Bedeguar

See Cynips Rosa.

Bee

Bee, (Apis.) All the species of this insect are friendly to the gardener, for they all aid in impregnating his flowers, many of which without their aid would fall unproductive of either fruit or seed. The honey bee (.4. mellifica) is the most active in this operation; but the humble bee (Bombus apis), and others of the robust species, are very valuable, being able to visit flowers in rough weather, when the honey bee will not venture from its hive.

Beech

Fagus.

Begonia

Fifty-eight species. Chiefly stove evergreens. Cuttings. Rich loam.

Bejaria

Two species. Greenhouse evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. Loam and peat.

Belladonna Lily

Amaryllis Belladonna.

Belleisle Cress

Barbareaprecox. See American Cress.

Bellevalia

Bellevalia Operculata. Hardy bulb. Suckers. Common light soil.

Bell Flower

Campanula.

Bell-Glass

Bell-Glass, is so called from its usual form being that of a bell. It is formed of one entire piece of glass, and of common bottle glass when intended for sheltering cauliflowers, etc, in the open borders; but of white glass for preserving moisture to cuttings in the hot-house.

Bellidiastrum

Bellidiastrum Michelii. Hardy herbaceous plant. Division. Peat and loam.

Bellis

Daisy. Five species. Hardy herbaceous perennials, except B. annua, which is an annual. Division. Common soil.

Bellium

Four species. Hardy plants. Seeds or division. Sandy peat.

Bellows

Bellows are employed for fumigating, differing only from the common bellows by having a receptacle for ignited tobacco in the pipe of its nozzle, through which the air, being gently forced in the usual way, propels the smoke in any desired direction, where the insects to be destroyed appear.

Beloperone

Beloperone oblongata. Stove evergreen shrub. Cuttings. Peat and loam.

Bengal Quince

Agle Marmelos.

Benjamin Tree

Ficus Benja-rnina.

Benjamin Tree

Laurus Benzoin.

Benthamia

Benthamia fragifera. Hardy evergreen shrub. Seeds or layers. Common loamy soil.

Berardia

Two species. Greenhouse evergreen shrubs. Division. Common soil.

Berberis

Thirty-three species. Hardy evergreen or deciduous shrubs. Cuttings or layers. Light common soil. See Barberry.

Berckheya

Tenspecies. Chiefly green-house evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. Loam and peat.

Beringeria

Eight species. Chiefly hardy herbaceous perennials. Division. Common soil.

Berrya

Berrya amornilla. Stove evergreen tree. Cuttings. Rich loam and peat.

Berteroa

Three species. Hardy. Seeds or cuttings. Sandy soil.

Bertholletia

Bertholletia excelsa. Brazil Nut. Stove evergreen tree. Cuttings. Sand, peat, and loam.

Berzelia

Two species. Greenhouse evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. Sandy peat and loam.

Besleria

Twelve species. Chiefly stove evergreen shrubs. B. cristata, B. serrulata, B. violacea are climbers. Cuttings. Very light rich soil.

Besom

Besom, or Broom, received its second name from being often made of the Broom plant; but the best, both for flexibility and durability, are made of the ling or heath. Birch brooms are the most common, and whatever the material, they will endure much longer if soaked in water for some time before using. If kept constantly in water they would be still less brittle. Where walks are liable to become mossy, a broom made of wire is frequently employed for sweeping them. If the wire be iron, it ought to be well dried and dipped in oil after being used, or it is soon destroyed by the rust.