Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-28
ny YESTERDAY EVENINGS NAILS
Letter from Clarke County.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria gazette.
Wunrr Posi-, June 25.-Our farmers have
commenced their harvest, and better crop
We have not had for some years, the straw
lending with the weight of the we'll filed
heads
witnessed the operation of one of Owen
p,rsev's Self-raker Reapers, in field Of
John \. Meade's, near our village. Every
straw WAS cut. and the sheaves better made
than could be done by hand; two horses pull
ing it with ease. Should it continue to work
during the harvest las have no doubt it
will as well when saw it, in a few years
il will be in the hands of every farmer Col.
Tulev. our neighbor, and by the by, one of
the best farmers in the State, has from 5
To- 600 acres in wheat. which will. suppose,
average not less than 20 bushels per acre.
The new mail contracts gu into operation
in few days. Our office will be supplied
from Confluence, or River Station, instead of
able to get our Alexandria papers the day
they are published, and not have them lie
over at Wildwood one night.
n,
out in the harvest field, and our village looks
during the day as if we had not ten inhabi-
tauts Selling dry goods, by one who has
been farmer for twenty years, is dull bu-
siness during harvest, and it is hard thing
to keep from closing doors, and visiting our
neighboring farmers and We would do it were
il not that some man who does nothing else
but read the papers, might find us from home
and have Us turned out Of our highly honora-
Die aud iucrotire position of Post Master mt
White Post, Clarke Co., Va. NJ.
BOILER ExPLoSIoN.--The usual quiet of Ber-
ryyille was somewhat disturbed Oh Saturday
last, by the bursting of the boiler at the
Steam Saw Mill of Mr.. Chas Sewers. 1t
made terrific noise and might have been
heard two or thee miles. The boiler was
thrown hundred yards from the Mill,
ploughing up the earth, and carrying the fem
ces and whatever lay i'll its way, with it. The
steam and fragments of the engine sent In
the opposite direction did some little damage
to the fence and shrubbery Of DIR. Barton
Although the hands were ut work in the
mill and close by the boiler at the time of the
explosion. no one was njured.-Ciarke Jour
nal.
FLuvANNA Co., Va, June IS, lS59.-We
have had very heavy fall of rain in this
county in the course of the present week, and
Judging from the swollen state of the James
and Rivanna rivers, (which it was feared at
one time would overspread their respective
low grounds.) the rain must have extended
over large area of country.
Seine of the tributaries of the Rivanna
were higher than they have been for years,
and ~ consequence many bridges and mill
dams have been swept off. and in some places
large quantities Of wheat This weather has
of course been very untavorable for har-
yesting.
INSECT RAyAGEs.-A gentleman who re-
Gently travelled from Lexington, Va. to
Lynchburg says that the forests on the road,
particularly in the vicinity of the former
place, are literally swarming with locusts. lie
perceived several large branches of trees com
pletely riddled by these insects in making de-
posts oftheir eggs. The grasshoppers in the
neighborhood, as stated by the Telegraph:
ARE chawing everything up" Stalks OF
wheat ale stripped of every blade. and green
corn, potatoes. and even tobacco. are devoured
with astonishing rapidity
DR.. j. B. p. Hank. Professor in the Nor
gantown, Va. Female Seminary. died on the
10th inst lie was native of llarriSonburS,
Va. and during the Crimean war, served as
surgeon in the Russian army, making tour
of Palestine and Egypt at the close OF the war.
lie w&s only % years OF age
BENJAMIN II. Brewster, of Philadelphia,
the defender ofthe rights of the South III the
Fugitive Slave case, which was tried some
weeks since. in Philadelphia, has been APP
pointed All Honorary Member OF the Liter
airy Societies of the Virginia Military lnsti-
tute.
PRrNiNG--The first or second week IN
June. is the only tit season for pruning
trees Then the sap is in full How. ami the
wound made by cutting of bough begins
to heal and grow over immediately.-Er-
change Paper.
On Thursday night last, there was very
heavy rain ut Scottsville, Albemarle county,
Va, causing break in the canal there. and
a consequent brief suspension Of transporta-
ton.
The challenge received from New York to
match Tar River against Planet, tor So,ooo
aside, four mile heats, the race to he run over
the Union Course next fall, has been accepted
by Mr.. Il. ". boswell.
The Directors of the Petersburg and Roam
oke railroad have declared seml-annual
dividend Of tonr per cent Heretofore. the
dividends Of this progressive company have
not exceeded the good remuneration OF u
per cent semi-annually.
For SIS one can 60 from Richmond to New
York and back, by the jamestown or Roanoke
get meals in, and use the ticket Tor return
up t. October LIST.
Mrs Mary B. Francisco, widow OF the Gel
ebrated Peter Francisco, OF Revolutionary
memory, died in Fincaste, last week.