152 



BELLIS 



BENE 



BELLIS (Latin, belhis, pretty). Compdsitce. ENG- 

 LISH DAISY. The Daisy, as it grows wild in England, 

 has a yellow center, surrounded bv numerous rays in a 



220. Begonia Rex, in its original form. No. 10H. 

 (See Begonia, p. 151.) 



single row, but the favorite cultivated forms are double, 

 the rays rising in tier upon tier, and frequently crowd- 

 ing out every trace of a yellow center. The English 

 Daisy is essentially a pink or pinkish fl. in its general 

 effect, the tips of the rays sometimes and the under 

 surfaces usually being pink or red. There are 27 species 

 in the genus, only one of which is American. B. Integ- 

 rifolia is found in moist soil from Ky. and Tenn. to 

 Ark. and Tex., but is too rare and sectional to become a 

 general favorite. The plant that is most commonly 

 called Daisy in America is Chrysanthemum Leucan- 

 themum. For an illustrated account of the various 

 plants known as Daisies in America, see Daisy. 



Daisies are favorite border plants, and are much used 

 in spring bedding, especially for edging. They thrive 

 in a cool soil and moist atmosphere, a,nd are, therefore, 

 much better adapted to English than American gar- 

 dens. A light mulch is desirable for winter protection. 

 In home gardening, the plants, after flowering, are di- 

 vided into single crowns. These are planted about 6 in. 

 apart in good, rich garden soil. Each crown soon sends 

 out side growths, which, in time, form new crowns. 

 Before winter sets in the young clumps can be moved 

 readily to any place in the garden where they are 

 wanted to bloom. Daisies are also forced by florists for 

 winter bloom. When Daisies are desired for edging 



221. Erdody Begonia (X %). No. 107. 

 (See Begonia, p. 151.) 



spring flower beds, the clumps are divided into single 

 plants during the previous September, or early enough 

 to allow the new plants to get a firm hold before winter, 



and are placed 3 in. apart in a narrow trench. These 

 edgings must be renewed each year, as the plants, if 

 they grow well, spread too wide, or irregularly. In dry 

 summers many roots fail, and if they remain in the 

 same spot year after year, the fls. will degenerate to the 

 single condition. 



The simplest way of propagating and growing Eng- 

 lish Daisies for spring bedding in this country is to 

 sow the seed in shallow boxes about August 10. As 

 soon as large enough to handle, transplant 5 inches 

 apart into coldframes, and when the winter sets in 

 put on the sash, giving air whenever the weather may 

 be mild. Transplant to the flower beds as early as pos- 

 sible in the spring, where in a very short time they 

 will be a mass of bloom, and will continue to bloom till 

 the beginning of June, when they should be thrown out, 

 . and the summer bedding plants 

 planted. Longfellow and Snowball 

 are the two best varieties for this 

 purpose. Myosotis alpestris and 

 Silene pendula may be grown the 

 same way, using the Daisies as 

 edging when in the beds, and the 

 others as center pieces. 



The Daisy is propagated by seeds 

 (which are sown early), and by di- 

 visions, the choicest varieties be- 

 ing maintained by the latter method . 

 The main types growd from seed 

 are the white, rose, quilled, and 

 white with red 

 center, all of 

 which are double. 

 A dark red is 

 less common. Of 

 kinds prop, by 

 seed, Longfellow is 

 now the best rose- 

 colored, and Snowball 

 the best white vari- 

 ety, the latter being 

 especially prized by 

 florists for cut-flow- 

 ers, as it has long, 

 stiff stems. Other 

 varieties are Maxima, 

 Snowflake, and Rob 

 Roy, which is per- 

 haps the best red. 



per6nnis, Linn. 

 TRUE OR ENGLISH 

 DAISY. Hardy herba- 

 ceous perennial, 3-6 

 in. high : Ivs. clus- 

 tered at the root, 

 spatulate or obovate : 

 fls. 1-2 in. across, 

 solitary, on hairy 

 scapes. Apr.-June. 

 W. Eu.; naturalized 

 in Calif. ; rarely runs 

 wild in the eastern 

 states. B.M. 228. F. 

 S. 6:584, which shows 

 11 well marked types. An interesting but not perma- 

 nent form, which is a result of overfeeding, is the Hen- 

 and-Chickens Daisy," in which a number of small fl.- 

 heads are borne on short stalks springing out of the 

 main fl.-head. Cockscomb forms, in which several 

 scapes unite to produce a monstrous flower, are some- 

 times seen, but cannot be perpetuated. The rays are 

 sometimes wholly incurved, or reflexed, or quilled. 

 Other English names of the Daisy are Herb Margaret, 

 Ewe- or May-gowan, Childing Daisy, Bone- or Bruise- 

 wort, Bone Flower, March Daisy, Bairn-wort. 



J. B. KELLER, E. J. CANNING, and W. M. 



BELLWORT. In England, any member of the Cam- 

 panulacece. In America, Uvularia. 



BELVIDEKE, or SUMMER CYPRESS. See Kochia. 

 BENE. See Sesamum. 



222. Belemcanda Chinensis (X %). 

 (See Belemcanda, p. 151.) 



