Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-30
Vine Growing in Virginia-NaturaI
Scenery-RelniniScen Ofthe War,
&c, &c. ..... = ..... ..

lS7l.-Those who are interested in grape cul-
ture. an interest destined to j great develop.
ment in Virginia, can find in this portion OF
the country much to attractthem. \ our readers
are probably aware of the great success OF Alr.
Buck at Front Royal He planted vineyard
few years ago on rough stony farm situated
on spur Of the Blue Ridge, and the result al
ready attained, in the production Of wines and
brandy of high type, and, what is even more to
the purpose, the large profits realized, have de-
monstrated the fitness OF the vine to this c0un-
trv and its value as III element OF wealth. sub
ordinate experiments have been ulade,a and nave
50 far succeeded, in other parts OF the blue
Ridge chain as far south as PatrlcE ana flttsyl-
vania The we'll known spur or ottshoot OF the
ridge known as the Southwest Mountain tax
ing its rise in Amherst, stretches continuously
to the Rapidan river, marked occasionally by
such higher elevations as those Of Monticello
Carters Mountain, Peters and Clark s, but
generally presenting the character Of gentle un-
Iulation and rarely failing to exhibit fertility.
Interrupted by the elevated table land OF Cul-
uerer and Fauauer, the Southwest Mountain
reappears in the latter county and In Loudoun
nmirr the name of Bull Run and Catoctin
mountains.
4 few miles east of Middleburg upon these
hills, enterprising gentlemen OF thus vicinity
have now in full bearing some 5000 vines,
principally Concords, and will this year put
their fruit in the press l had the p easure of
riding to this vineyard and inspecting it:mlnu-
tely, said inspection winding up with the eat
ing of I dare not say how many OF the rich
clusters The Frenchman, you know IN the
story, being asked to take grapes refused, be-
cause he never took his wine in the shape OF
pills. He was an ass, albeit witty, and it he
lad been with us at High Acre, would have re:
pented him Of his folly The vines we found
in fine vigor aud it is believed their product
will next year be much greater. The owners
intend to expand their operations until they
put OUT say 10000 or 1900 vines. What
quality of the wine they will produce re-
mains to be seen, but as it is owned and mana
ged by gentlemen who rarely fail in any under
taking Of business, it may be believed their
success will rival that Of the Front Royal
grower.
The High Acre estate, you must know,
IS primarily cattle or grazing farm, ana
the sod upon it, despite the late drought,
would be the despair Of a southside farmer:
From the ton Of the mountain we commanded
most noble prospect of hill and plain, forest
and field. The -upands of Loudoun and Eau
quier do in truth form a secondary valley be-
tween the Blue Ridge and the Bull Run or
Southwest or Catoctin, and from tho point
where we stood, the eye could sweep from the
Potomac on the north far down into Fauquler
and Rappahannock, while on the west the
Blue Ridge in gentle curves framed the lovely
picture, than which it were folly to seek a
more beautiful. Opposite to us were the gaps
Smokers and Ashby's and further South
Manassas and Chester, and many another taml-
liar as house hold words to all who followed the
foot cavalry of Stonewall or rode with Stewart
or Ashby or Mosby. The exploits Of the latter
hll this whole region with local legends of hair
breadth 'scapes aud desperate daring. Here
the bridge where handful of his men killed
wounded, and captured twice. or thrlce their
number of the enemy, here the house where
being surprised and shot down, he lay felgnlng
death till the enemy left him as they supposed
corpse, when he rose with the remark, how
have fooled them, yonder you. see the farm
pen where he was trapped early in the morn
ing, horses unsadded, and where he
charged over i fence and routed the
enemy to their unmeasurable disgust. -
Col. Mosby has hardly had full justice; in
the great events of the struggle, his fame IS
like to suffer eclipse: but in truth he played
no small part and played it grandly. 1t is a
common opinion that he was more marauder
than soldier Never was therea greater mis-
take He took no share Of boooty ut any time
No sordid desires degraded his career, but he
held for years this debateable border land with
the tenacity and wisdom of Marion and more
than the brilliancy of Sumter. His campaigns
show, albeit on SO small 4 scale, the dash OF
Rupert with the stately, purity ofTurner Ashby
Now for another feature of the rich country
marble. On the stream which soldiers often
found so troublesome, which the Indians called
Cohungoruta. or River of Swans and the
whites degraded to Goose Creek, in one OF the
richest valleys of IIoudoun there crops an ex-
tens!ve vein of marble 1t has been pronounc-
ed the best in the country, and indeed shows
veins of the purest Statuary stone, equal TO
that of Carrara. 4 company has been formed,
and the preliminary operations begun. Quar-
rying, it is expected, will commence within q
few months, and if tithe of the apparently
just expectations of the projectors is realized,
their fortunes are made and an immense in
crease of wealth and population secured tor the
county.
A Boa CONSTRUCTOR AT LARGE From
the Sedaa (Ill.) Times At the exhibition OF
Coles circus and manageric 10 this city about
month since, boa CONSTRUCTOR escaped from
the cage at night aud disappeared. Search was
made for the animal, but he could not be
found, and was given up for lost. Yesterday,
some ladies were walking down Lyon street tand
came suddenly upon the huge, uphfted head OF
an enormous snake It's head thrust up through
the wooden sidewalk, rolled from side TO side,
aud its little black eyes glittered angrlly, at
small rat dog that was dancing around and
barking at the strange brute. The ladies gave
the alarm, when quite crowd began to collect.
Dr Boyer quickly mastered the situation FRO;
curing a large box and long pole, lie removed
several boards of the walk and soon had his
Ssnakeship safely Gagged. 1t proved to be the
boa constructor lost by Coles managerie. 1t had
taken refuge under the board sidewalk, where
It had Subsisted probably on rats and other del
!eacles of the season. 1t is now In safe Keep
ing, and will be restored to its owners. 1t IS
aoout eight feet long.
n EW MACKEREL and Smoked SusQue-
~ hama Herring received TO-DAY by