BAPTISIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



BEGONIA. 



447 



threes, sometimes in fours, from the 

 nodes. The leaves are from 2 in. to 4 in. 

 in length, and an inch, more or less, in 

 width ; ovate ; soft hairs very conspicuous 

 on the lower surface, but none on the 

 upper surface or on the insertion of the 

 leaves, which are serrated on both edges. 



Arundinaria anceps. A very beauti- 

 ful Bamboo discovered by Mr. Jordan, 

 superintendent of Regent's Park, in the 

 stock of a dead nursery gardener, whose 

 books being destroyed or lost, it was 

 impossible to trace its origin. It is pro- 

 bably a Chinese species. The culms are 

 brown when ripe ; the leaf-sheaths are 

 hairy, and the petiole of the leaf is yellow. 



A. nobilis. A grand Bamboo, pro- 

 bably of Chinese origin, growing to a 

 height of 24 ft. at Menabilly, in Corn- 

 wall. It is quite hardy, only losing 

 its leaves in early summer when the new 

 ones are ready to appear. The tall stems 

 are yellowish in colour with very dark 

 purplish nodes, of which the lower rim 

 is broadly marked with grey. 



Bambusa disticha. A pretty little 

 dwarf Bamboo. Stem about 2 ft. high, 

 round, very slightly zigzagged ; branches 

 and leaves distichous ; leaves hairy, 

 especially at the base, and serrated at the 

 edges, about i-| in. long by three-quarters 

 of an inch broad, tapering to a point ; 

 leaf-sheaths hairy ; rhizome inclined to 

 run. A very distinct little plant, most 

 useful for a choice corner in a rock 

 garden. A. B. F.-M. 



BAPTISIA (False ^ Indigo}. A hardy 

 and vigorous Lupine-like group of 

 perennials from North America, forming 

 strong bushy tufts 3 to 5 ft. high, with 

 sea-green leaves ; the flowers, mostly of 

 a delicate blue, in long spikes. B. 

 australis, exaltata, and alba are the best- 

 known kinds, and should be placed in the 

 mixed border in any garden soil. 



BARBAREA. Mountain and marsh 

 cruciferous herbs of the Old World, few 

 of much garden value, only two varieties 

 being worth growing. The finest is the 

 double yellow Rocket (B. vulgaris ft. -pl.\ 

 which is a beautiful and curious plant. It 

 is about 1 8 in. high, flowers bright yellow, 

 from June till late summer, and often till 

 autumn. It succeeds in almost any soil, 

 preferring a rich light loam. Division. 



Barkhausia. See CREPIS. 



Bartonia aurea. See MENTZELIA. 



BEGONIA (Elephants Ear}.^ large 

 tropical and sub-tropical family of plants, 

 many of them of much value in our hot- 

 houses, and, of recent years, in our open 

 gardens. The Tuberous Begonia is the 



most familiar to flower gardeners, and 

 now plays a large part in summer bedding. 

 Grouped together in beds a fine effect is 

 produced, and the colours vary from the 

 darkest scarlets and crimsons to the 

 various shades of rose and pink ; also 

 white and blush-coloured kinds. 



The cultivation of the Begonia is 

 not difficult. Seedlings raised in March 

 will make good plants for planting early 

 in June. One can just prick them off into 

 pans ; from these, when large enough, 

 they are put in shallow boxes, and not 

 disturbed again until planted out, unless 

 getting overcrowded. The beds should 

 be well prepared for them, if the soil is 

 heavy, using plenty of well-decomposed 

 leaf-mould, and failing this old Mushroom 

 manure. During the first year those of 

 inferior quality should be discarded when 

 lifted, marking the finest for another 

 year. For the second and after seasons' 

 display start the tubers in a gentle heat 

 in boxes in March, transferring them to a 

 cold frame or pit in May. A north frame is 

 best, as the plants make very free growth, 

 and get a good size for planting out the 

 first week in June. The beds should be 

 surfaced with either a dwarf kind of plant 

 or with Cocoa-nut fibre. When, however, 

 they are planted thickly together, use the 

 fibre, which will soon be covered by the 

 foliage. Begonias planted in dry posi- 

 tions should always be kept moist 

 at the root. Damping the beds over- 

 head as the sun leaves them in the 

 after part of the day when the weather is 

 dry and warm will greatly refresh them. 

 When lifted, the tuberous varieties require 

 careful attention so as to prevent the 

 decaying stems from imparting any ill 

 effects to the tubers. Remove these stems 

 as soon as they can be twisted out without 

 any trouble. Some growers expose the 

 tubers in a light, dry, and airy house until 

 the stems are quite dried up. Later on 

 the bulbs when quite at rest should be 

 kept in a cool place, neither too dry nor 

 too moist, but where frost cannot reach 

 them, being stored in either Cocoa-nut 

 fibre or silver sand in shallow boxes until 

 again required for starting. It is better to 

 have single than double flowers for bed- 

 ding out, and there is no want of good 

 colours. 



A class getting more popular each year 

 is that called the shrubby set, these 

 being known as forms of B. semper- 

 florens. They are neat and shrubby in 

 growth, with an abundance of rather small 

 leaves, varying in shade. Conspicuous is 

 Vernon's variety, the leaves deep crimson 

 to light green, and pinky blossoms. There 



