Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-28
A NEW INDUSTRY HERE.
Virginia Capital Turns Twickenham
Plantation Into a Hay, stock and Dairy
Ear,n-Pfaus of Those in Charge.

EAr1n-IkAus OI 4hOsC III CheA6Os
Out on Twickenham plantation-Dr.
w. S. Lawton's extensive place lying
east of the city-three enterprising Virr-
ginians are engaged in an agricultural
project, which is a new thing for this Sec
ton of the South. 1t will doubtless at
tract great attention from Savannah
people, and about its success there can
be no doubt. It is nothing else than the
starting of hay, dairy, truck and stock
farm. In the hay, truck and stock BUSH
ness MesSrs. G. p. Ehrman and
Jacob II. Winant are associated, and
Mr.. NJ. B. Smart, of Staunton, Va, is
added to the firm in the dairy business,
having special charge OF that branch OF
the work. They are pushing men, and
are already hard at work, although they
will not be given full possession until
Jan. L.
A reporter CT the NEWS yesterday
visited Twickeuham, and saw much TO
interest him. The ground secured by
these gentlemen comprises 600 acres OF
excellent land, Two hundred acres lie
beck of the bluff which separates it from
tie extensive meadows, and this
will be utilized in the growing
Of truck, etc. Between the bluff
and the river, and bordering Tor con-
Sl01TaDlS AtSbducG On iuC DU-CaAAS AlCS "a
magnificent savanna, containing 400 acres.
/ This ground is of the most fertile charac-
| ter. 1t was formerly used by DIR. LaWton
| as a rice plantation, until Encouragement
with the city he put it Into cry culture to
/ prevent the spread OF malaria, which II
| was feared would result from flooding the
marshes. Here, with no special care,
four heavy crops of Bermuda grass grow
each wear, and the yield of cereals planted
here is heavy. This lowland will be used
for the growing Of cultivated grasses,
| such as red top, timothy, red clover,
| alfalfa. English blue grass, English vech,
johnson grass, etc. Several lots OF these
| grasses have already been planted, and
are growing beautifully. 1t is known
that very little hay is grown in the South,
and that which comes to this market
comes from the West and Northwest
There is one hay farm near Augusta of Sc
acres, and it is being very successfully
| operated.
One of the greatest benefits which
| Messfs. Ehrman, WinaEt ana Smart will
derive from the TwicEenham meadows
will be that they will secure green forage
the year round for the cGws of their dairy
and will thus be enabled to supply milk OF
the finest quality at all seasons. Mr..
Smart, who has charge of the dairy, owns
a large dairy at StauntOn, Va. He sup
plies the White SulphEr Springs and
Richmond, and he has also shipped cream
to Augusta. They have now thirty fine
! Devon, Ayrshire and Creepy COWS on
the farm, and will increase this
number with a hundred more in very
short time. Their dairy is supplied with
| patent creamer of the latest make and
! is the first of the kind ever brought
South. BY this means the cream can be
secured in two hours, in its richest form.
The greater part of the cream which is
used liz Savannah for making ice, cream
| comes from New York, and, of
course, must be expensive and not
of the best quality. Fhe hotels in
| Jacksonville and at other Florida points
use condensed milk. The Florida cows are
not good milk yielders and Northern cows
will not 1--we there. Beginning on Jan. 1
| the Twickenham dairy will begin supply
ing the Jacksonville hotels with milk.
The demand for such dairy can hardly
fail to be appreciated, in view of the fact
that the present milk ard cream supplied
| to this section of the South is secured
from cows who at this season of the year
live on dry feed.
The lease of Twickenham plantation is
for ten years. They will, therefore, prob
! ably after that be a permanent fixture
| here. They have begun making extern
siye improvements to suit their purposes,
and in a short time will be in
full operation. Mr.. Ehrman feels
assured of success, and says that
he has no doubt of the hearty CO.
operation of the people Of Savannah in
the scheme by giving HIM their hearty
/ support.
A steam hay press for the purpose of
packing the hay will be put in operation
next summer.