TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 33 



Propagated by cuttings in sand under a bell-glass. B. 

 crenata, B. latifoUa, and B. odorata, are white. B. serrati- 

 folia, flowers pink. 



BATATAS. [Convolvulaceae.] Free-growing and showy 

 stove climbers, with fleshy roots, requiring to be kept mode- 

 rately dry in the winter season, when dormant. Soil, rich 

 open loam and leaf-mould. As their growth is rapid, and 

 limited in duration, they should be placed in large pots when 

 they begin to grow, the soil being used in a very rough, 

 lumpy state. They do well planted out in a stove conserva- 

 tory if their roots can be kept moderately free from damp in 

 the winter season. Propagated by cuttings of the young 

 shoots from the tubers in a hotbed. 



BAUERA. [Hydrangeacese.] Greenhouse evergreen 

 shrubs. Soil, peat and loam. Propagated by cuttings. B. 

 hiimilis, flowers red. 



BEAR'S BREECH. See Acanthus. 



BEAR'S EAR. See Argtotts. 



BEATONIA. [Iridaceae.] Greenhouse bulbs. Soil, rich 

 sandy loam. Propagated by offsets, but of little use. 



BEAUFORTIA. [Myrtacese.]^ Greenhouse evergreen 

 shrubs. Soil, peat and loam, lightened, if necessary, by the 

 addition of sand. Cuttings may be planted in sand, and 

 covered by a bell-glass : they root best in slight heat. B. 

 decussata, flowers scarlet, in May. B. jpurpurea, flowers 

 purple, in July. 



BEGONIA. Elephant's Ear. [Begoniaceae.] Stove 

 perennials, tubers, or soft-wooded shrubs, a very few growing 

 in a warm greenhouse. Cuttings may be struck in sandy 

 soil under a glass, in a hotbed or the propagating house, or 

 in a vinery. When struck they should be potted in a com- 

 post of two-thirds loam and one-third peat and dung, and be 

 placed in a hotbed, or the stove, or any warm house or pit. 

 As they grow larger, and fill their pots with roots, they must 

 be chapged for others of a larger size. The tuberous sorts 

 die down entirely in winter, and require then to be set away 

 perfectly dry till the spring, when they should be again 

 watered, and placed in a warm situation to excite them into 

 i growth. B. alho-coccinea, evergreen, flowers white and 

 , scarlet, in May. B. cinnaharuia, flowers orange scarlet, in 



D 



