CHERRIES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3212, 1 November 1867, Page 4

CHERRIES.

To th» Editor of the Daily SoirrHMiN Cnoss. Sib,— ln this morning's paper you draw attention to some early cherries you received from Mr. T. B. Gillies. I should like to draw out the opinions of some of your numerous readers as to their experience in the culture of this fruit, as the statements of the great majority of growers go to prove the fact that the cherry does not thrive in this province. lam inclined to subscribe to the same opinion; yet should be sorry to do so without a trial over an extended period of years, as age may operate for their better development. Mr. Gillies received his trees from Dunedin. You do not give us the name of the frnit. He planted them in July, and they bore ripe fruit by the end of October. Well, sir, I received twelve trees (three black-heart, three whiteheart, and six May Duke) from Melbourne, three years ago last July, and two months after planting I had ripe fruit of a very large size. The trees blossomed profusedly, and I took the precaution to rub off nearly all the blossoms, allowing only 15 to 20 on a tree to come to perfection. Now, sir, last spring and this they nave been a perfect failure, although they have been well cared for, in a rich soil, and been well cut in. I have had one of the finest orohards in JNew Zealand, in the Nelson province, and my trees there were exceedingly productive, so much so that they had to be propped up. I should think any expression of experience in this matter would be of advantage to the country at large,— l am, &0,, Pbo Bono Franco.