BEDEGUAR 



103 



BEGONIA 



BEDEGUAR. See CYNIPS ROS.C. 



BEDFO'RDIA. (Named in honour of the Duke of 

 Bedford. Nat. ord. Composites [Compositae]. Linn. 19- 

 Syngenesia, i-Mqualis. Allied to Cacalia.) 



Greenhouse evergreen shrub. Cuttings a little dried 

 before inserting them, in rough, sandy soil ; sand, peat, 

 loam, and brick-rubbish, in equal proportions. Summer 

 temp., 55 to 70 ; winter, 40 to 45 ; and almost _dry. 

 B. sali'cina (willow-like). Yellow. April. Australia. 

 1820. 



BEE, (Apis.) All the species of this insect are friendly 

 to the gardener ; for they all aid in impregnating his 

 flowers, many of which, without their aid, would fall 

 unproductive of either fruit or seed. At the same time 

 they are as often injurious, by causing cross impregna- 

 tions, and actually injuring flowers in their efforts to 

 get at the honey. The honey-bee (A. mellifica) is the 

 most active in this operation ; but the humble-bee 

 (Bombus hortorum), and others of the robust species, visit 

 flowers in rough weather, when the honey-bee will not 

 venture from its hive. 



BEECH. Fa'gus. 



BEET. There are two sections of this vegetable culti- 

 vated by gardeners. 



1. For the leaves to boil like spinach, and the stalks 

 of the leaves like sea-kale. Brazilian Beet (Be'ta 

 brasilie'nsis), with very large green leaves. Thick-leaved 

 Beet (B. ci'cla), of which there are these varieties : 

 i. Green-leaved, small-rooted. 2. White-veined, or 

 silver. 3. Golden- veined. 4. Red-veined. The silver is 

 the finest, and, when blanched as the chard, nearly 

 equals asparagus. The leaves of all are boiled like 

 spinach, and the foot-stalks peeled and used as sea-kale. 



2. Red Beet (B. vulga'ris). Nine varieties occur of 

 this ; but the yellow and white-rooted, not meriting 

 cultivation, are here omitted. The others are : i. Large- 

 rooted. 2. Long-rooted. 3. Dwarf- topped. 4. Turnip- 

 rooted. 5. Small. 6. Castelnaudary. 7. Green-topped. 

 Of these, No. 4 is best for an early crop, and No. 6 for 

 the main crop, if obtained genuine. There are many 

 sub-varieties, but scarcely distinguishable from each 

 other. For table use, the object is to obtain moderate- 

 sized and dark crimson roots. There arc numerous 

 varieties, but the old types are still recognised. 



Use. The Red Beet, after being cooked, is used sliced 

 in salads, or alone with an acid dressing. It is much 

 better baked than boiled. 



Soil and Situation. Beet requires a rich, deep, open 

 soil. Its richness should rather rise from previous 

 application, than the addition of manure at the time of 

 sowing ; and, to effect this, the compartment intended 

 for the growth of these vegetables is advantageously 

 prepared as directed for Celery. On the soil depend the 

 sweetness and tenderness for which they are estimated ; 

 and it may be remarked, that on poor, light soils, or 

 heavy ones, the best sorts will taste earthy. The situa- 

 tion should be open. We have always found it bene- 

 ficial to dig the ground two spades deep for these 

 deep-rooting vegetables, and to turn in the whole of the 

 manure intended to be applied with the bottom-spit, so 

 as to bury it ten or twelve inches within the ground. 

 Salt is a beneficial application to this crop ; one reason 

 for which undoubtedly is, the Beet being a native of 

 the sea-shore. 



Time and Mode of Sowing. Sow from the close of 

 February until the beginning of April, it being borne in 

 mind that the seed must not be inserted until the severe 

 frosts are over, which inevitably destroy the seedlings 

 when young. The best time for inserting the main crop 

 of red Beet-root for winter supply is early in April. The 

 Brazilian and Thick-leaved Beets may be sown at the 

 same time for supply in summer ; and, at the beginning 

 of July or August, a successional crop of these may be 

 sown for supply in the winter and following spring. 



The seed is best sown in drills, a foot asunder, and 

 an inch deep ; or by dibble, at the same distance each 

 way, and at a similar depth, two or three seeds being 

 put in each hole. With good seed each carpel contains 

 three seeds ; but they do not always germinate if sown 

 too thickly; they should be thinned out as early as 

 possible. The Brazil Beet requires eighteen inches space. 



During the early stages of growth, the beds, which, 

 for the convenience of cultivation, should not be more 



than four feet wide, must be looked over occasionally, 

 and the largest of the weeds cleared by hand. In the 

 course of May, according to the advanced state of growth, 

 the plants must be cleared thoroughly of weeds, both by 

 hand and small hoeing ; the Red Beet thinned to ten 

 or twelve inches apart, and the White to eight or ten. 

 The plants of this last variety which are removed may 

 be transplanted into rows at a similar distance. Moist 

 weather is to be preferred for performing this, otherwise 

 the plants must be watered occasionally until they have 

 taken root. They must be frequently hoed, and kept 

 clear of weeds throughout the summer. 



It is a great improvement to earth up the stalks of 

 the White Beet, in the same manner as Celery, when 

 they are intended to be peeled, and eaten as asparagus. 

 No vegetable is more benefited by the application of 

 liquid-manure than the White and Brazil Beets. 



Taking up the Red Beet. In October the Beet-root 

 may be taken up for use as wanted, but not entirely, for 

 preservation during the winter, until November, or the 

 beginning of December, if the weather continues open ; 

 then to be buried in sand, in alternate layers, under 

 shelter. Before storing, the leaves and fibrous roots 

 must be trimmed off, but the main root not wounded, 

 and a dry day selected tor performing it. Beet-root may 

 be kept exceedingly well if stacked up neatly, sloping to 

 a point, against a north wall, or other cool place, 

 upon a dry bottom, and buried with sifted coal-ashes. 

 The thickness of this covering must depend upon the 

 weather. 



Gathering from the Green and White Beet. In gathering 

 from these, the largest outside leaves should be first 

 taken, and the inner left to increase in size, when the 

 same selection must be continued ; but, at the same 

 time, it must be remembered that they are to be used 

 whilst perfectly green and vigorous, otherwise they are 

 tough and worthless. 



To obtain Seed. Some roots must be left where grown, 

 giving them the protection of some litter in very 

 severe weather, if unaccompanied with snow ; or, 

 if this is neglected, some of the finest roots that have 

 been stored in sand, and have not had the leaves cut 

 away close, may be planted in February or March. Each 

 species and variety must be kept as far away from others 

 as possible, and the plants set at least two feet from 

 each other. They flower in August, and ripen their seed 

 at the close of September. Seed of the previous year is 

 always to be preferred for sowing ; but it will succeed, 

 if carefully preserved when two years old. There are 

 many of the highly coloured foliage varieties used for 

 bedding. 



BEFARIA. (Named by Mutis after M. Bejar, a 

 Spanish botanist. Nat. ord. Heathworts [Ericaceae]. 

 Syn. Bejaria.) 



All are greenhouse or stove evergreen shrubs. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings of the young wood getting firm at the 

 base, and placed under a bell-glass in the greenhouse, 

 or in a close case where stove heat is required. Use 

 very sandy loam and peat. Pot in loam and peat with 

 less sand. 



B ce'stuans (glowing). 12. Rose. Peru. 1846. 



cinnamo'mea (cinnamon-coloured). 4. Peru. 1847. 



coarcta'ta (close-headed). 5. Purple. Peru. 1847. 

 glau'ca (sea-green). 3 to 6. Purple. June. New 

 Grenada. 1826. Stove. 



ledifo'lia (Ledum-leaved). 3 to 5. May. 1847. 

 lindenia'na (Linden's). Pink. Venezuela. 1847. 



Stove. 



,, Matiheu/sii (Matthews'). Yellow. March. Peru. 

 ,, racem'osa (raceme-flowered). 3 to 4. Purple. June. 



Florida. 1810. 



., tri' color (three-coloured). Crimson and yellow. New 

 Grenada. 1850. 



BEGO'NIA. (After M. Began, a French patron of 

 botany. Nat. ord. Begoniads [Begoniaceae]. Linn. 

 2i-.\ioncecia, g-Polyandria.) 



This is an extensive genus, and of great variation ; 

 formerly they were nursed up as stove plants, but 

 during the past few years they have been used as bedding 

 plants. It is the tuberous varieties which came from 

 South America, somewhere about 1860, that have proved 

 so prolific with the hybridists ; the varieties seen are 

 remarkable for the wonderful development of size, form, 



