BED 



BE G 



practised, from the mats that are designed for 

 other uses j which soon spoils them. 



It should be drawn out regularly when it is 

 wanted, and cut into equal lengths ; and in 

 order tn render it more pliable and tough, dipped 

 in water; then tucked in the apron-string of 

 the gardener, where it will be most ready for 

 being employed. 



BAY. See Laurus. 

 BEAN. See Vicia Kiba. 

 BEAN, KIDNEY-. See Pijaseolus. 

 BEAR-BERRY. See Arbutus. 

 BEAR'S-BUEECH. See Acanthus. 

 REAR'S-EAR. See Primula Auricula. 

 BED, a space of ground, three, four, or more 

 feet in breadth, with length in proportion, 

 formed in gardens for the more convenient cul- 

 ture of various sorts of crops, being mostly boun- 

 ded by trodden paths. They are particularly 

 useful in sowing and pricking out different kinds 

 of small seeds and plants, affording much faci- 

 lity in the business of weeding, thinning, water- 

 ing, covering, and gathering them. ^Vhcre a 

 greater depth of mould than usual is necessary, 

 as in the common culture of Asparagus, &c. they 

 atTovd the means of procuring it, by being raised 

 above the general level of the surrounding 

 ground. 



Beds intended for the cultivation of aspa- 

 ragus, strawberries, onions, leaks, lettuces, en- 

 dive, early radishes, and various other small 

 seed crops, should in general be formed to the 

 width of about four feet, having paths or al- 

 leys between them of different breadths, accord- 

 ing to their nature ; in the first mostly from a 

 foot and a half to two feet, and in the others 

 from half a foot to a foot. 



In the culture of cauliflowers, brocoli, dif- 

 ferent sorts of cabbages, booreole, and other 

 similar plants, such kinds of beds are likewise 

 extremely convenient for sowing and pricking 

 out the young plants upon, previous to their 

 being set out. In the growth of many sorts of 

 pot-herbs, as mint, thyme, sage, marjoram, 

 savory, penny-royal, tansey, tarragon, balm, 

 hyssop, rue, 8cc, they are not only convenient, 

 but afford a neat and regular appearance. 



In the cultivation of plants of the flower kind, 

 txds are also highly useful both for the ease of 

 performing such operations as are necessary in 

 promoting their growth and flowering, and for 

 the convenience of viewing them. Some sorts 

 also show to much more advantage when planted 

 in beds. 



For the different bulbous-rooted sorts, as hy- 

 acinths, tulips, lilies, &c. from three feet to 

 three feet and a half are good breadths, with 

 foot and half or two feet alleys ; but for ranun- 



culuses, anemones, cfomses, pinks, carna- 

 tions, and various other kinds of the more choice 

 flowers, three feet in breadth, with foot and 

 half paths, are sufficient. Beds fur this purpose 

 arc mostly edged in a neat manner with box or 

 thrift. These kinds of beds arc likewise the 

 most proper and convenient for raising different 

 sorts of flower plants upon, either from seeds, 

 parting the roots, slips, or cuttings. 



In nursery grounds for the rearing and growth 

 of trees, shrubs, and other plants, beds of dif- 

 ferent dimensions must be employed ; but for 

 those of the low and smaller growth, those of 

 four feet in breadth, with foot and half paths, 

 are very convenient. 



In forming beds of this sort, they should never 

 be raised above the level of the natural ground,, 

 except where it becomes particularly necessary, 

 cither from the nature of the plants to be culti- 

 vated, or the too great retention of moisture in 

 the soil, as, where they are much raised, tire 

 mould not only parts with its natural moisture 

 too quickly in dry seasons, but the paths, by 

 being much sunk, have a disagreeable ap- 

 pearance. 



Particular constructions of beds are often re- 

 quisite in the culture of particular sorts of plants, 

 but these will be described in speaking of their 

 culture. 



BEECH-TREE. See Fagus, 

 BEET. See Beta. 



BEGONIA, a genus comprising a plant of 

 the shrubby exotic kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Afonoccia 

 Poli/andria, and ranks in the natural order of 

 HoloracecB. 



The characters are : that in the male flowers 

 there is no calyx : the corolla has four petals, 

 of which the two opposite ones are larger, com- 

 monly roundish : the stamina have numerous 

 filaments, fifteen to one hundred, inserted into 

 the receptacle, very short, sometimes united at 

 the base : the anthers are oblong and erect. 



The female flowers are usually on the same 

 common peduncle with the males ; there is no 

 calyx : the corolla consists in most species of 

 five petals, in some six, in others perhaps four, 

 commonly unequal. The pistillum is an in- 

 ferior three-sided germ, in very many winged : 

 the styles in most three, and bifid : the stigmas 

 are six: the pericarpium is in most a three-cor- 

 nered, winged, three-celled capsule, opening 

 at the base by the wings ; some are two-celled, 

 and others perhaps one-celled. 



The species principally cultivated is B. ni- 

 tida, Shining-leaved Begonia. 



In this species, the stems are almost upright, 

 branched, round, smooth, as is the whole plant, 



