Bertholletia 



( 120) 



Beta 



or by cuttings in spring and summer, and can be 

 grown in any good, sandy soil in full sun. Few are 

 now in cultivation under any name, those best 

 known formerly being incana (syn. Alyssum 

 incanum), 2', July, biennial, white ; and mutabilis 

 (syns. grreca, obliqua, etc., and Alyssum mutabile). 

 Other "species are orbiculata, peruviana, Potanini, 

 and spathulata. 



BERTHOLLETIA. 



This is the tree (ord. Myrtacese) that produces 

 the Brazil nut beloved of children. It requires the 

 temperature of a stove. Cuttings root in very 

 sandy soil beneath a bell-glass, in brisk bottom 

 heat. Compost, loam and peat in equal propor- 

 tions, with sand. 



Only Species : 



excelsa, 100', Je., wh. 



BERTOLONIA. 



A genus of dwarf growing stove plants (ord. 

 Melastomacea?). They are valuable for the highly 

 ornamental character of the leaves, many of which 

 are beautifully coloured. They will be found to 



V 

 BEUTOLONIA COMTE HE KEHCHOVE. 



thrive best in pans of sandy soil, covered with a 

 bell-glass, and placed within a propagating casein 

 the stove. A moist bottom heat is essential. They 

 may be readily increased by cuttings. The flowers 

 of Bertolonias are insignificant. 



Principal Species : 



houtteana, 9", em., car. mannorata, 6", silver, 

 maculata, 6", pk., pur. pur. 



Garden Hybrids : 

 Comte de Kerchove, 9", Madame Van Geert, 8", 



pur., gru., vio. pur., grn. 



Mdme. Pynaert, 9", gru., Souvenir de Gand, 8", 



pur., silver. pur., silver, gru. 



BERTYA. 



Small Australian or Tasmanian shrubs (ord. 

 Euphorbiacea;), somewhat resembling the common 

 Hosemary. They can be grown in a warm green- 

 house, in peat and loam, but are of no horticultural 

 value, as the inconspicuous flowers do not possess 

 corollas. 



Sertolonia of Splnola (see Myoporuin). 



Principal Species : 

 dimerostigma, 8', Jy., grn. 

 BERZELIA. 



This genus is composed of evergreen shrubs 

 (ord. Bruniacefe) that flourish in a greenhouse. 

 They are very attractive. Cuttings root freely in 

 sandy soil under a bell-glass, and the plants thrive 

 in a mixture of sandy peat and loam. 



Principal Species : 

 abrotaiioides, li', Je., wh. lauuginosa, '!,' Jy., wh. 



BESCHORNERIA. 



These are principally Mexican succulent plants 

 (ord. Amaryllidese), that require the temperature 

 of a greenhouse. They are increased by suckers 

 in very sandy foil, and demand the ,-ame treatment 

 as is accorded to Agaves. 



Principal Species : 

 bracteata, 5', Mch., red. superba,4',Mch.,gru.,red. 



Other Species :-- 



dekosteiianu, 6', Feb. tubiflora, 4', My., grn. 



toneliaua, 4', Mch. pur. (XI/H. cohuiaua). 



BESLERIA. yuccoides,5',My. 



A charming genus (ord. Gesneraceoe), comprising 

 mainly shrubs that require the temperature of a 

 stove 'to bring them to perfection. There are one 

 or two evergreen climbers which demand the same 

 treatment as the shrubby species. Cuttings will 

 be found to root readily in very sandy soil if 

 covered with a bell-glass; bottom heat is advan- 

 tageous in propagation. A light, rich compost of 

 loam and peat suits them admirably. Piilchella of 

 I Hot. Ma;/., t. 1146, is Tussacia pubhella. 



Principal Species : 



I coccinea, 3', Jy., yel. lutea, 3', Je., yel.. 



Imrayi, 3', Jy., yel., violacea,6', Jy., Aug., yel. 



Other Species : 



cristata, 3', Je., yel. leucostoma, 1', Ai>., or. 



grandifolia, 3', Aug., jel. mollis, 3', Je., yel. 



hirtella, 3', Jy., yel. serrulata, 5', Je., pur., 

 incaniata, 2.',', Je., yel. yel. 



inodora ( Brunfelsia tigrina, 3V, Nov., crim., 



paucinora). wh. 



BESOM. 



A switch-like broom made of birch or heather, 

 and used for sweeping lawns and walks. Birch 

 besoms are the most generally useful. To 

 obtain their fullest sweeping capacity, they should 

 i be held in an almost horizontal position, which 

 method will also prevent the formation o the ugly 

 scratches so conspicuous in badly swept walks. 

 The straggling ends of the twigs should be cut off, 

 and the besom soaked before using. Old besoms- 

 furnish useful pegs for layering Carnations, 01 

 supporting Strawberries in pots ; and the besom. 

 handle will make a strong stake for the dwarfei 

 inhabitants of the herbaceous border. 



BESSERA. 



A genus of Mexican bulbous plants (ord. Lili- 

 acese), that maybe grown outdoors in a very sunny 

 situation, but are safer in pots. They require a 

 compost of peat and sand, liberal supplies of water 

 when growing, and to be kept dry and cool as the 

 bulbs ripen. They may be increased. by offsets. 



Principal Species : 

 elegans, U', Jy . to Sep., sc. (s^M.Phariurn fistulosum). 



BETA. 



The Beetroots are best known by the garden 

 forms of Beta vulgaris (ord. Chenopodiace;e), the 



