Beefwood. See [Casuarina].
Beet (Beta vulgaris). Chenopodiaceæ.
Seeds, sown very early.
Propagated by cuttings of young wood, placed in sandy soil, in gentle heat.
Begonia. Begoniaceæ.
Increased by seeds, well-ripened before they are gathered, and kept very dry until sown. For the successful raising of begonias, it is necessary to sow the seed in pans or pots of well-drained, light, sandy soil, which should be well watered before the seeds are sown. The seeds should not be covered with soil, or they will fail to germinate. Place a pane of glass over the pans, and set in a warm house or frame, where a temperature of about 65° can be maintained, and shade from the sun. As soon as the plants are large enough they should be pricked off into pans of light leaf-mould soil, in which they may remain until large enough to be placed singly in pots. By divisions of the rhizomes. Also increased by cuttings, which strike freely in pots of sand and leaf-mould, and placed on a bottom heat of about 70°. Where large quantities are required, a bed of cocoanut fiber in a stove or propagating-frame may be used, and in this the cuttings may be planted, and remain until well-rooted. Leaf cuttings succeed best when laid on sand or cocoanut fiber, and shaded from bright sunlight. Select old, well-matured leaves, and make an incision with a sharp knife across the principal nerves, on the under side. They should then be placed on the sand or fiber, and held down by means of a few pieces of crock. Under this treatment bulbils will form on the lower ends of the nerves of each section of the leaf, and these, when large enough, may be removed from the bed and potted. Fan-shaped pieces of leaves are often used. Leaf cuttings of begonia are described and figure in [Chapter IV]. Species like B. diversifolia, etc., may be propagated by the bulblets which form in the axils of the leaves. Tuberous begonias are best propagated by seeds, as described above, but stem-cuttings can be used with fair success, if they are cut just below a joint.
Bejaria. See [Befaria].
Belenia. See [Physochlaina].
Bellardia. See [Manettia].