Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-18
TWENTY MILES OF ITEMS.

WEATHER-GREENVILL NEWS-MA-
sONIC-A LECTURE FOR SOLDIERS
PERSONAL---VERY. WATERING PLACE
NEW BAPTIST CHURCH AND AN OLD
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
&C. &C., sc.
reported for the Staunton VINDIcAToR.1
SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1885.
In the course of ride few days ago,
through Riverheads district, in Augusta,
and portion of Roekbridge county, your
correspondent made some observations
which may not be uniEteresting to the
readers of the VINDICAToR.
PUTTING IN THE NEW CROP.
The farmers have improved their time
while ploughing could be done; great
deal of land has been fallowed for wheat
and some falds have been seeded, but the
land is bard now, the plows idle aud far
mers impatient for rain. The dry spell
now upon them renders very uncertain
their further preparations for a wheat
crop. The fertilizer trade feels very per-
ceptibly the effects of this uncertainty,
and further purchase of this article, which
is SO largely used by wheat growers in
this section, has been almost suspended
Many farmers, too, have already partial
supply of fertilizer on hand from last
years purchase which, owing to the
drought Of last fall could not be used then
and was held over in their barns and
warehouses for this season.
THE BAD WHEAT CROP OF 1885.
[ never heard more unfavorable re-
ports from the yield OF wheat than some
farmers along the Greenville road make.
One bad seeded 81 bushels and only made
81; another had sowed 53 bushels and
threshed So; while many had net done
much better. Between Greenville and
Brownsburg there is some fine farming
country and the wheat crop, for some reason
unexplained, was much better, while be-
yond in the neighbOrhood of fairfield and
Timber Ridge, and tow ards Lexington,
understand there were fine crops made.
CORN AND GRASS.
The corn crop is right good one. 1t
has suffered some from dry weather, re-
Gently, and some parts Of fields are look
ing yellow, but the crop may be regarded
as made now and as rule there will be
no scarcity of corn. About New Provi-
dence and Brownsburg there are some as
fine fields of upland corn as you will see
any where, and the number and size of
hay ricks to be seen all along the road
show that the grass crop has been good.
while the cattle are looking fat and sleek
and will soon be ready for market.
THE BOYS IN GRAY.
The night the writer stopped in Green
vile he enjoyed rare treat In a lecture
from Rev. DR.. j. VIM. Jones of Rich
mond, on THE Boys in Gray" He lee
tured in the new Baptist church to high
ly delighted audience. His pictures of
the war times were so accurately drawn
that the old Confeds in the audience
vowed over and over again as the lecturer
proceeded that che certainly had been
there', and at its conclusion they all
gathered around him to be introduced and
to thank him for the glimpse of ''auld lang
syne'' he had given item. The lecture
was for the benefit of the Baptist church
bell fund, which got a good lift by it. The
7. M. e. A. of Staunton ought to get
him to help out their building fund.
IMPROVEMENTS ABOUT GREENyILLE
The new Masonic Hall at Greenville ia
progressing rapidly. 1t is another monu-
ment to the aggressive enterprise of the
ancient fraternity and Will be an orna-
ment to this enterprising little Augusta
town.
l found number of the young people o..
the town were spending some pleasant
weeks at new watering place few miles
from Greenville, Cold Spring, where row
OF frame cabins has been built by several
heads of families. Every year brings ad-
dltlons to the number and style of these
accommodations, and the delightful water,
with the free and easy woods life that the
visitors lead, is making the place more
and more popular.
PERSONAL.
Among the promising young men of
Greenviile is Mr.. Ballard Smith, a son of
VIM. f. Smith. Esq, who took two scho-
larships a. Washington & Lee Uniyer
slty last session. Besides his literary at
tainments, he is decidedly mechanical
gsnlus ard is studying and experimenting
IN electricity. having made with his own
hands several neat and complete electrical
machines, one of which be is now working
on in his leisure hours. Prof. Allen, of
the McDoGough Mechanical School OF
Maryland, being in need of an assistant
In this speciality and recognizing Mr..
Smith s fitness for the position offered the
place to him, but wishing to continue his
literary course at the University, where he
will have the advantage of the scholar
ship he has won, he declined the appoint
ment at present.
BAPTIST ENTERPRISE.
The Baptist church at Greenville is one
OF the most active young organizations I
nave ever met with. Since its organlza-
tlon, thirteen months ago, it has built
handsome church and furnished it neatly
and at the Association in Lexington the
other day 1t stood at the head of all the
churches for llberality, it being publicly
announced that during the past year this
church had given more money per head
Ghan any other church in the Association.
Ii commenced with handful of memhers
ana now Is pushing on close to a hundred
ana 1t Is due mainly to the Christian zeal
OF one good woman ''whose name is in all
Che churches" But some fine workers
nave been developed in the little church
and even children have been entbused
Io