The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-03-13
A MODEL ORANGE FARM.

Orange farmers are well known to be
among the best in Virginia, and there
are none better anywhere. In the
front rank of successful cultivaters OF
the soil, stands DAVID GRAHAM, of Or
ange, who, in his line, rivals his name
sake, DAVID GRAHAM, the great fruit
grower of Wythe. We had often heard
of sold DAvY GRAHAM's farm" and Of
ten promised ourselves the pleasure OF
a visit to it. On Friday last, the old
gentleman sent in his favorite riding
mare, "Judy O'Flannagin, and the
visit was duly made. ..f
The day was raw and overcast-un-
favorable for a thorough inspection Of
the STAT fields" the knee-deep mead
ows and pleasant groves, which make
up the beauty and the glory OF the
place. These we hope to see again,
when the grass is growing and the trees
are in full leaf. But we saw enough to
convince us that the picture had not
been too highly colored, and that the
attractions of the place had not been
exaggerated.
Every inch, mp to the very fence cor
ners, of The arabic portion of the 325
acres, showed the careful, patient, I'M
sparing tillage of farmer, who loves
his farm and is proud of it. Such
stone fences we never saw, no, not ev-
en- in New England. The rail fences
are equally good in their way, massive
ly built, in thorough repair, and with
abundant rails already cut and stacked
for use whenever needed. verything
is in place, everything of the best orig
anal material, and nothing has been ne
elected. The amount of woodland is
abundant for all purposes, and the tim
Der is of excellent quality. War-inju-
ries, if any, are now invisible. G
The dwelling house and the very I'M
usual number OF out-buildings of every
kind, exhibit the same lavish yet solid
taste, which characterizes the farm gen.
orally. Nor are these out-buildings
empty, or put up for mere show. We
Hooked into the corn-houses, meat-hous'
es, Lighthouses, stables, barns, etc., ant
discovered '.great plenty" everywhere
The army of Northern Virginia, we are
told. made the same discovery few
years ago, for s'DAvY GRAHAM" Is hos
pitable man.
After a pleasant tramp around TIN
fields and up to the grove, we returned
to the house, where decanter of gen
uine ante bellun whisky awaited us, ant
this was followed, at dinner, by SOM
Madeira, the like of which we have no
tasted since we sat at meat with KIRB'
SMITH at DECATUR MILLER's. heart.
meal made fitting prelude to a loni
and interesting talk with the old farm
er, whose industry and thrift elevate
him from a rowing pedler with hi
headquarters at Charlottesville, iiv
and thirty years ago. to one of tn
most prosperous landholders in tn
wealthy county of Orange. Nigh
was approaching when we babe hii
adieu, we'll pleased with our visit.
This is really a very valuable farm
Mr.. Graham, being in the decline
life, fines himself incapable of manas
ing it, under the new order Of things
He is willing to sell. not now, perhap
but at no distant day. For man
wealth, here is chance not often Of
fered. Thefarm is only two miles fro
Orange C. H., and we believe candid
that there is scarcely, in the whole Stat
a more desirable place, whether for
rich man, who wants delightful sun
mer residence, or for man who sir
ply wants to make money by farmin