St. Landry democrat., 1881-07-30
"A Mann moth Plantation.
Alexandria EXPRESS. |

alexandria Express.
On last Wednesday we took a drive
III company with Mr.. j. Nelson Ball, the
courteous and efficient manager of the
Clapp plantation near this town, over
the very extensive domain now under
cultivation on that place. The estate
OF which the plantation comprises only
productive in the State. This property
was formerly owned by the late Hub
bard Flint, and, prior to the war, had
been worked as sugar plantation. 1t
embraces a territory Of two thousand
four hundred and sixty acres, all of
which is open land. The crop produced
on this place in 1860, was about 1900
hhds Of sugar, 1000 bbls of molasses,
and 500 bales of cotton. During the
memorable Banks raid OF 1864, up Red
river, this magnificent plantation was
so completely devastated that not a
single building or panel Of fence was
left standing.
The removal of the slaves to Texas
for safe keeping caused the abandon
ment of the vast estate until the war
closed. The property was sold at
Sheritt's sale in 1869, and was purchased
$4,000. After the purchase by the
Messrs. Clapp a great many improve
ments were made OH the property and
within the past year many new build
ings have been erected. There is now
in cultivation Oh this place about 5000
acres, of which, there are 1900 acres in
cotton, 500 acres in corn, and about 800
acres in grasses. We passed over a
large part of the plantation, and the
crops of all kinds show that they have
had thorough cultivation, and, they
| are as fine as any we have ever seen. The
| entire cotton crop is magnificent and
if no disaster should befall it will make
much more than d bale per acre. The
corn crop is proportionately good.
The hay farm which is Il special and
important feature of this plantation,
embraces about 300 acres. This com
dustry was commenced on this place
some ten years ago by Mr.. Simon Cullen,
of the firm of Cullen & Rogers, and to
| him as the pioneer in a branch of farm
ing that no distant day, will be engaged
| in very extensively throughout this
section, our people are indebted for the
utilization OF all indigenous product
| that is far more remunerative than
either cotton or sugar.
The grasses grown on this place are
the Bermuda aud White and Red clover.
Two cuttings are made during the year,
one in May and the other in September.
The average yield is 2 tons at each
cutting or tons a year, per acre. This
hay is in great demand and finds a
ready market at all the towns along
Red river from Shreveport down, and
a large quantity is sold in New Orleans.
1t brings at this time ST. per ton. The
total expense of cutting, hauling and
| l., tnl fnn 10
| information we obtained from Mr.. Ball,
and to exhibit more fully the expense
and profits we submit the following
data obtained from him:
800 acres yields 1900 tons at $17- $50, 400
Cost of saving and mixing 1900
tons at "a per tom 800
! Net profits. 900
The mowers, rakes, buildings, and
other machinery used in this business
cost about $3O0O,OO. The only cost at
tending this crop is the leveling of the
land to enable the mowers to cut it, and
that of fencing.
We are greatly pleased and aston
ishe,ii at the work done by the hay
press, which is o"e manufactured at
Albany, n. Y, by T. Dnderick, The
bales contain one hundred pounds, a
convenient size for hauling and retailing
The press on Thursday last turned out
400 bales.
Besides the various farm crops con J.
siderable number of stock are raised Oh
the place. The present season thirty
mules raised on this place, all of fine
size, were broken, and nearly all the
work stock now on the place were
raised OH it. There are, also, about
1900 head of sheep, and considerable
number of cattle. There are about 45(
acres in pasturage which affords grazing
the entire year, and which, with the
hay saved on the place keeps all the
stock in good order the seasons through
The thorough system and order which
are noticeable features in everything OF
this plantation, combined with ths
energy and thorough going admins
trative qualities of Mr.. Ball as mana
ger, fully demonstrate what may b.
done when those requisites for success
are not wanting.