The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-30
LOCAL MATTERS.
Copies of the Lce-Mcm0rinI No. Of
the Daily Dispatch. put up for mall
Ing, may be had I'm our counting.
room. Price 3 cents.
Meeting OF the Tuckahoe club.

WHAT THEY SAW At LHsTOR MANOR. AND now
THEY WERE ENTERTAINED BY HOsPITABLE
JOHN y. DAVIS. ESQ.
Lcstor Manor. the fine country-scat OF
Mr.. John Il. Davis, is twenty-siX miles
from Richmond, on the York River rail-
road, and almost Immediately ut LestoI
Manor depot.
The revolution in agriculture Is not less
marked in the appearance OF things upon
this well-managcd and eXcelently-arranged
farm than arc the changes in men and
things as seen through the spectacles Of an
octegenarian.
How much, then, must the members OF
the Tuckahoc Agricultural Club have en-
joyed what they saw Thursday, when they.
according to invitation, visited Mr.. Dayis's
farmg
The old worm fences were gone. The
negro. clad in white cotton jeans and shiri,
and mule with cloth back-band and cotton
plow-lines, lived only in the Imagination,
perhaps. of Colonel Watt, Major Wren,
and the hospitable host, Mr.. Davis. Had
these gentlemen chosen to have stopped talk
ing about fine fruits and grass that pleased
the eye at every turn, they could have star
tied Mr.. a. W. CARRIER. Mr.. III. Theo. Ely
son, and the young members OF the Club,
by comparison Of the past with the pre-
sent. They could have told OF burning
plant-patches. and. worse still, OF picking
them; OF hauling out manure and turning
IT in for the growth Of acres OF tobacco; OF
the trouble OF flies and seasons, and the
long list OF annoyances inSeparably attached
TO the growth % the weed. Not a plant
now can be seen in all the 4G0 acres OF
LcStor Manor farm fertile though it is to q
high degree)-nOr in any other locality
near.
In place OF the tobacco crop yOu see
blackberry-bushes by the half-hundred
acres in fine state OF cultivation. Once
they were the objects OF a deadly war
waged by the olG-time planter, and many n
poor darky's hand has been pricked by
force Of blow which uprootcd the then Oh
noXious but now coveted indigenous pro-
duction of Virginia soil.
In place OF zigZag fence, the approach TO
LeStor Manor is fringed by lines Of yer-
dure made by marsh-maple and tree-boX-
some Of the latter reaching Il height OF
thirty feet.
Instead Of hearing at daybreak the
bugic-horn OF the head man OF the farm
rs OF vOre, the members OF the Tuck
ahoe Club slept on yesterday morning
until the light OF the day-gOd tickled
their eyelids to wakefulness. But the
changes seem to be for the best. LestOr
Manor blossoms with beauty; trees with
outrageous bOughs wave their arms in
vitingly: broad acres smile with rich
wealth OF grass and vegetables, and on
every side freshness and vigor Of life and
laughing prosperity makes the beholder
satisfied with himself and, for the time be-
ing, the rest OF mankind.
Mr.. Davis met the members Of the Club
at the depot, welcomed them, and took
them TO the Manor. Here he said he in
tended TO give them the cold shoulder, but
Mr.. Dayis's cold shoulder was the warmeSt
kind Of hospitality in the shape OF lunch
that was greatly enjoyed. After lunch the
Club roamed at will over the farm, and al
a later hour dinner was Spread regular
old Virginia meal. that was good enough
to provoke man TO eating until he dis
tressed himself.
After dinner The Club discussed the queS-
ton. " Best Crops for Fallow Purposes"
Judge Gregory, OF King William county,
DR.. Richards, John A. Lynham, DR.. j. g..
Beattie, Otway :. Allan, George Watt, f..
III. Dean, and John +. Wren joined in the
debate. which was very spirited.
The "Curing OF Hay" was also talked
about.
Mr.. Davis has on part OF the estate a
pretty church, very neat in appearance and
appointments.
The fruit and vegetables Will soon be in
condition for canning, and this work Will
be pushed vigorously.
After spending the night, the Club de-
Darted Yesterday morning.