Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/795

BEGAS. Berlin); "Borussia" (1S85), a colossal statue, executed for the "Ruhraeshalle" (Hall of Fame) ill Berlin; "Fountain of Xcptune" (1891), a colossal bronze fountain, typifyins; the four prin- cipal sti-eanis of Prussia (Schlossplatz, Berlin) ; statue of Alexander von Humboldt ( 1882, Ber- lin) ; Sarcophagus of Emperor Frederick III., called 'Frederick the Noble' (18!):2, Potsdam Mausoleum) ; "Germania," a colossal equestrian statue surmounting the new Reichstag building; monument of Emperor William I. (1S!I7, Ber- lin); statue of Prince Bismarck (Reichstag, Berlin). Begas has also executed a large number of busts, and has likewise displayed his remark- able versatility in a scries of portraits of women and important architectural designs.

BEGG, James (1808-83). A Scottish Free Cliurch leader. He was born at New Monk- land, Lanarkshire. Educated in Glasgow Uni- versity, he entered the ministry in 1820. At the disruption of the Scottish Church he joined the Free Church, and during the remainder of his lite was minister of the Church of Newington, Edinburgh. He headed a contingent of High- landers, who could be counted on to vote against any measure savoring in the least of liberalism in theology or practice. He died in Edinburgh. Among his works are: A Handbook of Poptry (London, 1852) ; Seat Rents ISroutjht to the Test of the Scriptm-e, Laic, Reason, and Experi- ence (Edinburgh, 1838) : The Use of Orijans and Other Instruments of Music in Christian ^^'<^r- ship Indefensible (Glasgow, 1800). Consult his Life by T. Smith (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1885-88).

BEG'GA, Saint. See Beguii;es.

BEG'GAR. See 5Ie.I)ICAXCY.

BEG'GAR-MY-NEIGH'BOR. A game at cards, usually played by two persons, between whom the cards are equally divided. Holding their cards with the backs upward, the players lay down a card alternately, until an honor is plnvpd, which is paid for by the adversary — four cards for an ace,, three for a king, two for a queen, and one for a knave. When such payment is completed, the winner lifts the trick. But if an honor should be laid down during the pay- ment, then the payment of the debt is stopped and transferred to the opposite party, who must pay for that in the same way; and so on, till a full payment is made without an honor. In the eiul. one party gets all the cards into his hands and wins the game.

BEGGAR OF BETH'NAL GREEN, The. The title of a comedv by James Sheridan Knowles ( 1834). founded on the old ballad, "The Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green."

BEG'GAR'S BUSH, The. The title of a once popular comedy by Fletcher, Rowley, and Massinger (1622). Its source was probably a novel by Cervantes, entitled Fnerza de la sangre. It has been laid under tribute in The Royal Mer- chant (1707) and The Merchant of Bruges (1815). The plot deals with the usurpation of a maiden's throne and her restoration to it by the aid of her lover, a prince disguised as a merchant.

BEGGAR'S LICE. See Hound's Tongue.

BEGGAR'S OPERA. See Gay. John.

BEGGAR TICK. See Bub JIakioold.

BEG'GARWEED' (so named either because it indicates poverty of soil or because it is s .i noxious a weed as to beggar the land). A name applied to a number of species of Desmodiuni which are considered valuable as forage plants or for enriching poor soils when plowed under. One of the best known is the Florida Beggarweed iDesniodium motle or tortuosum), which has no superior as forage produced ujion light, sandy soils. It is an annual leguminous plant, grow- ing 3 to 10 feet high, the height varying with the locality. When thinly grown, the stalks are lia- lile to become woody ; otlu^rwise a large croji of forage of excellent quality may be obtained in from two to three months. Stock of all kinds seem to relish the hay, which has a high nutri- tive value. Yields of from 4 to 6 tons of hay per acre are reported from the Louisiana Experi- ment Station. Florida beggarweed does well as far north as Virginia, and it has been exten- sively introduced into the West Indies and else- where. A number of other species of Desmo- diuni are widely distributed, some of which may prove valuable. They, in common with other leguminous plants, acquire large quantities of nitrogen frrnii the air through the tubercles found upon their roots.

BEGON, be-goN', Michel (1038-I7IO). A French administrator and patron of science, born at Blois. He entered the French Navy, and rose to be Intendant of the Vest Indies, of Can- ada, and later of Rochefort and of La Rochelle. In recognition of the interest shown by him in the progress of science, the important genus of plants Begonia was named for him.

BEGO'NIA. A genus of the natural order Begoniacea;, the species of which number about 350, and are found in the tropics of both hemispheres, being especially well represented in Mexico and Central and South America. Some of the species of Begonia are very popular house-plants, and are extensively grown under the names of Begonia. Elephant-Ears, Beefsteak Geranium, etc., for their handsome flowers and their odd-shaped and often beautiful foliage. The plants are perennial herbs, or, in some eases, shrubby at base, and have root systems of several kinds, upon which schemes of classification have been based. Some are tuberous, some have their stems continued into a rhizome, others have a cluster of scale-like bulbs, while still others have fibrous roots. Ordinarily the fibrous-rooted species are designated as winter-blooming, the others being sununer-blooniing, unless especially forced to the contrary. The leaves, which are radical, or, if borne upon the stem, alternate in two ranks, are usually unequal-sided, and vary within wide limits in size, outline, and texture. The flowers are moiKecious, the male usually having four petals, the female five, sometimes two petals. The stamens are quite numerous; the styles two or four, with the stigmas twisted like corkscrews. The fruit consists of a wjnged capsule filled with numerous small seeds, which are without an endosperm. Begonias may be propagated in a number of ways. Their tuberous or bulbous roots may be divided, their stems rooted, or they may be grown directly, either from leaves which are cut and placed in the soil, or from incisions made in the leaf, which lies Hat upon the ground. The leaves form a callus where cut, from which ultimately arises a number of adventitious buds. Horticulturally, the begonias may be divided