Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-15
Down the River.
INTERESTING JorrINss Prom THE VIRGINIA

Mt. VERNON FAIRFAX COUNTY, Oct ., 1872.
Editor Sidr: Since leaving Manassas made my
way down here. and find abundance OF interest
ing matter. The roads from Fairfax @. II. are
In a terrible condition, and should be repaired
as soon as seeding is over. AT Accotink is
large Touring and saw mill, owned by Hilmsn
Troth, which does a thriving business In both
Inns. 1t can be reached from the river By gnt
draught stern-wheel steamboats,, on the Acco.
tink creek, which is soon to be dredged out by
the government. Down on the point between
Pohlck and Accotink creeks are the brick and
tile kins of Warrington Giuinsham. rhe tile
manufacture is largely on the increase, which
speaks well for the condition of agriculture in
the county. Across POhick bay is Gunstoa Point,
where
THE oLo MANSION OF GEORGE MASON,
of GunstOn,, stands. This George Mason was
the author OF the Virginia bin OF rights, and WAS
one OF the old nabobs OF Virginia. Has land
joined TO George WaShington's estate, and if We
may trust tradition, these gentlemen of the
olGen time must have been rather jealous OF
each other, differing they did in their polit-
zeal views. The double row Of bitches are yet
10 be seen upon the line between the two tracts,
now in woods, showing that before to-day men
have differed about their line fences. In this DE
the true explanation OF the bitches, 1 am in
clined - think Washington himself was in the
wrong, from his impt riOus character as shown
by the story of his
ENCOUNTER WITH PoAcHRR,
which is not much told rs the ckerry-tree
story. But to 60 back ID Gunston hall. II Il a
fine old mansion of English (?) brick, built in
the most substantial and elaborate manner. 1t
was very much injured during the by the
louisiana Tigers, who we're stationed there for
a time. 1t is now the property OF Col. Daniels,
the editor of the Richmond State Journal He
has Tecbristened IL Iona, in honor of his gifted
and beautiful wife. He is making fine and ex-
tensive improvements on his place, in blooied
stock and sheep. in grapes, pears and other
fruits, and in pastures and meadows. Soon after
the close of the war, Colonel Daniels bought
this large farm, Of over 600 acres; made il his
permanent home; expended a good deal of mo-
ney on II, and moved his family there. He is
All enthusiast in agricultural improvement, and
equally anxious To see his district, and all the
state OF Virginia, rise TO the higeSt state OF pros
peTity and distinction. He has been nominated
for Congress i'm the sth Virginia district (form-
erly the ,th), ami the people cannot so wei ad-
vance all their best interests as - tdrn out and
elect him.
Col. Lewis from Wisconsin, is building fine
dwelling further out on the point. Ii is plea
SAINT SAIL up the bay again. and makes me wish
all roads were water and all wagons boats. Halt
WY from Accotink 20 Mount Vernon is
THE 'wooDLAwN" TRACT,
once part OF tie Washington estate, and later
the property of q descendant, Major Lewis.
Some twenty-five years ago il was bought by
some Pennsylvania and New Jersey Friends,
and divided up. They seem 70 be all good farm
ers, and doing well. They built a turnpike from
Alexandria ID AccOtink, which is better than
any toll-pike L know of in the state; but they
say it is not yet finished, and they do not COL
,ect toll. Well, suppose we must believe them,
but I'm going to grumble right smart at the
next toll gate come to. There Is i'm this neigh
bOrhood Friends meeting house, plain and
unassumlng, as all such buildings are. IL has
hOurishing First-day school, and a free library.
There is a Methodist church, built since the war
by the colored people at a cost of 500, and
informed me cost ssh. They are soon to have
| public school there. There is a newly finished
Baptist church near the WoOdlawn mansion,
| which cost about 81 800. Then we come to
THE MOUNT VERNON NURSERIES
OF Chalkley Gillingham. There is no show or
| pretension, indeed fancied there was a studied
cording to Whittier's adiuration to the troubled
Quaker about the oak for war ships "Take
care that it be sound.' Mr.. Gi.jngham is a
natural pOmolog'st, just as some men are natural
Inventors or mschinists. To him nothing has
more beauty than q well laden apple tree OF per
tect form 1t well if the deii hts of all men
were as simple and unambitious, (mnd, say
all men, not half the men, for they would go to
Tuin) append an extract from the report o.
the Department of Agriculture, which describes
this place better than can;
"a Virginia Fruit GrotCer-A prominent frui.
growing enterprise in Virginia Is that OF Mr..
Chalkiey Gillingham, Accotink, Fairfax county,
embracing 100 acres OF peaches. 100 acres o.
apples, and 10 acres OF pears The planting OF
these trees dates from 1919, continued by annual
| additions up to the present time, OF apples
summer and autumn varieties form each one
touT'h of the planting, and winter varieties one
half. The best early market apples are the
| Edwards Early, Early Hsgloe, Astrachan
| Early Ripe, &C.; of fall apples, the Fall Pippin,
Grsvenstcin, Maiden s Blush; of winter apples,
the Aoram, Albemerle- Bowlings Sweet, Ridge
| PippiD. &c. From 500 peach trees in bearing
500 bushels Of Irut were sold last season, at an
| average price of 81 per bushel The pear trees
are mostly young. Those in bearing last wear
iruited finely, the fruit bringing ST per bushel
i think wrote from Maj assas that he is about
tostart branch nursery there. 1t is an indus
try IL seems to me more directly conducive To
| the prosperity of the country than any other
AT MOUNT VERNON
there is little new. Improvements are slowly
| going on In the greenhouse and surrounding
grounds. The new superintendency seems -
| be working well, and we have only to suggest
that he keep all the employees at cork, and
allow nothing like slowness about him. An
"odest body servant" might be secured at a
| nominal sum TO do all the laziness But the Ar
row is whistng. and must close, for one of the
prettiest little trips to be had in the states
PRINCE WILLIAM.