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AN ENCYCLOPÆDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 169 
Beet—continued. 
for Spinach. If desired, seeds may be sown in the way 
described for Beetroot, in April for using in autumn and 
winter, and in August for spring use, plants of the latter 
sowing being protected in severe weather. The best sorts 
are Red-stalked, Yellow-stalked, and White (see Fig. 223) 
or Silver Leaf. 
BEET CARRION BEETLE (Silpha opaca). This 
destructive insect is frequently found in dead animals, 
but often its grub almost destroys the leaves of Beet and 
Mangold Wurzel crops. The grubs, which are black and 
shining, when full grown are from din. to din. long; the 
three segments next the head are rounded at the sides, but 
the other segments are sharp, and the tail segment has a 
sharp spine on each side. ‘ When full-fed, the grubs bury 
themselves, and form cells at the depth of 3in. or 4in. 
below the surface of the earth, in which they turn to pups, 
and from these the Beetle has been seen to come up in 
about the space of a fortnight or three weeks” (Ormerod). 
The Beetles are flattish, and about five lines long, brown- 
black, with a tawny down; eyes large and oval; horns 
club-shaped; body somewhat oval; wing-cases very flat, 
turned up at the outer edge, each case having three sharp 
ridges running along it; tip of abdomen dull red. Any 
manures or methods of cultivation that would stimulate 
growth in the plants, so as to permit renovation of injuries, 
would be found useful. If farmyard manure were applied 
to the soil intended for Beet in the autumn instead of in 
spring, it would lessen the risk of attack to the Beets. 
BEETLES (Coleoptera). Beetles form one of the most 
extensive orders of insects, there being upwards of 8000 
known British species. They vary much in appearance, 
but a Beetle is readily recognised by its front wings, or 
elytra; these form a tough horny sheath or case, which 
lies over the real wings, and protects them when the insect 
is not flying. Sometimes, the elytra are very short (seo 
Fig. 225); the mouth is fitted with jaws for cutting. 
The metamorphosis is complete, i.e., the larva or grub 
Fia. 224, COMMON GARDEN BEETLE. ee 
is very unlike either the quiescent pupa or the perfect 
insect, The period that elapses before Beetles arrive at 
their perfect state varies from a few weeks to two or 
three years, but is usually rather longer than in Butterflic 
or Bees. Various Beetles attack growing plants and roots, 
Thus, Otiorhynchus sulcatus and O. picipes attack Vines, 
Fie, 225, Devin’ CoacH HORSE, 
Roses, and other plants, gnawing off the bark. Some 
species of Beetles attack Mushrooms, while others. bore 
into the wood of old trees, or eat leaves (e.g. Turnip Fly), 
or burrow in the leaves, or form galls on roots (Cabbage- 
gall Weevil). Of some kinds, the- beetles are hurtful; of 
Beetles—continued. 
others, the larve. Many kinds, however, are beneficial, 
such, for instance, as the common Ground Beetle 
(Carabus, Fig. 224), and the Devil’s Coach Horse (Ocypus 
FIG. 226, SEVEN-SPOTTED FIG. 227. GRUB OF LADYBIRD. 
LADYBIRD. (Enlarged). 
olens, Fig. 225). These live upon other insects and 
snails. One kind of Beetle—the Ladybird (see Figs. 226 
and 227)—is very beneficial in a garden, as it preys upon 
the aphides, or plant lice. For instructions in dealing 
with the noxious kinds, see Asparagus Beetle, Bean 
Beetle, Beet Carrion Beetle, Click Beetle, Cock- 
chafer, Lily Beetle, Rosechafer, and Turnip Fly. 
BEET or MANGOLD FLY (Anthomyia betæ). 
The maggots of this fly do considerable damage by feeding 
on the pulp of the Beet or Mangold leaves. The eggs are 
small, white, and oval, and are laid in small patches beneath 
the leaves ; the maggots are about Hin. long, legless, cylin- 
drical, and yellowish-white. As it is of such recent appear- 
ance in this country, specifics for its eradication are by no 
means numerous; but, according to Miss Ormerod, “the 
best treatment appears to be to nip it in the bud, where 
such treatment is possible, by destroying the infested plants, 
but generally by all means of good cultivation, or by special 
applications of artificial manure, to ensure a hearty growth, 
which may run the plants on past the power of average 
attacks to weaken the leafage to a serious extent.” 
BEFARIA (named in honour of Bejar, a Spanish 
botanist). ORD. Ericacee. Syn. Bejaria. An elegant 
genus of greenhouse evergreen shrubs, closely allied to 
Rhododendron. Flowers bracteate; corolla very deeply 
seven-cleft, spreading, Leaves racemose or corymbose, 
crowded, quite entire, coriaceous. They thrive in a com- 
post of peat and loam. Propagated by cuttings, made of 
the young wood, and placed in sandy soil, in gentle heat. 
1 . e; simple; 
ae "eg Eg cal tm Bey nam Eeri dlathot eile 
clamm EAEN EE hairs, 2. ellipti 
tomentum. Plant much branched ; ets sub-verticillate. 
- h. 10ft. to 15ft. Peru, 1846. Syn. Acunna oblonga. (G. C. 1848, 119.) 
B. cinnamomea cinnamon-coloured). ; panicles close, 
tem Rat omg te dowa abore 
1847. i 
B. coarctata (close-headed). purple; corymbs terminal, 
simple ; =i a gi and calyces clothed with rust; 
k payaa gg a oblong, ERS cous th. Shrub mu 
branched. A. 4ft. to bff. Peru, 1847. (G. C. 1848, 175.) 
B. glauca (glaucous).* jl. flesh-coloured; racemes terminal and 
axillary ; icels somewhat fastigiate. June. J. oblong, obtuse, 
ucous beneath. _ Shrub much 
} Sit. to 6ft. South America, 1826. 
B. ledifolia um-leaveđ).* ji. purple; racemes terminal; 
peduneles, coe me eg branchlets, and calyces clothed with 
clammy glandular hairs. J. eblong, somewhat mucronate, with 
deans aoa erei ox em pene: Shrub much 
ranched ; branches purplish, ` . to 4ft. South America, 
1847. (F. d. S. 3, 195 gi 
B. racemosa (racemed), jfi. purple, di 
; branchlets angular, 
oy 
d in racemose ter. 
minal panicles. July, Z. ovate-lanceolate, glabrous; branchlets _ 
ries 
smooth or hispid. R, 3ft. to 5ft. Georgia, i 
BEGONIA (named after M. Begon, a French 
of botany). ORD. Begoniacee. A large genus son- 
lent herbs or undershrubs (a few climbers), in many of 
which the stem is reduced to a tuberous rhizome, whilst 
some are distinctly tuberous. Flowers usually showy and 
large, white, rose, scarlet, or yellow, unisexual; perianth 
segments petaloid, four to five divisions, rarely two. Sta- 
