Bedeguar 



( 109 ) 



Beet 



on, then with the lights oil' (hiring the day and 

 returned :it night, and finally kept off altogether. 

 Thf beds >hould lit; well dug as long previously as 

 possible, but should not be levelled until the day 

 selected for planting them, using a wooden rake 

 in the operation, and keeping the centres well up. 

 Well rotted manure should be liberally added to 

 beds devoted to subtropical plants, or those grown 

 for foliage alone, and a small portion will benefit 

 such plants as Asters, Stocks, Petunias, and Nicotia- 

 nas. but for Geraniums, Nasturtiums, and Tropseo- 

 limis no manure whatever should be given, or the 

 result will be a mass of leafage at the expense of 

 flowers. As a rule the centre of the bed is the 

 best, place to commence the planting, but a wise 

 plan, and one generally followed, is to lay out the 

 plants in their allotted positions, rearrange at dis- 

 cretion, and insert them in the order most com- 

 patible with the general circumstances. In 

 selecting the occupants for the various beds care 

 should be taken that not only do those of a single bed 

 harmonise or contrast, but that the whole series of 

 contiguous beds blend into one harmonious whole. 

 Flatness should be avoided by breaking up the 

 surface with what are called "dot" plants i.e. 

 taller plants dotted over the beds between the 

 dwarfer occupants. Graceful Palms, Dracaenas, 

 variegated Maize, Grevillea robusta, Cyperus 

 aliernii'olius, and C. natalensis, with narrow- 

 leaved Aralias, are a few of the many popular 

 dot " plants employed. 



Staking any plants requiring assistance, constantly 

 stirring the surface soil with the Dutch hoe, re- 

 moving dead leaves and flowers, and keeping the 

 edges of the beds neat and trim, are the chief 

 points of routine after bedding out is finished, 

 until with autumn comes the removal of the 

 summer bedders and the insertion of those of 

 winter and spring. 



BEDEGUAR. 



A moss-like gall formed on Hose shoots as a 

 result of the attack of an insect (Cynips Rosaj). 

 ,S<r UO.SES. 



BEDFORDIA. 



A greenhouse shrub (ord. Composite) of no 

 special merit. It needs a very porous compost, and 

 during the winter requires very little water. 



Principal Species : 



salicina. 1', Ap., Je., yel. (#. Cacalia salicina). 



BEECH. 



The common Beech, Fagus sylvatica, is a noble, 

 handsome, and useful tree, and one that reaches a 

 considerable size and age. In either of its many 

 varieties the Beech is a graceful park tree. 

 In autumn the colouring of Beech foliage is ex- 

 tremely bright, and if it is near a purple leaved 

 form the contrast late in the year is remarkable. 

 Unfortunately, in the neighbourhood of large towns 

 tin- system of surface drainage renders it annually 

 more difficult for such a foliaceous tree to contend 

 against periods of drought, consequently some care 

 is necessary in selecting sites for specimens. The 

 Nuts (Mast) of the Beech are nutritious, and a 

 useful oil is expressed from them ; pigs fatten 

 quickly if turned into a Beech wood when the Nuts 

 are falling. Beech timber is extensively used in 

 turnery and joinery. 



BEES, FLOWERS FOR. 



The value of (lowers for bees depends very much 

 upon the natural pasture available at the time the 



plants are in bloom, so that those of service in 

 some districts are of little value in others. A large 

 number of flowers are frequented by the bees, but 

 the following are considered as among the most 

 useful in their seasons : Eranthis hyemalis (Winter 

 Aconite), Galanthus, Crocus, Willow, Violet, Arabis, 

 Lime, Cherry, Plum, Pear, Apple, Currant, Hasp- 

 berry, Blackberry (and other Kubuses), Cytisus, 

 Genista, Maple, Sycamore, Plane, Hazel, Heath, 

 Ivy, Cheiranthus, Bean, White Clover, Alyssum 

 maritimum, Anchusa italica, Ambrosia mexicana, 

 Borago officinalis, Clarkia, Salvia, Melilotus leucan- 

 tha, Collinsia, Godetia, Lirnnanthes, Gilia, Cerinthe, 

 Polemonium, Leptosiphon, Lupins, Mignonette, 

 Malope, Tropteolums majus and minor, Scabiosa, 

 Stocks, Thymus, Sweet Peas, Whitlavia, Centaurea 

 Cyanus (Cornflower), Calliopsis, Phlox Drummondii, 

 and Iberis. There are many others. 



BEET. 



Description. (Beta vulgaris, ord. Cbenopodi- 

 acc;e.) Though grown chiefly in gardens on 

 account of its usefulness as a salad vegetable, 

 some forms of Beet are employed in flower gardens 

 for the sake of the colouring of the foliage, which 

 is very effective. As a culinary vegetable Beet 

 may be divided into three sections : viz. tap- 

 rooted, with long tapering roots ; Turnip-rooted, 

 with globe roots like Turnips; and Spinach Beet 

 (Beta Cicla), so called because the leaves and mid- 

 ribs are boiled and eaten in the same way as 

 Spinach. This plant is aho called Perpetual 

 Spinach. 



Propagation. From seeds sown late in April or 

 early in May outdoors, in drills 15" apart and 2" 

 deep. When large enough to handle, thin the 

 seedlings to 1' apart. 



Soil. Beet likes a deep open soil, but not too 

 rich, or the roots will be large and gross. Ground 

 that has been well manured for a crop in the 

 previous year is best. If the soil is wet and 

 retentive, a dressing of old mortar rubble, road 

 scrapings, and wood ashes, may be dug in with 

 advantage. 



Other Cultural Points. The aim of the culti- 

 vator is not to get extra large specimens. Shape 

 of root, quality, and colour are the chief points ; 

 and these are obtained by sowing seeds of a 

 selected strain, and having the land in a good but 

 not over rich condition. During the season of 

 growth run the Dutch hoe frequently between the 

 rows. The Turnip-rooted Beet is best for early use, 

 and the tap-rooted for main crop. 



Lifting and Storing. When frosts make their 

 appearance in the autumn the crop should be 

 lifted, and stored for winter use. Use a fork for 

 lifting, and take care that the tap root is not 

 broken or the skin bruised. Remove the leaves 

 without damaging the crowns. The roots may 

 either be pitted in the open the same as Potatoes. 

 or stored in a cool, dry shed. In the latter case 

 they are more accessible in the winter, and may be 

 kept in good condition by adopting the following 

 method. Spread 1" of moist sand on the floor in 

 the form of a circle or square. Place on this a 

 layer of roots with the crowns pointing outwards, 

 aiid then use sufficient sand to cover them. Con- 

 tinue with another layer of roots, and so on till 

 they are all stored. The roots may be removed 

 from the top as required without disturbing those 

 underneath. 



Enemies.- In the early stages of growth Beet 



