THE SPARROW QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLII, Issue 4322, 18 December 1874, Page 3

THE SPARROW QUESTION.

• TO THE EDITOB OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sib, —In the Lyttelton Times of February 1874,1 was challenged by John C. Boys and a gentleman who terms himself “ Facts Before Assertions,” that the sparrow did not attack the cherries, I will now give them this challenge, to meet me, and we will take Ham garden, being one of the oldest established fruit gardens in the province, and there I shall show them Master Sparrow at his work; 1 shall also show them the: difference, as I said before, between the white-eye’s and sparrow’s attacks. First, the sparrow takes the whole fruit, and leaves nothing but the stone; second, the white-eye makes a hole in the fruit, and sucks out the pulp, leaving the skin to shrivel up. Mr Boys says in his letter that he has been an enthusiast all his life. All that I have got to say is, that self-praise is no honour. What Ishould like to see are his works, and then I would praise him for his enthusiasm. I may also tell them that the sparrows have already begun to attack the strawberries, which I shall prove also to them. It is a notorious fact that the cherry-growers around Christchurch are unable to supply the demand, and we are receiving our supplies frdm Nelson. I may toll them that some of our greatest cherry-growers have been unable to sell any this season as yet, through the . ravages of the sparrow. ? Tour obedient servant, DATED NAIBN.

F.S.—The reason I did hot answer Mr, Boys and “Facts Before Assertions ” sfas that I could not prove before the cheery season came around again. and surely seeing will be believing with,those gentlemen.—-D.H.