Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-30
Tho Government Garden in Washington CITY

Among the many squares that are not
squares in the plan Of this city, il one Of tiye
acres bounded on the north by Missouri
avenue. on the east by Four and half
street, on the south by the canal, and on the
ives. by Sixth street. Less than year ago
this square was little better than a marsh
hut it is now fast assuming form and beauty.
Tile-draining has rendered the soil dry.
warm. and triable, and ingenious culture IS
developing upon the surface products that
have seldom hitherto been found in close
proximity. Here are young but prospecting
grape vines from FL Paso, from Arkansas
and from other States of the Union, IA we'll
as from Hungary and Egypt, all to be tested
III various ways, but especially by expert.
ments having for their object the blending
Of varieties by naturalization in order that
the American, retaining its vigor and exube-
rance, may have its acerbity. its ''ferocity,"-
As It issometimes expressed, subdued through
the influence Of the older cultivated grapes of
other cllmes; or that these may be reinygora
ted through the influence of the more hardy
American vines. The Egyptian varieties
the "seedless" and the lady -fnger"-of
which there are are eight or ten thousand
plants, have been introduced by means of
cuttings; the FL Paso of which there are one
or two hundred thousand, have been produ-
ced frem seeds. Here also is forest of tiny
pines, an inch or two in height, sprung from
seeds brought from the Pacific coast; and ns.
tive plum trees, from seeds obtained in Arkan-
sas and in Texas; and radishes from China.
onions from Egypt; .Melocha. an Egyptian
soup plant, the leaves OF which are exceed
ingly mucilaginous and agreeable in flavor;
the Pyrethrum caucascum, the dried flower
heads of which produce the far-famed yermin
destroying powder; the wax-bearing Rhus
of Japan, the product of which has recently
created some sensation in commerce; the
hemp palm from China, of which a gres,
cloth is made; the olea tragrans, of China
from which the better varieties of tea derive
their rich aroma; the seedless pomecranate
of Egypt, highly priced because it is seedless;
the camphor tree, the cork tree the Mahons
of Texas, which produces fruit of great
value for preserving: the osIer willow from
New England, which soon attains height
of eight or ten feet; caulifowers large
healthy. well-headed and prolific in seeds
and remarkable because of their pc
culiar cultivation; American oaks from the
acorn; the American larch. &c Here, too
may be seen as developed in this locality, the
products of one hundred and twenty-three
samples of wheat collected from every region
of the globe, similar experiments with the
same series being in progress in central
Pennsylvania and in Texas-wheat bearded
and wheat beardless and wheat of marvel
lous variations of appearance, all attended
by the beneficial coccinellidg, which are
busily employed in devouring the plant lice
and other parasites by which the wheat il
attacked; and an apiary of choice bees, We
are informed, is soon TO be appropriately
added to this scene of ingenuity and indus
try. But the browning glory of all il com
prised in the exhibition, within HI admira-
bly, constructed propagating house, 10 which
the warmth of steam or fire has never been APP
piled. of more than fifty thousand healthful,
and BEAUTIFUL TEA PLASTs, the seeds
of which have been received from China with
in a few months. Some of the plants are Just
peeping above the soil, while others, more
covered with earth in the cases,
terminated during the voyage, and are now
q foot or more in height. We are thus about
to determine practically the two-fold problem
tea culture is possible and may be
rendered profitable in the United States-a
problem once discussed in its duality respect
ing wool. again respecting cotton, respecting
Sorghcsucre, respecting improved breeds Of
oevi~H animals and respecting almost every
thing good and valuable that we possess in
agriculture. - Wash. Constitution.