THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



MONTH BY MONTH 



JANUARY 



The first month of the year is emphatically not the month for " good 

 resolutions " with regard to the garden if success is really desired. 

 The good resolutions must have been made, and swiftly acted on, in 

 October and November, when the glory of the garden is newly de- 

 parted and the spent land and languishing plants call for all the 

 attention the gardener can give. January, with its uncertain weather, 

 may indeed prove almost entirely a close time, when the procras- 

 tinator will bitterly repent not having seized earlier opportimities 

 of trenching and pruning and numberless other pressing affairs. 



In a favourable year, however, January can be made quite a 

 busy time, and, in any case, no odd hour of good weather should be 

 wasted, as the labours of a busy spring may be much lightened by 

 forethought and energy now. Even a frost may be utilized to 

 wheel out manure to where it wiU be wanted later on for digging in; 

 while if, instead of being frost-bound, the land is suitably dry, plots 

 of ground may now be manured for early crops, unless the soil is 

 very hght indeed and the rains heavy, in which case it is still rather 

 early. 



We will suppose that aU fruit-tree pruning has been quite finished 

 before this, but the shoots and twigs may be now slowly burnt to a 

 dry ash, which forms a most valuable manure and insecticide. AU 

 such odd work, as clearing away rubbish, overlooking pea-sticks, 

 seed potatoes and other roots, and the careful study of the seeds 

 likely to be wanted, should be in progress. Where seeds have not 

 been saved, but must be bought, it is none too early to do so. Tools 

 also should be set in order and replaced where necessary. 



The making of a hot-bed is another operation suitable for January 

 when conditions permit, and its usefuhiess is undeniable, as early 

 crops will well repay the pains bestowed to obtain them. Nor is the 



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