Encyclopaedia of Gardening 27 



Babiana (babia-na, from babianer, baboon (Dutch). Baboons eat 

 the bulbs. Orel. Irideae). See Bulbs. Ringens, scarlet; and 

 stricta, blue and white, with the varieties of the latter, are the most 

 popular. 



Balm. See Kitchen Garden Herbs. 



Balsam, Annual. See Annuals Half-hardy. 



Bambusa, Bamboo (bambu-sa, from bambos, the Indian name. 

 Ord. Gramineae). There are three great genera of Bamboos: 

 Arundinaria, Bambusa, and Phyllostachys. The Bamboos are 

 graceful plants, and do well outdoors in sheltered places in northern 

 climes, especially if the soil is peaty. They do not thrive if exposed 

 to cold winds. They may be propagated by division. The follow- 

 ing are the principal species: arundinacea, aurea, nana, palmata, 

 pygmaea, and tessellata. Japonica and metake are both called 

 Arundinaria Japonica by botanists now. Simoni is called Arundin- 

 aria Simoni. Viridi-glaucescens is called Phyllostachys viridi- 

 glaucescens. 



Bartonia (barto-nia, after Dr. Barton. Ord. Loasaceae). See 

 Annuals. 



Basil. See Kitchen Garden Herbs. 



Bastard trenching. See Kitchen Garden and Soil. 



Beans. See Kitchen Garden. 



Bearbind (Bindweed). See Calystegia. 



Bed, Bedding-out. See Flower Garden. 



Beech. The common Beech, Fagus sylvatica, is one of the largest 

 and handsomest of park trees, and the Purple-leaved Beech is one 

 of the few large trees that should be admitted to gardens- See 

 Flower Garden. 



Beet (Beetroot) . See Kitchen Garden. 



Begonia (bego-nia, after M. Begon. Ord. Begoniaceae) . This 

 brilliant plant has made great strides in public favour, both as a 

 summer and a winter-blooming plant. The same kinds are not 

 used for both purposes. Varieties resulting from hybrids between 

 tuberous-rooted species are used for summer flowering, and the off- 

 spring of fibrous-rooted species are employed for winter. We see, 

 therefore, that there are two distinct types of Begonia, one of which 

 produces a tuber, and another which does not. The tuberous 

 Begonias have sprung from the South American species Boliviensis, 

 Clarkei, Davisi, Pearcei, rosaeflora, and Veitchii. Some hybrids 

 have now been raised between selected tuberous-rooted varieties 

 and the fibrous-rooted species socotrana, and they are very beauti- 

 ful. The following are examples: 



Winter Cheer, carmine, semi-double tuberous orange-scarlet variety 



and soc9trana. 

 Julius, rose, semi-double tuberous white variety and socotrana. 



These are semi-tuberous. 



