Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20
FIRST AMERICAN SETTLEMENT.

An outline map Of jamestown Island, 35
miles up the James river from Norfolk, where
on May 10, 1907, three little ships, contain
| ing 10J settlers, under the command OF Cap
| tain Newport. landed. and the beginning was
made for the first permanent shettlement OF
English,speaking people on the continent OF
sail as an awning, and mailing board be
tween trees. they made q reading desk for
made for the first permanent settlement OF
the Church OF England, and heard the first
sermon in the English tongue on American
soil. The site was first named Fort James,
in honor Of the King Later Ii was called
James City" and still later jamestown. II
was originally on a peninsula but long ago
the water washed away the neck which con-
nected 1t with the mainland. The site now
belongs to a Virginia ladies' historical So
ciety.
Figs-This fruit is not commercially
grown, but every householder can have
them. The tree is hardy, and noted
for its long life, even with hard treat
ment Three crops of fruit grow on
the same tree between May and No
vember in many a home garden in
many parts of Virginia.
Fishing .-Virginias producing water
bottoms exceed any In the United
States. Twenty eight counties are di-
under police patrol $500 square miles,
equal a strip more than a mile wide.
extending from Maine 10 California.
More than $4,000 persons are actively
engaged in the fish and oyster indus
tries, which bring an annual income
Of more than $12,000,00G. The State
enjoys a license revenue exceeding
500, 900 a year. The variety of food
fishes is large. and the business of ship
ping fresh, and sailing and packing is
growing The most abundant fish, not
edible. is the Menhaden, used for maxi
ing oil and fertilizer. (See Oysters.)
Flowers.-Nature is prodigal in floral
wealth. and where intelligent aid Is
rendered by the homemaker, most
beautiful surroundings can be made.
The flowers which cover the untitled
fields and bloom and blush unseen in
forest dells form no small part Of the
beauty which makes this land of blue
mountains and silvery streams "the
fairest land the sun shines on" In
springtime every stream is fringed with
blooming flowers and white banners
wave on every breeze. Wild roses.
ferns. rhododendrons, forest pinks and
wood violets spring up everywhere,
while daisies and yellow buttercups
line every pathway. OF cultivated 1ow-
ers, everything grows in the open air
that can be raised in a temperate eli
mate. There are no homes, however
humble, that cannot have beautiful sur
roundings.
Forest Wealth.-The forests OF Vir-
ginia abound in an unusual variety OF
woods, especially the valuable hard
woods, in such demand for furniture,
cars, implements, etc. Most Of the UNI
cultivated land consists of woodland
tracts. Pine forests and cypress
swamps cover vast areas of the Tide
water section. This soil favors also
the growth Of the cedar, willow, locust,
juniper and gum. and to some extent
the oak-woods that furnish the best
material for slaves, shingles, ship tim
Der and sawed lumber. 1t Is claimed
by those familiar with the subject, that
by intelligent care Of trees. tracts can
be made to yield an annual income
equal, acre to acre. Of land cultivated
to farm crops. In central and western
sections are found oak, hickory, wal
nut, chestnut, birch, beech, maple, pop
lar, cherry, ash. sycamore and elm. In
the higher ATTITUDES are found the hem
lock. spruce and white pine.
Fruits.-When the variety, abund-
ance and excellence of it's fruits are
considered, it is doubtful II any other
State leads Virginia. Apples. peaches,
pears cherries, ounces, plums and
grapes are in great abundance, while
the smaller fruits, as strawberries, rasp-
berries, blackberries, gooseberries and
currants are plentiful. The peach, re-
curing a somewhat warmer climate,
abounds more plentlfully in Middle Vir-
ginia and Tidewater. The eastern slopes
of the Blue Ridge are especially pro-
life in grapes. They are Of excellent
quality and flavor, both for table use
and wine making.
FueI.-This is q matter OF little con-
Germ to the Virginia settler as IT Is one
OF serious import to the settler on the
Western prairies and plains Coal ana
wood can be had in every locality at
minimum cost
Gardenlng.-To enumerate the varie-
ty of things produced would be to call
of a long list, from asparagus, oeans'
beets, cabbage, cantaloupes celery, Gu
cumbers, kale, lettuce, radishes, spin
ach, sweet corn. rhubarb, tomatoes
watermelons, etc. Profits range from
500 TO $1,000 an acre. While the
snow is still on the farms OF the North
and the farmer is cutting the Ice In
the drinking troughs in his feed yards,
the gardener of the South is watching
his crops grow and preparing to make
his first shipment by refrigerator cars
on fast trains to Northern markets
When the Northern farmer Is putting IN
his first and only crop OF the year the
Southern gardener is putting in MS
second one, his first one having le1t a
taste for more of the same kind In the
mouth of his Northern neighbor: In
the Northern States, on the parallel OF
the great lakes, man Is barred from
his garden for six months In the year
graphicai.-Virginia Is separated
on the north from Maryland by the
potomac river and Chesapeake bay; on
the south 1t joins North Carolina Tor
s2s miles, and Tennessee for ia miles;
on the west is Kentucky for lis miles
and West Virginia for $50 miles; on
the east IS the Atlantic ocean; the
greatest length from east to west Is
/ 975 miles; the greatest width from
north to south is 1872 miles.
GoId.-The yellow metal IS found In
a dozen or more counties in Virginia
Grasses and Forage Plants.-There
il a long list OF grasses and legumes
| common 10 Virginia, including alfafa
beans. blue grass. clover, peas, umo-
thy. etc, one kind or another furnish