Belladonna 



( 117 ) 



Bencomia 



BELLADONNA << ATROPA). 



BELLADONNA LILY. 



Description. Deciduous bulbs (Amaryllis Bella- 

 donna, uril. Amaryllidese). The species is not 

 perfectly hardy, but it and its varieties may be 

 grown successfully in the open under certain con- 

 ditions. An objection to the Belladonna Lily is 

 that blooms and foliage are not produced together. 



Propagation. By offsets in the autumn. 



Soil.---Deep, well drained, light loam, under the 

 shelter of a south wall. 



Other Cultural Points. If the soil is poor dig in 

 sonic; well decayed manure, and if of a retentive 

 character add leaf mould and coarse sand. Plant 

 the bulbs in the autumn in clumps of three, about 

 1' apart. Place a handful of sand round each to 

 prevent it from rotting, and cover with 6" of soil. 

 Protect the bulbs from severe frost during the 

 winter, with a mulching of straw litter or leaves. 

 Hemove the covering when the leaves push forth 

 early in the spring, because on the full develop- 

 ment of the foliage the flowering is largely depen- 

 dent. Apply water and liquid manure during dry, 

 hot weather, and as soon as the leaves ripen off 

 they should be removed, and the border raked over. 

 The flower spikes develop late in the summer. 

 Leave the bulbs in the ground, but afford some 

 means of protection in severe weather. 



Species and Varieties : 

 Belladonna, 1'.', sum.. blauda, 3', sum., pale 



rosy red (si/n.v. pudica, ro. 



rosea, Coburgia Bella- pallida, 2', sum., flesh. 



il'imia, and Belladonna 



[nirpurasceus) . 



BELLENDENA. 



This Tasmanian shrub (ord. Proteaceie) requires 

 the temperature of a greenhouse. Propagation is 

 most readily effected by cuttings in very sandy 

 soil : seeds are sometimes procurable. Soil, peat, 

 light loam, and coarse sand. 



Only Species : 



montana, 1J', Aug., wh. 



BELLEVALIA. 



Pretty spring flowering plants (ord. Liliacese) 

 which are now included with Hyacinthus. They 

 are suitable for borders or rock gardens, but few 

 are hardy enough to stand average winters in cold 

 districts without protection. They grow in ordinary 

 soil, and are propagated by offsets or seeds. The 

 best are comosa (see Muscari coraosum), oper- 

 culata (xi/n. B. romana or Hyacinthus romanus), 

 and syriaca (iyn. H. trifoliatus). Kor others see 

 Hyacinthus and Muscari. 



BELLFLOWER (.we CAMPANULA). 



BELL GLASS. 



A bell-shaped vessel formed of one piece of glass, 

 with a knob or handle on the top. It is made in 

 various sizes, and often supplied with a grooved 

 earthenware saucer into which its mouth fits ; 

 when, the groove being filled with water, the. bell- 

 glass becomes hermetically sealed, and furnishes 

 a close moisture-laden atmosphere in which 

 cuttings of plants, more particularly Azaleas, 

 Heaths, and other hard-wooded subjects, readily 

 emit roots. Choice varieties of seeds are also 

 easily raised by its aid, and Filmy Ferns rind a 

 congenial home under its protecting roof. 



BELLIDIASTRUM. 



The plant grown under the name of Bellidiastrum 

 Michelii is now called Aster Bellidiastrum, and will 

 be found described under that name. 



BELLIS. (DAISY.) 



Well-known, favourite plants for borders, beds, or 

 edgings (ord. Composite). Propagated by divi- 

 sion after flowering, or by seeds sown in spring. 

 Any ordinary garden soil will do, except in the case 

 of rotundifolia caerulescens, which is tender, and 

 needs a light, sandy peat. 



Principal Species : 



perennis, 3", My., Je., wh., etc. The common 

 Daisy, of which there are many pretty garden 

 forms of various colours, with handsome double 

 flowers and quilled or flat petals. In lines these 

 are very effective. Good varieties are the double 

 pk., red, and wh. ; Alice, blush; Longfellow, pk. ; 

 Lord Beaconsfield, red ; Rob-Roy, red ; The Bride, 

 wh. ; Hen and Chickens, curious; Dresden China 

 and Blushing Bride, miniature forms; and aucubae- 

 folia, with gold-netted leaves. 



Other Species : 

 integrifolia, 4" to 12", rotundifolia, var. caeru- 



Ap., wh. lescens, 2", Jy., bluish. 



sylvestris, 9", Je., wh. 



BELLIUM. 



Neat little annual or perennial plants (ord. Com- 

 positse), suited for rockwork or the front of a select 

 border. The perennials are propagated by division 

 in spring, or by seeds ; the annuals by seeds sown 

 in spring. All should have a dry, sandy soil ; and 

 minutum must have a warm position on the rockery. 

 The principal species are bellidioides, 3", July, 

 annual, white ; crassifolium, fi", June, half- 

 hardy perennial, pale yellow ; intermedium, 2", 

 August, hardy perennial, white; minutum, 3", 

 August, hardy perennial, white ; and rotundi- 

 folium, 9", July, half-hardy perennial, white. 



BELLOWS. 



Implements used for dusting flowers of sulphur 

 and other fungicide and insect powders on plants. 

 A simple arrangement, in common use, is made of 

 gutta percha, provided with a nozzle perforated with 

 holes. The receptacle is filled with powder, which 

 is distributed by squeezing the gutta-percha holder. 

 A more elaborate but reliable implement is the 

 " Malbec " bellows. This consists of a receptacle 

 for the powder, and a pair of small hand-bellows in 

 combination. By the aid of the latter light dust- 

 ings of the fungicide are distributed over affected 

 plants. 



BELOPERONE. 



A small genus of shrubs (ord. Acantbaceas) 

 which are evergreen in character, and require the 

 temperature of a stove. Propagation is effected 

 by cuttings in sandy soil under a bell-glass in 

 brisk bottom heat, the most suitable compost is 

 loam, leaf mould, and sand, with some peat. 



Principal Species : 

 oblongata, 3', ro. pur. violacea, 3', Aug., vio. 



Other Species : 

 atropurpurea, 3', Sep., plumbagimfolia, 3', Aug., 



pur. hi. 



BENCOMIA. 



Low growing shrubs (ord. Rosacem) from the 

 Canary Islands, and named after the last king of 

 Teneriffe. The flowers are dioecious (sexes on 

 separate plants), and produced in long spikes. A 



