REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 19 
externally. A month or so after glazing, when the putty has had 
time to dry and shrink, the wood-work is painted, and all the openings 
from shrinkage carefully fled with paint; only in this way can per- 
fectly water-tight glazed roofs be secured. The roof is covered with 
the best quality of double-thick American glass, which was manufac- 
tured and curved expressly for the purpose. 
GRASSES. 
In the Report for 1869 a record was given of the growth and charac- 
teristics of certain named grasses. The growth of the past season fur- 
nishes additional information regarding their permanency, especially as 
regards resistance to droughts, and their endurance when subjected to 
scorching sun and parched soil. The following list embraces those spe- 
cies that have proved best in this respect, viz: Aira flexuosa, Agrostis 
stolonifera, Agrostis alba, Bromus pratensis, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca 
pratensis, Festuca ovina, Festuca duriuscula, Festuea rubra, Festuca tenui- 
folia, Hordewn bulbosum, Lolium Italicum, Pow pratensis, and Poa aqua- 
tica. While all of these appear to stand equally well during summer, 
the Agrostis, Aira, and Cynosurus become somewhat browued after frost 
in early winter. The Festucas are conspicuously green and verdant- 
looking all the year round; the Poas also maintain a good color. The 
last two named genera are possessed of very fine leaves, and naturally 
of a thick, spreading habit of growth, which, together with their other 
qualifications, render them particularly adapted to the formation of 
lawns, and perhaps no grasses at present known can supersede them for 
that purpose. If confined to either one, the Poa species should, for 
various reasons, receive the preference. 
The excellent qualities of Lolium Italicum, the Italian rye-grass, and 
its rapid growth, especially in irrigated meadows, have been the means 
of directing attention to its-merits as a forage plant ia localities where 
extreme droughts and heat prevent the proper maturation of tardy 
growing species. In the Southern States, where it is found difficult to 
secure a hay-crop from timothy, (which is considered the best grass for 
this purpose,) it has been suggested that by sowing Italian rye-grass in 
the fall, after the dry season has passed, a crop might be secured the 
next year beforé the severe hot and dry weather should prevail. To 
test this matter of growth during winter, sowings of the common per- 
ennial rye-grass and the Italian rye-grass were made about the middle 
of October. The weather proving dry for several weeks afterward, 
the young plants made slow progress. The winter was rather severe, 
but, notwithstanding that no covering or protection was given, the 
Italian measured 18 inches in average length on the 28th of April; the 
perennial measured 10 inches average length. 
THA. (Thea viridis.) 
The demand for tea-plants having increased very considerably of 
late, special attention has been given to their propagation. In the 
absence of seeds, which are not always readily procured from Japan or 
from China in condition for germination, the stock of young plants has 
been derived from cuttings of the partially matured growths, taken off 
early in autumn. These form roots in the course of six weeks or two 
months, when planted in sand and kept in a warm greenhouse, withous 
any further appliance of heat. Plants have also been secured from 
cuttings of the tender growths taken in May, but to be successful with 
these it is necessary to place them in a hot-bed, and guard them against 
evaporation. About ten years ago @ small plaht was transferred to 2 
