Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-07
Ion the WiIlg.'


Ion the Wing.''
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette |
"GENEsEE VALLEY NEW York, Nov. s.
This is the garden spot oc this State, and truly
garden it is in fertility of soil, in produet
Ill varied and beautiful scenery, in the perfection
ofcultivation and in the general thrift and wealth
al its Inhabitants The houses are neat and COM
irritable, the stock thrifty and the people inteli-
get. .... I,
rh, fel 5 arc SO small here that they look al
most rs though they were intended for building
lots or cattle pens, never moro than few acres
III extent. They exhibit perfection of cultiva-
ton worthy ofclose study. zach field is. as neat
and clean as lawn. The entire absence of
bushes around the fences and the clean aspect
'f the sod crop if there is one, the absence Of
nndcrbrush among the cumps of trees, give
these fields u look of ncatncss difficult to ina
CINE or describe. Everything is utilized here,
all possible space is made available and every
little corner made to produce something useful.
The deep rsvinrS that cannot be filled up arc
planted thickly with trees to prevent further
washing, and I" produce timber, which Of course
in So thirkly settled n country is an Object of
great Importance. On either side of this valley
the mountains Slupc down, covered with farms,
houses and woods, with vineyards placed on pre-
cipitnus places where one would think il i'm pos
siblc almost to obtain II footing. Everything
Scenls 50 luXuriant and prosperous that we feel
like cnvying these people their hountiful crops
and comfortable homes when we think of tho
tlcSolate hrarthstono and blackened walls at
home, of the nameiesS graves and shattered hopes,
~ 1o, Il
it to the gloomy and hopeless end,) now lost
foreverl .. III
Shall we ever sec our beloved Virginia bios
som rs does this valley? Let US hope So and
work as grimly and manluly for her restoration
rs for that other cause now persisted. We have
the natural resources of soil and of mineral
wealth, of water power and navigation; surely,
we are not behind these people in pluck and en-
crgy And yet granted these, thore is nothing
to prevent us rivalling them. 80 Fl.
oh! the pumpkins these people raise. Every
field is strcwn, every lot covered with Thorn, amt
their yellow gleam is seen on every hand. La
among the potatoes, scattered among the corn,
by themselves and with other groWths, they
seem almost staple. .j |.@r.
1t is difficult to realize what difference in the
refining of crops a distance of3OO miles of north
latitude will make. Here the Concord and other
grapes that ripen with us in August, are gather
cd about the middle of October-just in time, in
fact, to save them from the heavy frost. They
seem, however, to ripen perfectly, were very
abundant and in fine clusters. The apples here
are very fine and exceedingly plentiful They
ARE practically without peaches. Here in these
country towns grapes are retailing 1T from seven
10 twelve cents per pound and they do not seem
20 sell higher that this, so far as | hear, any
where in this State outside of the great cities.
The :aroads that gridiron this State in every
direction carry life and wealth through all its
extent. They run everywhere, branching and
crossing, new ones being constructed and con-
ncctions established, until every valley has its
track and every village its station. Perhaps
this is one Of the secrets of their pros perty, not
that the rich country builds the railroad, but the
railroad makes the rich country. This last is
true, most probably, as | notice that much OF
the land in this section is new, with the stumps
still standing in the fields. -
Cherries and pears seem favorite fruits here,
Judging from the great numbers OF trees grow
ing, and the first named seem more thrifty tnan
amy | have seen elsewhere. Every available
SPACE here is utilized in the production of fruit.
The shade trees are apple or cherry as q rule,
and every corner or Granny, or steep hllt-sloe
that will hold nothing else has its fruit trees
The way they gather apples may not oe vo,a q
Interest," They 9g ahhsbbe sm
attached rope The bag is sung over the
shoulders, and when filled is let down by the
rope to those who receive the fruit This saves
the climbing up and down LADDERS ana INC IT'S
attendant thereon. ,.
Near Sonyea, Livingston county, in this val
lev, is n settlement of those very queer and APP
parently good people, the Shakers. 1t Is CALI
ed the Groveland settlement. Their. peculitri-
tics are doubtless we'll known m Visit TO TINS I'M
iny rooms, kitchen and other work rooms, their
Injecting house, and private meeting room, is q
sight of model neatness and comfort. Inc CO.
operative labor system prevails, and the separss-
ton of the sexes ut meals and at worship IS
~ practced The males and females, as they
term them, enter a common dining ROOM by DIFF
lcrent doors, and sit at different tables ihey
enter Church in the same way and require out
sidcrs who are allowed to witness their very Pc
culiar forms of worship to observe the same RUE
Tna entrances are at the front, and have oVer
one door the sign MALE, and over tue other FE-
MALE. They are great on dried apples, one par-
w having this season. engaged. hVe IONS from
them. -. -, :.
head Is the town of Evansville, a neat and taste
fiji nlace Of about 1000 inhabitants, noted to
same considerable extent by having located near
i y stwater-cure'-so called. This is the most
beautiful portion of this valley, which rs heIe
several miles in width, with rlch ana sp!ehuap
turesnue grandeur on either side. !ney haraiy
deserve the name of mountains, bciirg perhaps
more strictly hills, but they are sufficiently pre-
cipitous and high to be in the way II traVelhhg
Dansvlle like most of theinland towns ofth1s
state is ney constructed win s7sb, r chroses
Ind IN Intelligent and good looking reputation
Which seems prctty evenly divided IN peilincal
sentiment so Tar as / can judge. Ot ITS wafer.
cure more hereafter, :>.l'.:,t -,
AMERICAN WOMEN. Another reason OF the
delicacy of our women is the far, greater style
affected by all classes in dress, and 1he wearing
of corsets during early youth. NATURALLY y, Il