The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-23
letter from Observation-Disclosures Meet
ings Crops Fruit - Butser--ROard-
crS. &c. dc.
Of the Dispatch.

Special Correspondence of the Dispatch.
L0uD0uH. August ~, 1872.
Within the last few days there have been
several religious meetings in progress III tins
ru,Intv-a rTimp-lnccting ut Waterford. an
other near Union, quarterly meeting OF
Friends at Goose Creek, and the Potomac
Association 1T EbcncZer church. The quar-
tcrlv meeting of the Friends is held here in
August Of each wear; ut other points III this
jurisdiction each three mouths. Happening
at time when there is hut little to do on the
farms. the event Is looked forward to with
great interest by the young people OF the coun-
" for weeks beforehand, and the good house
wife makes ample preparation for the large
ulimbcr of visitors which she knows will
claim her hospitality. Numbers of members
of the Society came here on this occasion
| from lover the rid.c"-that is, west of the
| Blue Ridge mountalS-irGm down about
Alexandria and from Maryland. 1t is always
| Il great time with the youn" people for they
| expect To see all their friends here. and large
preparations for their amusement and enter
| tanmCnt arc made.
The first day of the meeting, Saturday, is
devoted to meetings of business by the older
| Fricud>. Sunday is taken up wholly with
devotional exercises. and the business which
is especially 10 be done is gotten through
| on Monday. The time intervening between
these meetings is occupied by visiting, taking
dinner here. supper there. and staying all
night somewhere else. Altogether it is II
Joyous time to all concerned, and many re-
-rctS are expressed that it should be over so
soon.
The crop Of corn in this county is one Of
| the finest | have ever seen. The hrSt-in-
| formed farmers tell me that their fields will
average from eight to ten barrels to the
acre. Considering the dry spring, this is
IN extraordinary yield. The wheat crop
was also Il pretty good one, but the yield
moi a> great as usual.
The hay and oat crops were almost entire
failures. ! have seen some very fine peaches,
but rs Il rule the fruit crop is light. But few
melons are raised in this county, their sup
ply being received from Alexandria. Ono
| dealer in this article in that city told me the
other day that within the week lie had sent
J,O00 waicrmclonS TO this county.
\ former source of revenue has recently
| been increased by the enterprise of one of
our citizens. He has put up a churning
machine, which he runs by horsepower, and
| the nrigtl,orS for miles around send their
milk here TO be converted into butter. The
| proprietor charges only a small percentage
for his labor. This butter is neatly put up
| in haIfpound packages, each package placed
| separately in Il box, which is made double.
and filled between the boards with charcoal !;
Il box in The centre is filed with ice, and the
butter is then shipped, principally TO Wash
ington, where, in consequence of its delicious
flavor and trmness, it commands the highest
price. From the shape of the lump it is
called The hrick-huttcr," and Is eagerly
sought after in the District.
This country, from its healthy condition.
pure air, and the hospitality of its citizens,
has always been Il favoritc resort for sum-
mcr boardcr>. This summer it has been
unusually full. Every house where board
crS were taken at all has been occupied, and
several houses have been fitted up expressly
for their accommodation. In one house
near Goose creek there are tfty-tiye persons,
principally from Alexandria aud Washing
ton, and numbers have been turned away.
learn that already rooms are being taken
for the next summer. II.