Bindweed 



(124) 



Bivonsea 



BINDWEED (see BEAKBIND). 



BIOPHYTUM. 



A group of plants closely allied to Oxalis (ord. 

 <3eraniace:c), and separated from that genus on 

 account of their pinnate and sensitive leaves. 

 When touched or shaken the leaflets close up like 

 those of the Sensitive Plant, though a little more 

 slowly. Propagation is effected by seeds, which 

 are abundantly produced. Light, sandy loam, 

 with a little leaf mould, makes a suitable compost, 

 in well-drained pans. 



Principal Species : 

 proliferum, 6', St., yel. 



sensitivum, 6", Jy., St., yel. (syn. Oxalis sensi- 

 tiva). 



BIOTA (set THUJA). 



BIRCH. 



A most graceful tree of great beauty. There 

 are several species, which will be found in detail 

 under Betula, the botanical name, Betula alba 

 being that by which our native Silver Birch is 

 known to botanists. 



BIRDS. 



Useful. Many British birds are entirely harmless 

 to garden crops, and others, while highly service- 

 able, are only harmful during the fruiting season 

 of certain crops, and must therefore be classed as 

 useful. Harmless yet valuable birds in the garden 

 include the Spotted Fly Catcher (Muscicapagrisola) 

 and the Pied Fly Catcher (M. luctuosa), Cuckoo 

 (Cuculus canorus), Hedge Sparrow (Accentor 

 modularis), Robin (Erythaca rubicula), the Chim- 

 ney Swallow (Hirundo rustica), theMartin (Chelidon 

 urbica), the Common Creeper (Certhia familiaris), 

 the Wren (Troglodytes europseus), the Nuthatch 

 (Sitta europaea), the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus 

 trochilus), the Chiff-chaff Warbler (S. hippolais), 

 the Sedge Warbler (Salicaria Phragmites), the 

 Gray Wagtail (Mortacilla boarula), and the Pied 

 Wagtail (M. Yarrellii). All the above are insect- 

 ivorous birds and should be encouraged within the 

 precincts of the garden. The titmice (Parus) are 

 occasionally blamed for destroying the buds of 

 fruit trees, but they are after insects in the same, 

 and the birds may be driven away during the time 

 the buds are preparing to open. This also applies 

 to the Yellow Hammer (Emberiza citrinella), the 

 Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the Goldfinch (Car- 

 duelis elegans), and the Siskin (C. spinus), which 

 are granivorous birds, and may be kept off seed- 

 beds by netting. The Blackbird (Merula merula) 

 and the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) feed largely 

 upon slugs and snails. They should be kept from 

 Cherries, Strawberries, Raspberries, etc., by netting. 

 Owls and the Magpie (Pica melanoleuca) destroy 

 mice, voles, and young rats, and should be encour- 

 aged to breed in the vicinity of gardens by leaving 

 them unmolested in Ivy-covered trees, and out- 

 houses or ruins, also in holes in rocks, trees, or 

 in dovecots where they may take up their quarters. 

 Certain birds that feed on grubs, leather jackets, 

 wireworms, beetles, cockchafers, and other pests, 

 may be tamed and kept in gardens. These include 



Billiottia of Broirn (see Agonu). 



Bird Clicrry (see Primus). 



Bird's Foot Fern (see Pellrra Ornitfiojms). 



Bird's fiwt Trefoil (see Lotus). 



Bird's A'est fern (sec Asplenium J\~idus). 



the common Rook (Corvus frugilegiis), Jackdaw 

 (C. monedula), Chough (Fregilus graculus), the 

 Common Gull (Larus canus), possibly the Laugh- 

 ing Gull (L. ridibundus), and Lapwing or Peewit 

 (Vanellus cristatus). The Partridge (Pt'idrix 

 cinerea), Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), and 

 Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) have been proved to 

 feed largely on the same food as Crows, and need 

 only be driven away from green vegetables in winter 

 when snow is on the ground and food scarce. 

 1'oultry may be permitted in orchards and other 

 places, as they feed largely on grubs. 



Harmful. The House Sparrow (Passer domes- 

 ticus) is the worst depredator of all the feathered 

 tribe in gardens. It destroys Lettuces, young Peas, 

 Crocuses, Carnations, Primroses, the buds of Cur- 

 rant and Gooseberry bushes, etc., and should be 

 destroyed by all or any available means, or driven 

 away by depriving it of shelter in Ivy, and stopping 

 up all holes where it may breed. The Bullfinch 

 (Pyrrhula europica) is very destructive to the buds 

 of Apple and other fruit trees in spring, and should 

 be reduced by shooting or be driven away. The 

 Wood Pigeon (Coluraba palumbus) is destructive 

 to Peas, Cabbages, and young vegetables generally 

 during dry seasons, and is a worse pest to vege- 

 tables in winter. It also destroys Gooseberries. 

 Shooting is the best remedy. 



BISCUTELLA. 



Buckler Mustard. Hardy annual or perennial 

 flowers (ord. Crucifene) of little horticultural value. 

 All have yellow flowers. The perennials may be 

 used in rock gardens where a large collection of 

 plants is wished, but both they and the annuals 

 are principally of botanical interest. The best are 

 named below, and are perennials unless indicated 

 as annuals. Propagation is by seeds, sown in spring 

 in the open ; the perennials \>y division also at that 

 season. Common soil, but in a dryish position in 

 sun. 



Principal Species : 



coronopifolia, 0", .It-. 

 Isevigata, 1', Je. 



Other Species : 

 ambigua 1', Je. 

 columnar, 1', Je., ami. 



sempervirens, 1', Je. 

 steuophylla, 1', Je. 



lyrata, 1-J', Je., aim. 

 maritiraa, U', Je., aim. 



BISERRULA. 



Hatchet Vetch. A hardy annual (ord. Legu- 

 minosse). The only species introduced is pelecinus, 

 which grows about 1' high, blooms in July, and 

 has purple flowers. It can be grown from seeds 

 sown in the open in April, and will thrive in any 

 ordinary garden soil which is not too heavy, al- 

 though it prefers one of a sandy nature (syns. 

 leiocarpa and pelecina). 



BISMARCKIA. 



An ornamental stove Palm (ord. Palma;) with the 

 habit of a Pritchardia. It is propagated by im- 

 ported seeds. Sound fibrous loam, with a fourth of 

 leaf mould and a good dash of sand, will answer 

 for compost. Temperature in winter, (!5 to 70; 

 in summer, 80 to 90. Nobilis is the only species. 



BIVONSEA. 



A hardy annual (ord. Cruciferaj) with slender 

 stems, branched from the base ; the lower leaves 

 stalked, and the upper ones grasping the stem. 



Birthmort (see Aristtilochia). 



