The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-09-03


therLucern, and when / took possession
|sof the place about ten years ago I ceased
to resist their encroachmens and allowed
thetwo To take sole and entire possession
of the ground. Since then l have moved
it every year for hay. In 1882 moved
it five times, and if the rains hold out
shall NOV it as many times this year. !;
Tie Lucern is.a rapid grover, matur.
ing in seasonabie weather IN from three
to four weeks. I moved the first crop
this year on the 25th of May, the second
,on: the 18th Of June, the third on the
18th of July, and the fourth crop on the
18th day of August. The first crop is
generally the heaviest, having longer
time to mature in,. and each. crop is
lighter than the preceding because, I
take it, of it's rapid growth, though this
might: be remedied' by constant f:fertiliza-
|; tion;or maniliing each crop ! much, how.
se9ef; would depend upon the amount of
rainfall, the great uourisher OF. all grasses.
Strange to say, in all this time have not
fertilized the soil, and only three times,
in the early, Spring, in different years,
have top dressed the first crop with some
commercial fertilizer, which, was no
doubt appropriated by that crop. The
ground, however, stiff, red land, had
been greatly enriched by constant and
high manuring for many years preceding.
: The Lucern grows so much more rap
idly and natures so much earlier than
the Bermuda Grass that it usually affords
two cuttings before the latter has attained
sufficient growth. Indeed, the first crop
of Lucern is made before the Bermuda
family begins to grow. The third cutting
will yield a full crop of both, and all
subsequent crops will yield more or less
of both. / have noticed, however, that
while each succeeding crop Of the Lucern
is lighter, the rule is reversed in the Ber.
smuda, which grows more rapidly and
.densely, later in the season, the condition
fas to rainfall being equally favorable.
This, I suppose, is because it is more of
a. tropical grass than the Lucern, and
stands the hot weather of July and
August better. Il
The two grow well together l have
discovered no advantage gained by one
over the other in the ten years. The
p.anation, Isuppose, is thatthe Lucern
having deep roots that penetrate far
below the surface, while the Bermuda
has; s;creeping, surface roots, each has
living chance to draw its due amount of
sustenauce from the soil. I suspect.
however, that the Lucern is only enabled
to hold its own by its more rapid growth
and keeping always in advance of the
Bermuda, and that if it were otherwise
the dense mat of the latter would soon
choke it out as it does everything else.
The earlier crops Of the Lucern are
heavier, because it grows so much more
rapidly and retards the growth of the
Bermuda BY shading it., and :because,,t ,,too,
1t commences its growth earlier in the
season. I do not believe they can be
grown together except by having the
Lucern firmly and thoroughly established
before the Bermuda enters or is mixed
with it. 10 -
The Lucern attains an average growth
of from two feet to thirty inches, while
from the frequent cuttings of the Lucern
the Bermuda Grass rarely grows higher
than from twelve to fifteen inches, which
is high. enough to be cleanly, cut by
moving machine, and could no doubt be
greatly increased by proper system of
fertilization. On rich, alluvial bottom
land I have cut it three and four feet
high. Like the sedge grass; it grows and
continues green until bitten down by the
frosts, but becomes hard and tough, and
ought to be cut before it gets into this
state. When it attains its growth it
forms head or spikelet, but produces no
seed in this country, and ought TO be cut
by or before this period
Owing to the want of conyeniences in
I have made no estimate of
the yield of hay Of this acre, either by
the single crop or the season, nor can I
approximate it sufficiently to hazard a
statement. I have, however, harvested
from this piece of ground enough hay to
winter two horses and from four to six
head of cattle, and carry over one or two
tons to the next years cutting, after feed.
ing it occasionally to my horses the sum-
mer it is harvested.
But what think our farmers of q forage
crop, like the Lucern, that will grow and
continue to grow for fifty years without
being renewed, and afford from FIVE to
six harvests year. For if the rains
should continue through September and
October (which, however, are usually
dry months), i could easily cut it six
Zines, and count upon fifth cutting
With reasonable certainty. In 1883 and
1884, however. I cut it but three times,
owing to the drouths. that then prevailed.
And it has this advantage overred clover,
% which tits allied, being ofythe same
amily til HnM-i i grows ngpIe rapidly, 4,
leversa aliyates horses, aszlees the clogerI
liter The first cutting stands tlle
1ur Southern slnfn - - . a.s3