Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-26

CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandria Gazette.
WEsTMoRELAND, Va, July 24.-We are
suffering considerably from drought 10 this sec
ton at present. aud the farmers are auxiousy
watching the clouds on which their hopes OF
corn depend Up to the prescut the corn crop
has been looking very we'll and with reasonable
weather there is good prospect ahead. The
people Of this region have been working very
hard this season aud in the face OF difficulties
have accomplished a good deal.
Mr.. Thos H. Massey, the largest frut-groW'
er 10 this section, has with his characteristic
energy chartered the stern-wheeer steamer Ma
rioual to transport his peaches 10 Washington.
She will leave Shoots wharf and Massey S
landing, 10 Mattox Greek, on Tuesdays and
Thursdays of each week at ) p. NJ, arriving Ia
Washington abou, a. m. the following day.
Mr. Massey has u large crop of peaches grow.
inc on his extensive orchards and hopes to
do we'll with them, as he no doubt will. be-
cvc the Washington mar ket is getting TO be
preferred to Baltimore by many, now. Alr.
Jno. Rust, Mr. Massey aud others are the pro-
prietors of extensive nurseries on their rcSpec-
tive plantations here and should be remember
ed by amateurs ADD others who are purchasing
trees, they having endeavored to propagate
such sorts of fruit as experience has shown are
best adapted to this climate, which 1t Is said,
is not always the case with trees purchased
from the Dorth.
notice along the salt water marshes OF the
Rappahaunock, numerous stacks OF hay, men
toned in your paper lately, are being made
use of
We are waiting very patiently for the Wa.
waset to resume her two trips week. She
is our main dependence now, the larger boats,
not caring to stop at the out OF the way land
Jugs iu the small creeks. Like MIR. Lincoln =
gun boats, she goes wherever the ground Is u
little damp" and is the chief means of get
ting produce from the (upper) end Of the cOun-
ty to market.
With the opening of the Fredericksburg and
Orange Railroad, it is supposed that additional
lines of steamers will ply on the RappahanDock.
The liuc now running is often tasked to It's hlll
capacity, and the trade ulust increase with the
opening of that road lu conversation with a
gentleman from Orange he expressed the hope
of making use of the mari beds along the river
in King George on bis farm near Fldersvle.
He thought it would pay. He is JerScyman
and is enthusiastic over his Virginia farm on
which he settled some years ago.
The settlement of Swedes 10 Richmond
county, near Sbarp's wharf Oh the Rappahan-
mock is said to be prospecting and from what |
have seen of the men composing it they are a
thrifty, intelligent and we'll educated communl-
~, which any neighborhood would be glad TO
welcome to their midst. They are certainly a
decidedly superior class of men, aud we sincere
ly hope many more may be Influenced to join
them.
Mr.. John Rust Of this county, who is max
ing the culture of pears a specially thinks this
region admirably adapte to the perfection of
the growth of that fruit His trees seems lit
tie affected by the diseases which make pear-rais-
Ing SO uncertain 10 many places elsewhere. 1t will
be remembered that the finest pears ever seen
from this country were raised near Norfolk. far
SURPRISING the much praised fruit of California
Will some of your searchers after Virginia
farms stop listening TO the tales OF interested
parties about the unhealthfulness Of this region
and come and look at its great natural advan-
tageS ? think it will pay them. II.