Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-30
A,EyA. GAZETTE L VIRGINIA ADVERTISE
EinlssGcId.

We had an opportunity this week of visiting
for the first time Blandfeld, the family resi-
,!ruc, OF the Bcverleys since colonial days, and
q, his time the property of Col. Robert Bcv-
criry, Of Fauuuier county, Va, who came In
,,os<,.>Suu ii 1t at the cath Of his uncle, the
late Ccl. VIM. Beverley, of this county. The
house is built of English brick and dates
back, We beIieve, to the year ZIG, at which
time VIM. Beverley, an ancestor of the present
proprietor, was appointed clerk OF what was
tiscu called Rappahanuock county, out of u part
ot which this county was subsequently formed.
The main building, Which is III u good state
OF preservation, is square, two stories high,
with four rooms on floor, opening on large
hall, or rather two halls, as they are separated
by u partition In which there is large folding
door; the chimueys oil which there are four,
are inside ones, and these halls have fire places
for heating them when necessary; the root Is
qualrangular and VIC suppose would be called
square about fifty feet on each side, and to
the front OF the main building are two smaller
buildings Of the same material and OF similar
construction 10 the main building and connect
Ell with it by covered passage ways, which are
sadly IL need Of repair. 1t IS situated on an
cuEcnce overlooking the Rappahannock,
md from it the owner could obtain a fine
view OF his broad acres lying along that ma
iestic stream. The place derives its name
from the Bands, u family with which the
buvc,leys interuarried very soon after their
s,tiamcnt 10 this country. The estate has
been much improved since it came into the
hands OF the present proprietor, but the Old
house, which has undergone no change or al
;cration. except those that have been occasion
cd by the laps of time, presents now the same
general aspec; as it did when the Beverleys
OF His Majesy's colony entertained with almost
royal magniticence the Virginia gentry of ye
oIien time, the Bands, the Carriers, the Light
tUuts, the Lees, and others of the Virginia gen
try:
is large barn, 76x5l feet, with 36 feet pitch,
which has been recently built, and of style
most unusual in this section; the basement,
which is OF brick furnishes ample stable room
for the tcguS employed in the cultivation ofthe
estate; on the first floor is large open room
which may be used Tor protecting machinery or
storing grain as occasion may require; on one
side are compartments for housing small grain,
on the other open cribs for housing corn
Tor tic Use of the place. The upper floor
is used for storing hay and long forage.
The area under cultivation the present year
Is less than five hundred acres and Is
divided as follows: $50 acres Id wheat, 80
in oats, $50 iu corn and about 20 in tobacco.
The wheat crop, which is tiue one, Was being
harvested when We were there, and presented
a most promising appearance. We saw IN OPP
Grafton reaper of different patent from any
heretofore used here, doing the work Of about
ten Graders with the greatest case and preci-
sion, and we wero informed by the manager
that it was the best he had ever used. The
crops of corn and oats were remarkably prom
iSing; the tobacco not so good, owing to the
difficulty in getting stand and the ravages OF
the worm which had just attacked it.
Wowc shown by the polite aud efficient
manager, MIR. L. Nj. Hutchinson, ix-huuches
of Pennsylvania red wheat, the product of six
grains of wheat, which ranged from seventy
FIVE to one hundred and forty heads to the
bunch which, We venture to say is as large q
number Of heads as has ever been Known to be
produced from single grain. The farm has
been heavily lined aud evidences ofits improve
ment can easily be seen In the appearance ofthe
growing crops.
The present owner has turned his attention
to stock raising, and sells yearly large number
of cattle In the Northern markets Our attell-
,ion was particularly attracted to some beauti-
full specimens of the Durham and Devon breeds
whose rich color and symmetrical forms, con
r;stc,l strangely with the dingy red and ragged
outlines Of the native brced.-Iute Water IN
,ec, ESsec County.