HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



BEA 



Beach Pea. Common name of Lathyrus mariti- 

 mus. A species growing plentifully in New Jersey 

 and northward. 



Bean. Phaseolus. The varieties of our common 

 Garden or Bush Bean have their origin in P. 

 vulgaris, which is supposed to be a native of the 

 East Indies, though there are none of the spe- 

 cies found wild that in any way resembles the 

 varieties under cultivation. The earliest notice 

 that we have of the Kidney Bean is that given 

 by Pliny, who calls them Phaseoli, and says the 

 pod is to be eaten with the seed. "According 

 to Diodorus Siculus, the Egyptians were the first 

 to cultivate it, and to make it an article of com- 

 mon diet, yet they conceived religious notions 

 concerning it which made them at length re- 

 frain from eating it. Their priests dared not 

 either touch it or look at it. Pythagoras, who 

 was educated among the Egyptians, derived 

 from them their veneration for the bean, and 

 forbade his disciples to eat it. He taught that 

 it was created at the same time and of the same 

 elements as man ; that it was animated and had 

 a soul, which, like the human soul, suffered the 

 vicissitudes of transmigration. Aristotle ex- 

 plains the prohibition of Pythagoras symbolic 2 

 ally. He says, that beans being the ordinary 

 means of voting on public matters, the white 

 bean meaning an affirmative, and the black a 

 negative, therefore Pythagoras meant to forbid 

 his disciples to meddle with political govern- 

 ment. The Eoman priests affirmed that the 

 bean blossom contained infernal letters, refer- 

 ring to the dark staius on the wings, and it is 

 probable that all the superstitions on the sub- 

 ject sprang from the fruit.'' Am. Ency. This 

 species was first cultivated in England in 

 1509, having been introduced from the Nether- 

 lands. Many varieties were known to Gerarde 

 in 1590. The running or Pole Beans are of the 

 species P. muttiflorus, introduced from South 

 America in 1663. (See Phaseolus.) The Eng- 

 lish Bean, so called by our seedsmen, and com- 

 monly known as Broad Windsor, is Vicia faba, 

 a genus that has been under cultivation as long 

 as we have any records of gardening. It is sup- 

 posed to have originated in Egypt, from the 

 fact that the early Greek writers mention re- 

 ceiving it thence. Of this class there are many 

 varieties, none of whicb succeed well with us. 



Bear Grass. See Yucca. 



Beard-tongue. A popular name of the genus 

 Pentstenwn. 



Beatonia. Named in honor of Donald Beaton, a 

 celebrated Scotch gardener and writer. Linn. 

 Monadelphia-Triandria. Nat. Ord. Iridacece. 



A small genus of Mexican bulbs, allied to the 

 Tifjridia, and requiring the same treatment. 

 Flowers purple, growing in pairs or singly on 

 a stem about a foot high. Introduced in 1841. 

 Propagated by offsets. 



Beaufortia. Named after Mary, Duchess of 

 Beaufort. Linn. Polyadelphia-Polyandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Myrtacece. 



A small genus of very desirable green-house 

 plants from New Holland. They should be 

 grown in loam and sand in about equal quanti- 

 ties, and in a cool part of the green-house will 

 flower splendidly. The flowers are scarlet, pink, 

 or red. Propagated by cuttings of the half- 

 ripened wood, covered with a small glass with- 

 out the aid of bottom heat. 



Beaumontia. Named after Mrs. Beaumont, of 

 Bretton Hall, England. Linn. l'ent-uidrM-Mn,,,>- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. ApocynacecK. 



BEL 



This genus of green-house twiners has but few 

 species, all natives of the East Indies. B. qrandi- 

 flora is remarkable for its handsome flowers 

 which are pure white, borne in terminal or axil- 

 lary corymbs. The plant is difficult of propa- 

 gation, which is effected by cuttings. Great age 

 is required to bring it into flower. When a 

 large plant is obtained and grown under favor- 

 able circumstances, it has but few rivals. 



Beaver Poison. A common name applied to 

 Cicala maculala. 



Bee Balm. See Monarda. 



Beech. See Fuyus. 



Beech-drops. A common name of the genus 

 Epiphegus. A parasite, that grows upon the roots 

 of Beech trees. 



Beet. See Beta. 



Bedstraw. One of the common names of the 

 genus Galium. 



Beefwood. See Casuarina. 



Beggar's lace. A common name of Cynoglossum 

 Morisoni. 



Beggar's Ticks. The common name of a very 

 disagreeable weed, Bidens chrysanthemoides. It 

 has received this distinctive name because the 

 fruit adheres to anything with which it comes 

 in contact. 



Begonia. Named in honor of M. Began, & 

 French patron of botany. Linn. Monoecia-Poly- 

 andria. Nat. Ord. Begoniacece. 



All the species of Begonia are interesting and 

 beautiful winter ornaments of the hot-house or 

 green-house, of the simplest culture in any rich 

 soil if allowed an abundant supply of water. 

 Cuttings may be struck without trouble. B. 

 Rex, the type of the large-leaved sorts, and the 

 most ornamental of the species, is best propa- 

 gated by cutting the leaves in sections, each 

 being so cut as to form a junction of the ribs at 

 the lower end of the cutting. These should be 

 laid in a damp, warm place, or on the propagat- 

 ing bench with good bottom heat; or a leaf, or a 

 portion of one, may be laid flat in any shady 

 place in the house. There has lately been in- 

 troduced several tuberous-rooted species and 

 varieties. They have large, showy flowers, and 

 succeed well in a moist, shady border. The 

 tubers should be kept warm and dry during the 

 winter. They are readily propagated by cut- 

 tings, seeds, or division of tubers. 



Belladonna Lily. See Amaryllis Belladonna. 



Bell Flower. See Campanula. 



Bellis. The Daisy. From beUus, pretty ; referring 

 to the flowers. Linn. 8yngenesia-Polygamia-Su- 

 perflua. Nat. Ord. Composites. 



Well-known perennials, of which B. perennis, 

 the common Daisy, has been in cultivation in 

 British and Continental gardens from time im- 

 memorial. The most beautiful varieties are the 

 large double, the large quilled, and the Hen-and- 

 Chickens; but there are many others. In Ger- 

 many numerous curious varieties have been 

 raised by saving the seed of the handsomest 

 kinds. Each sort is much improved by being tak- 

 en up, divided, and replanted three or four times 

 every season. They are all admirable plants for 

 making edgings to borders, and they are well suit- 

 ed for growing in pots, though at present they are 

 almost neglected. They thrive best in a loamy 

 soil, richly manured, which should be dug over 

 and well broken before planting, and they will 

 bear transplanting even when in flower, provided 

 they are taken up with a portion of soil attached. 

 These pretty plants are seldom seen in our gar- 

 dens in as great abundance as they deserve to 



