in Extra-Tropical Countries. 53 



Benincasa cerifera, Savi. 



India, Philippines, China, Japan, perhaps also North -Eastern Aus- 

 tralia and Polynesia. This annual plant produces a large edible 

 gourd, which in an unripe state forms part of the composition of many 

 kinds of curry. 



Berberis Asiatica, Roxburgh. 



Himalaya. A Berberry-shrub. Hardy in Christiania (Schuebeler). 

 One of the best among numerous species with edible berries. Among 

 these may particularly be mentioned B. Lycium (Royle) and B. 

 aristata (De Candolle), which also yield valuable yellow dye-wood 

 (Dr. Rosenthal). All kinds of Berberry-shrubs must be kept away 

 from cereal fields, as they might become the seat of the Aecidium-state 

 of one of the principal rust-fungs, Puccinia graminis. 



Berberis buxifolia, Lamarck. 



From Magelhaen's Straits to Chili. This bush, according to Dr. 

 Philippi, is the best among the South- American species for berries, 

 which are comparatively large, black, hardly acid, but slightly 

 astringent. In Valdivia and Chiloe they are frequently consumed. 



Berberis Darwinii, Hooker. 



Chiloe and South-Chili. Considered one of the most handsome of 

 all shrubs for garden-hedges. Hardy in England; even at Christiania. 

 Several other evergreen Berberry-shrubs serve the same purpose. 



Berberis Nepalensis, Sprengel. 



Himalayas, at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Hardy to 

 lat. 59 55' in Norway (Schuebeler). The fruit of this evergreen 

 species is edible. 



Beschorneria yuccoides, Hooker. 



Mexico, at rocky elevations from 8,000 to 10,000 feet (Finck). 

 This handsome plant will bear slight frost. The stem attains a height 

 of 6 feet, and produces flowers annually like yuccas. The leaves 

 yield a remarkable fine and strong fibre (T. Christy). The two other 

 'known species, also from Mexico, B. tubiflora (Kunth) and B. Par- 

 mentierii (Jacobi), are probably similarly useful. 



Beta vulgaris, Linn&* 



The " Beet or Mangold-Wurzel." Middle and Southern Europe, 

 Middle Asia, Northern Africa. Hardy in Norway to lat. 70 4' 

 (Schuebeler). This well-known perennial or biennial herb ought to 

 engage the general and extensive attention of any farming population. 

 Can be grown for mere foliage even in sandy soil near the sea, and is 

 often chosen for the first crop on heath-lands in Northern Germany. 

 The herbage is most valuable as a palatable and nutritious spinage ; 

 the root is of importance not only as a culinary vegetable, but, as is 

 well-known, also for containing crystallizable sugar. The sugar of 



