The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-13
HARD WINTER
SIGNS A PLENTY !
Wild Fruit and Mast Are I'm
usually Heavy This
Fall.
lsneclal 70 The Tlnes.Dlspatch.l

Especial TO The Times Dispatch.)
h HEATHsYILLE. VA. November r.
From time !lnmem orial.lt has been the
custom among Northern Neckers to Judge
the winter according to the mast" in
the fall Of the year, A heavy mast"
il; a never falling sign OF a severe winter.
so judging, as do the Northern Neckers,
and that this fall has been one Of the
gentlest and mldest for many day, one
would be led to predict that the coming
winter will be one OF the hardest and
most severe Of recent years.
Entwined around the bushes and fences
skirtlng the green pine woods for niles
are tho small grape vines, loaded to their
fullest with rich, ripe fruit recently
sweetcned By old Jack Frost" The
branches OF the persimmon trees are
bowed nearly to the ground, and are
grooming under the strain Of their heavy
load OF large golden perslmmons-the
envy OF the "possum' and the coon.
The oak and chestnut whose limbs are
naked and bare. were but few weeks
ago. loaded with acorns and chestnuts.
and hickory trees, crowded with nuts.
have been a delight 90 the squirrels.
In accordance with the above predic-
ton, the farmers and country people
generally are busily preparing for the
winter Wood and other fuel are being
procured In large quantities and every
thing Is being gotten into readiness for
the coming Hnow-storms and freeze
ups"
The farmers have harvested their crops
and owing to a. good crop year, have
their corn and wheat bins we'll filed.
Their work Is nearly done, and they are
now enjoying the fruits Of n profitable
years work. Tho farmers lot !s happy
Free from all the clty's clan1or, he may
live defy!ng grammar" and his soul Is
at peace with the world.
GREAT RUN OF FISH.
During the past two weeks myrlads OF
menhaden fish have appeared along the
Atlantic coast. and steamers OF North
cumberland and Lancaster county fish
factories have been returning daily, to
the factories, loaded down to the waters
edge with fish. Scarcely any time is
have to 20 only as far as tho mouth
OF the Chesapeake Bay. a large nuna-
Der OF the factories had closed down
during the past six weeks on account OF
the moor fishing, Several OF these have
been ablO to procure fresh crews for
their steamers, and are again busily at
work, helping to reap the rich harvest
of fish.
The fish now being caught are said to
be the largest and latest aver handled
here. The turnout Of oil is about twelve
gallons to tho thousand fish. This Is an
unusually large turnout, and, Of course.
tho factory stockholders arc wearing their
sweetest smiles,
Most Of the farmers of the Northern
Neck have finished shucking corn and
sowing wheat, The YIELD Of corn was
FAR above tho averagN being larger than
was expected.
a much larger whne. crop has been
sown In this section this fall than usual.
owing ia the high price Of tho grain.
Nearly every one who owns small
patch OF land has sown II down In wheat.
Most OF these expect to receive anywhere
from one to one and half dollars per
bushel for their wheat,
TEMPERANCE CRUSADE
The temperance people OF Lancaste or