Notes On Gardening.

The operations of the gardener this month are very light, being chiefly in eradicating sow-thistle, dock, plaintain, and other weeds —collecting the flower seeds that have now ripened—cutting away withered stems, and staking the dahlias and chrysanthemums. With the latter, the annual reign of Flora nearly terminates, for the only garden flowers which last beyond Autumn are such annuals as have been sown very late.

Such bulbs as, from being too crowded, require to be separated, if not done last month, should no longer be delayed. Tulips, Hyacinths, Anemonies, and Ranunculuses are those only which require to be taken up every year, since it is found that all the other African bulbous plants succeed much better in this mild climate, and grow more luxuriantly, when left in the ground all winter,lifting them only every third year.

The different varieties of Chrysanthemum Indicum grow in this climate with the greatest luxuriance; but they degenerate very much after the third year. Off-sets, therefore, should be always planted for succession, soon after the plants have done flowering.

The great heat of last month, joined to the heavy rains during the last week, has ripened the Figs much sooner this year than the last. The Peaches also have rapidly increased in size, and may be expected to ripen about the 20th. Plums are very plentiful, and ripe Gooseberries are still on the trees in shady situations.

The copious rains during the last week in January have saved the second crop of potatoes. This will, it is to be hoped, compensate in some measure for the failure of the first crop, which has been the worst in the Hutt Valley that the settlers have ever experienced.

W. S.

Printed at the Office of the "Wellington Independent," corner of Willis-street and Lambton-Quay.