Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-28
Novel Horticultural Exhibition.

REPORTED FOX TIE u LEAaNOni-h o-'HSAhD'
On the morning of Saturday last the Mary
Washington" the elegant new steamer OF the
IJpper Potomac Steamboat Company, LETT her
mooripes at the foot of Seventh street, Wash
ington, for an excursion down the Potomac ln
the way of excursions it was noVelty-the first
of the kind perhaps in the whole country. But
to such novelties commend US II they are all SO
ENJOYABLE and promise so much tor general I'M
provement. ,u ill., p.:-.
ronnIv Virginia, Farmers Club and the Poto-
mac Fruit Growers Association two we'll Known
and very useful organizations, having agreed
to hold their second annual exhibition on board
the steamer Mary Washington, general lnyl-
ration was given to everybody Interested 10 the
development of the agricultural and other valu-
| able resources in the valley of the upper Poto-
mac, to attend. Accordingly, at 40 early hour,
| a crowd of five or six hundred people aValled
| themselves of the ample accommodations OF the
waiting steamer. The boat had been decorated
| and festooned with evcrgreeus and flowers, and
with her streamers floating in the fresh morn
iue breezes she moved gaily out gu her way to
the sound of merry voices and strains OF lnsplr-
ing music. Surely no glorious September day
was ever ushcrcd in by more glorious moro
ing We felt it a grateful relief to leave the
| dusty, wearying streets OF the city ana
! inbale the bali: Of the early autumn breezes
which came down from the Surrounding hills
and villages to kiss the clear waters OF the INA
estic river through which We gllded.
At this city the company was Increased by
40 accession of nearly one hundred more smll-
ing faces, many OF them good and earnest
workers 10 the great work OF agricultural lD-
provcment-tor let it be knnwn ;!..:t he poo.
| ole in and around this ancient cij AL aWak'
ing to their true interests. They have just
| found that their town IS one OF she locations
designed by nature for great manutac-
turing and commercial point, and are casting
about to see how they can best improve their
Doubtful gifts Of iron ore, limestone, and other
valuable minerals aud the advantages of the
great water highway which gives them easy
aud cheap access with their manufactured com-
modities to every market OF the world, and
best of all they have come to understand that
az enlightened ard i'ountiful agriculture is es-
seutial TO the pr s'arlty OF city.
Ten mil 5 nwu the river We rounded IN at
| CoIlingwo Il. the upper portion OF the old es-
tate of Gen. George Washington, where we
found quantities Of fine fruits aud vegetables
for the exhibition, and numbers Of farmers
crowd.
Than Colliugwood there is no 6ner, moro To-
yting situation 90 all the Potomac borders, ADD
if we are not mistaken, not many years will have
passed ere the most saDgulnc hopes OF the
| "Co-operative Homestead Association organ
lied 10 the city Of Washington last winter, will
have been realized 10 the building up of pros
porous town suburban to the nclghborlng cities.
The dweller of the crowded, dusty, aud expeD-
slye towo will here find pleasant refuge on the
best farm aud garden lands, aboundng with
excellent springs and in a nelghborhood OF
thriving and enlightened people. But We must
not liuger by the way, however inviting arc the
cool groves, the picturesque farm lands, or
chards, aud many other objects about Colllng-
wood.
The numerous and varied objects comprising
the floating exhibition deserve special men-
ton. Our agricultural brethren along the 10
viting borders Of the Upper Potomac need not
be ashamed of their second annual display Of
the products OF their rapidly improving lands
SO recently rescued from the thrlttlcsS hands
of negligent, unimprovlng occupants, heuce,
both with the advantages they have already Sc
cured and with the good report and encourage
mcnt given them by people who see in
their efforts the best solution Of recoDstruc-
ton in the South, they will earnestly strive
to make their future exhibitions more and
| more extensive and attractive. The cOlec-
tious Of apples, pears and grapes, hand.
| sumely arranged, on the tables OF the great
| upper SALOON OF the steamer, were exceedingly
| good. Noticeable among the first were line cou-
tribu,ions by S. H. Snowden, and among the
last, prolusion Of the most tempting clusters,
Of thirty varieties, by Col. Edward Daniels,
who is making a great success Of the grape
culture on his fine fruit lands at Gunston. Elk
celIent pears in varieties were exhibited by L.
H. Troth aud others. Vegetables in great
plenty filled up every nook and corner, and
such immense ears OF Indian cOru on their giant
| stalks we venture 10 say were never beaten 10
these parts. The good wives aud daughters
had brought their tempting loaves rich golden
prints of butter, their elegant pastries, needle
work and other commeodable articles We wish
we had time and space TO particuarize the
many other things which made go fine display
on the tables The collections Of cereals were
creditatlc, and showed that our soils are equal
| to the best for their growth, when the plough
is speeded by thrifty aud careful husbandry
At Mount Vernon Springs, the new landing
OF the Upper Potomac Steamboat Company, we
| found good display of stock aud farming lm-
plemens. Here the great crowd of excursoDsts
lauded and for two or three hours enjoyed the
cool, pleasant retreats under the great oaks and
cedars so often trodden by Washington and bis
compatriots Many avaied themselves of the
privilege of visiting the tomb Of the hero.
| Late 10 the afternoon our good steamer tur0
ed her prov up the river toward the metropo-
lis, stopping at the various landings to drop
| the wayiarers.
The exhibition was surely success, and the
excursion one of the most delightful ever made
on the waters of our fine river. Everybody
was pleased. Hosts Of new acquaintauces were
made There was music and dapclug, and sing
Jog and teasliug, and the unanimous opinion
seemed to be that our new steamer Is destined
with her very courteous and obigng captain to
become the great excursion boat of the river.
Her builders say that her mission is not OPP
position, but honorable competition with all
other boats and that they mean to make her
worthy Of the public patronage; that she is to
be run in the interests of the people, and for