138 
Beetles—continwed. 
this Beetle can fly well. In form Staphylinide are 
elongate. Those commonly met with feed upon insects, 
molluscs, and worms. The feet are five-jointed. The 
larye are active, and in general remind one of those of 
the Carabide. 
BEET RUST (Uromyces betx). In England, 
America, and many parts of Europe, this fungus does 
an amount of damage to Garden Beets as well as to 
Mangel Wurzels in fields, by causing the growth to be 
stunted and the roots to be deformed and generally of 
poor quality. The Sea Beet (Beta maritima) is also 
liable to be attacked. The reddish-yellow Cluster Cup, 
or first stage of the fungus, is found in spring; this is 
Natural size. 
Magnified (x10). 
By permission of the Board of Agriculture. 
Fic, 165. Breet Rust, Uredospore stage. 
succeeded by the uredospore stage (Fig.“165), in which 
the spores are of a light brown, and edged with 
points when seen under a microscope; finally, these give 
place to the teleutospores, which’. carry the fungus on 
to the next season. 
Preventive measures consist in spraying the plants 
at intervals as soon as the first stage is noticed, so 
as to render the foliage in such a condition that the 
uredospores, when they burst through the skin, will 
not germinate. Great care must also be taken to burn 
all trimmings at the time of lifting the roots in 
autumn, otherwise if the same quarters are used for 
Beet or Mangels the trouble will be intensified. 
Obviously, too, the eradication of any Wild Beet in 
the neighbourhood of the plantation is desirable. 
BEFARIA. Sry. Acunna. This genus includes 
about twelve or fifteen species, natives of Mexico, Florida, 
Cuba, and South and Central America. 
BEGONIA. Including Eupetalum. Of this vast 
genus about 350 species are known; they are mostly 
natives of tropical America and tropical and sub-tropical 
Asia and Africa, and are rarely found in the Pacific 
Islands. 
Only a comparatively few years ago it was considered 
an impossibility to cross the Shrubby Begonia with the 
Tuberous-rooted species, but this has been successfully 
accomplished by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, who 
have produced from the union a strain which continue to 
blossom abundantly all through the winter months. They 
originated by crossing the Tuberous Begonia with the well- 
known winter B. socotrana ; several distinct and handsome 
varieties are now in commerce, and will be extensively 
grown in the future. Perhaps the most useful and beau- 
tiful of all winter-flowering. Begonias is the charming Gloire 
de Lorraine, raised by MM. Lemoine and Son, of Nancy, 
by erossing B. Dregei and B. socotrana; the foliage is a 
beautiful green, of the same shape as B. socotrana, but 
very much smaller; the stems are slender, terminating 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Begonia—continued. 
in a cymose inflorescence of lovely clear pink flowers. 
A beautiful white sport has been produced, resembling 
Gloire de Lorraine in’ all respects except in the colour 
of the flower. So far no hybridiser has been able to 
cross Gloire de Lorraine with any species or variety, 
nor have any fertile seeds been produced; therefore, the 
only means of propagating is by stem- or leaf-cuttings, 
both of which root readily if placed in a little bottom- 
heat in a temperature of 70deg. Fegonia incomparabilis 
originated by crossing B. polypetala and B. Frebeli, and 
produces bright scarlet flowers above the large foliage 
of the dwarf plant, commencing to blossom in summer, 
and continuing until late in the year. The above are the 
best of the new forms of the Begonia for winter-flowering, 
and are sure to become popular. 
The freedom with which the Begonia is employed for 
bedding in the public parks and gardens of our large 
towns at once stamps it as a most useful and reliable 
plant for smoky districts. It appears to great ad- 
vantage when compared with many other subjects, 
especially after heavy storms of rain, when Pelargo- 
niums and kindred plants are miserable-looking objects, 
all the flowers being knocked to pieces, and anything 
but attractive. The Begonia, however, appears as fresh 
and beautiful as ever, and looks as if it had enjoyed 
the heavy rain. To produce the best effect the 
plants should have a start into growth in gentle heat, 
commencing about the middle of April, using a 
rich compost for the tubers, and afterwards keeping 
them close to the glass to induce a_ short-jointed, 
sturdy growth. By the middle of May the plants may 
be placed in a cold frame, not giving much ventilation 
for a few days; afterwards they should be gradually ex- 
posed to more air, removing the lights entirely on warm 
days and nights. By the first week in June they will be 
hardened sufficiently to plant out in beds that have been 
well enriched previously with good farmyard manure. 
Seedlings such as Fig. 166 are frequently employed in™ 
bedding with good effect. ; 
Where many have failed with the Begonia is by 
planting out in poor soil, or under the shade of trees, 
both of which are disliked by the Begonia. If a mulch 
of well-rotted manure can be applied to the soil 
immediately after planting, not only is moisture con- 
served, but the roots are fed to such an extent that 
floriferous growth is made all through the season, until 
the plants are cut down by frost. Under the conditions 
adyoeated no plant will surpass the Begonia for bedding 
purposes, and few equal it for town or villa gardens, 
where the atmcrphere is more or less charged with 
obnoxious matter. Another advantage is that the 
Begonia may be taken up and stored away in boxes in 
a fairly warm, dry place, and no further attention is 
necessary until started into growth again in the spring; 
whereas the'Pelargoniums and other soft-wooded plants 
must be potted and given attention in watering, &c., all 
the winter, amounting to a considerable cost altogether. 
Begonia Haageana is a lovely plant for an intermediate 
house, as it is free in growth and nearly always in blossom. 
The large flesh-coloured flowers are borne in great clusters. 
B. semperflorens is a particularly valuable mid-winter 
flowering plant, as its white flowers are borne freely. It is 
also useful for summer-bedding, as the foliage is heavily 
stained with crimson and deep purple-bronze in August, at 
which time it is one of the most conspicuous features in 
the flower-garden. The variety named gigantea rosea is of 
strong growth, and bears an abundance of rosy-red flowers. 
B. fuchsioides is a good pillar-plant, and bears drooping 
panicles of bright scarlet flowers freely. 
To the species and varieties described on pp. 170-9, 
Vol. I., the following should be added. 
B. acerifolia. S. This name has also been applied by Messrs. 
Veitch and Sons to a garden hybrid between B. Burkeit and 
B. decora, “ 
