitly years. l never allow any
animal to Craze upon my luccrnc. The
nali-arro affords G!rcn food sufficient
Tor my three horses and two cows.
MY success has induced some ten or
eleven citizens Of this town to nlnnt
iurcrhc lots, all successfully. AS
IMccrnc is not cotton, none Of the
planters OF this county havo attempted
to raise luccrnc; and this county i'm
p"ris large quantities Of hay and balcd
fodder each year.
Very respectfully,
Your obcdicnt servant,
JAS. IT. Ron.