Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-17
ALEyA. GAZETTE 6 VIRGINIA ADVERTISE


Marriage and Death Notices. when not exceed
ing eight lines fifty cents.
Down the River-.IntereStingJ Jottings.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Oct. g. lS72.-Since leav-
ing Manassas made my way down here, and
find abundance of interesting matter. The
roads from Fairfax C. H. are ir Il terrible con-
dtiun, and should be repaired as soon rs seed
ing is over At Accotink is a large Touring
does thriving business in both lines. 1t can
be reached from the river by light draught
stern wheel steamboats,, on the Accotlnk creek,
which is soon to DC dredged out by the govern
mcnt Down on the point between Pohlck and
.Accotink creeks are the brick and tile kllns OF
Warrington Dillingham; The tie manufacture
is largely on the increase, which speaks we'll for
the condition of agriculture in the county.
Across Pohick bay is Gunston Pcint, where
the old mansion of George Mason, of Gunston.
stands This George Mason was the author #
the Virginia bill of rights, and was one Of the
old nabobs of Virginia. His land Joined tu
George Washington estate, and il we may
trust tradition, these gentlemen oil the oldcn
time must have bccu rather Jealous OF each 9TH
cr, differing as they did in their political views.
The double row of bitches are yet TO be seen
upon the liEe between the two tracts, now IN
woods, showing that before to-day men have
differed about their line fences. Ii this be the
true explanation of the bitches, am Inclined
to think Washington himself was in the wrong,
from his impcrouS character, as shown by the
story of his encounter with a Poachcr, which Is
not so much told as the cherry-tree story. But
to go back to Gunston hall; 1t IS huc old
mansion of English (?) brick, built In the most
substantial and elaborate manner 1t was very
much injured during the war BY the Louisiana
Tigers, who were stationed there for time.
Il is now the property of Col Daniels the edi-
1or of the Richmond State Journal. He has
rcehristened it Iona, in honor of his gifted aud
beautiful wife He is making 6De and exten.
sive improvements on his place, in blooded
stock and sheep, III grapes pears and other
fruits, and In pastures and meadows Soon
after the close Of the war, Colonel Daoicls
2ought this large farm, of over 1000
acres: made it his permanent home: ex-
aud moved his family there. He IS
an enthusiast in agricultural improvement,and
equally anxious TO see his district, aud all the
State of Virginia, rise to the highest state OF
PROSPERITY and distinction.
Col. Lewis. from Wisconsin, is bui ding
fue dwelling further out on the point. 1t Is
pleasant sail up the bay again, and makes me
wish all roads were water and all wagons boats
Ialf way from Accotink to Mount Vernon Is
the ''W oodlawn' tract, once part OF the Wash
ington estate, and later the property OF des-
ccudant, Major Lewis. Some twenty live years
ago ii was bought by some Pennsylvania and
New Jersey Friends, and divided up they
seem to be all good farmers, aud doing we'll.
They built IA turnpike from Alexandra to Ac-
cotink. which is better than any toll-pkc |
know of iu the state but they say 1t Is not
vct.fnished, and SO they do not collect toll.
Well. | suppose we must believe them, but
I'm going to grumblc light smart at the next
toll-gate come to- There is in this ncighbor-
hood Friends meeting house, plain and un-
assuming, as all such buildings are. 1t has
hoursling First day school, and tree library
There is Methodist church, built since the
war by the colored people at cost OF S2Oo,
and a fine well near 1t, which an Ola darkey
proudly Informed me cost SSl. They are soon
20 have public school there There Is new
L. finished Baptist church near the Woodawu
mansion, which cost about $1,000. Then We
come to the Mount Vernon nurseries OF Chalk
lev DILLINGHAM; There is 40 show or preten-
sion indeed tancied there was studied aD-
sence of it. but the stock turned out Is, accord,
inc to Whittier's aiiuration to the troubled
Quaker about the oak for war ships Take
care that it be sound Mr. Gilliugham is
natural pomologist, just as some men are Da-
tura inventors or machinlsts. 10 hlm notn-
ing has more beauty than we'll laden apple
tree of perfect form. 1t We're well II the dc
lights of all men were as simple and unambl-
tious (mind [ say all men, not half the men,
for they would so to ruin | append an exf
tract from the report OF the Department OF
Agriculture, which describes this place better
"a Virginia Fruit Grower-A prominent
fruit growing enterprise in Virginia Is that OF
air. Chalkley Gillingham, Accotlnk, falrtax
county, embracing 100 acres of peaches, lou
acres of apples, and 10 acres OF pears The
Wanting of these trees dates from lS49, con-
tinued hv annual additions up to the present
time. Ofappcs summer and autumn varieties
form each one fourth of the planting, ana Wln-
ter varieties one half The best ear y market
apples arc the Edwards Early, Early Hagoc,
Astrachan. Early Ripe, &c; OF fall apples; p2B the
F,ll Pppiu, Grayeustein, Maldens Blush; OF
winter annles, the Abram, Albemarle, Bowlings
Sweet Ridge pippiu, &c From 500 peach trees
in hearing. 300 bushels of fruit were SOLO iaSt
season, at an average price of 81 per bushei
me near trees are mostly young. !hose ID
hearing last wear truited 6uely, the fruit bring
lug 81 per bu>hel :, .4l :
think | wrote from Manassas that he Is
obopt to start branch nursery there. Ii IS ah
industry it seems to me, more directly conouGi'e
to the prosperity of the ecountry than any o'4er'
At Mount Vernon there is little new. IN
provement. are slowly going on IN the green
houSc and surrounding grounds. The new sup
erntcndeucy seems to be working wen, w
have only to suggest that he keep all :, the en-
poyces at wrrk, and allow nothlns lihe s.oS',
ness about him. An oldest oody selIaul ~
might be secured at nominal sum to do ali Tue
l,y;nnss Rut the Arrow is whistling, and
must close. for one of the prettiest little trips
,I La1 :, tho states PRINCE w LILLIAN.