REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. pl 
and enable paper-makers and others to avail themselves of this valuable 
fiber. 
As bearing upon the practicability of its cultivation in this country, 
it may be stated that in New Zealand it is found in greatest abundance 
in alluvial bottom-lands, near the sea-coast and the margins of rivers; 
and it has been growing for many years in the open air, both in France 
and Great Britain, and is rarely injured, even slightly, by the severest 
frosts of those climates. 
CHINA GRASS. 
Some confusion appears to exist concerning the species cf Behmeria 
now in cultivation in some of the Southern States, and as it was deemed 
a matter of considerable moment to planters about to engage in its cul- 
ture, that some definite conclusions should be established in regard to 
it, the Department made efforts to procure seeds and plants from various 
sources. Seeds were procured from France, under the names of B. nivea 
and B. candicans, and from Japan by direct importation; also a package 
from a private source, said to have been procured in China, and labeled 
China grass. All these produced plants exactly alike, and are referred 
to B. nivea, var. candicans. Plants received from Japan, as also all the 
plants heretofore cultivated in Washington, prove to be the same as 
those named above. Plants received from a cultivator in Mississippi 
prove to be the true B. nivea. 
Description. 
Behmeria nivea.—Stems downy, with pubescent hair; leaves cordate 
truncate, oval, tapering into a scythe-shaped point, broadly crenate, 
toothed, pubescent both sides; nerves prominent, reticulated feather- 
veined ; green, between nerves underneath ; height about two feet. 
Behmeria nivea, var. candicans.—Stems closely covered with pubescent 
hair; leaves cordate truncate, broadly ovate, broadly crenate, toothed, 
tapering to a straight point, greenish above, densely white, woolly under 
the whole leaf; nerves prominent, intersected with mostly parallel nerves; 
height about three feet. 
The variety appears to be the strenger-growing plant; and from its 
frequent occurrence, both in imported seeds and China grass plants, it 
would seem to be the kiud most generally recognized as furnishing this 
fiber. So far as regards the quality of fiber, there is probably not a 
shade of difference, and as to quantity, the more robust plant will evi- 
dently take precedence. 
A plant received from Missouri, under the name of northern ramie, 
proved to be Urtica chamedryoides, a native species growing trom 3 to 
4 teet in height. A plant received from Texas, said to be superior to 
ramie, proved to be aspecies of Malachra,a Malvaceous plant, possessing 
a strong fiber. 
EsParto GrRAss.—Stipa tenacissima, L.; Macrochloa tenacissima, Kth. 
After many abortive attempts to secure either plants or seeds of the 
so-called Esparto grass, the Department ultimately succeeded in secur- 
ing from France a small quantity of the seeds. ‘These came to hand 
about the middie of summer, and it not being deemed advisable to sow 
them in the open ground at that season, a portion was planted in boxes, 
Which were placed in a shaded green-house, where the atmospheric 
moisture could be properly regulated. Under these conditions about 10 
per cent. of the seeds germinated. About the ist of October a further 
sowing was made ina large glass-covered frame. A few plants made 
their appearance, which were covered slightly with leaves during winter, 
