BET 
BUX 
spring, and subsequently the berries help 
to embellish them, some having a crimson 
and others a purple hue; several of the 
more recent introductions are particularly 
valuable in this respect. They delight 
in a very open loamy soil, do not object 
to the drip of trees if not too heavy and 
the ground is drained, and may be readily 
increased by cuttings, layers, division, or 
seed; the common barberry forms excel¬ 
lent cover for game in summer. 
BETULA, Birch (Ltnn.) Nat. Ord. 
Ament ace re. The greater part of the 
genus is composed of handsome trees, 
valuable alilce for their beauty, rapid 
growth, and sound timber. B. pendula 
is a remarkably graceful tree, not inaptly 
termed the queen of the woods. B. lent a, 
the mahogany birch, is a very fast¬ 
growing tree, its wood is close grained 
and prettily variegated, admirably adapted 
for cabinet work. B. populifolia and 
papyracea. are of similar character. B. 
nana, pumila, and fruticosa are dwarf 
bushes, suitable for underwood ; all the 
species are more or less fragrant, the 
bruised leaves emitting a pleasant aroma. 
The birch delights in deep alluvial soils 
that are not subject to stagnant moisture, 
where it increases in bulk at a rate 
exceeding most other trees. The species 
which assume the character of trees are 
usually increased by seeds, and the dwarf 
kinds of layers. 
BIGNONIA (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Bignoniacece. The limited number of 
hardy species belonging to this are very 
rapid climbers, bearing ample pinnate 
leaves and large showy flowers. B. 
raclicans is remarkable for its very large 
red blossoms, and the extent to which its 
branches will run in a season, and is 
therefore commonly employed to cover 
walls in the open air; and Cupreolata is 
but little inferior in vigour, and is sorne- 
what superior in the brilliancy of its 
flowers; they are scarlet. Both species re¬ 
quire a treatment which may be compared 
to that usual with the grape vine when 
grown in the open air, and are increased 
by cuttings of the mature wood taken off 
in spring, and struck under a hand-glass 
upon a warm border. They delight in 
strong rich soil. 
BftOUSSQNETIA, (L’Heretier.) 
Nat. Ord. TJrticacetc. The two species 
known, B. papyrifera , or paper mulberry, 
and B. spatidata , are low-growing trees 
which thrive in damp situations ; they 
form wide-spreading heads, and have 
large leaves which are various in shape ; 
those of the male and female plants dif¬ 
fering so much as to be scarcely recog¬ 
nisable ; the latter produces a small black 
fruit. The Chinese make paper of the 
bark of the first-named species, and the 
Otaheitans a superior description of cloth ; 
in both countries the paper mulberry is 
extensively cultivated for these purposes. 
BXJDDLEA (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Scrophulariacere. This genus, though 
containing several species, natives of the 
higher regions of South America, pos¬ 
sesses but two which are capable of bear¬ 
ing a full exposure to our climate : these 
are, globosa, a well-known fast-growing 
shrub, with large rugose foliage, and 
heads of handsome orange-coloured flow¬ 
ers, succeeding in a warm situation on 
strong loamy soil ; the other is of more 
recent introduction, and is called B. 
Lindleyi; it is a native of China, has 
smaller leaves than the other, and a closer 
and more compact manner of growing; 
its flowers are produced on loose spikes, 
and are purple ; like the other, it requires 
a warm sheltered position, and makes the 
best appearance when trained to a wall. 
BUXUS, Box tree (Linn.) Nat. 
Ord. Euphorbia cere. This is one of our 
most useful shrubs, being neat in habit, 
densely clothed with evergreen foliage, 
hardy, and easily accommodating itself to 
circumstances ; it thrives on dry poor 
soil, and will bear the drip of tall trees. 
Of the English box tree there are five 
varieties, the common, the narrow-leaved, 
the silver, and gold striped; all of which 
attain the stature of large shrubs, and the 
dwarf, which is especially adapted for 
edges to flower beds and borders. Besides 
these, there are the Minorca and Chinese 
species, the first having larger and more 
handsome foliage, the latter being rather 
tender, requires some slight protection in 
severe weather. The readiness with 
which the whole of these shrubs bear 
severe pruning and constant clipping, 
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