THOSE CHERRY TREES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1929, Page 10

THOSE CHERRY TREES

JAPAN'S GIFT TO AUSTRALIA

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, 28th November.

Horticulturists in New South Wales, while they do not want to do anything to perturb Japanese feeling, are strongly warning the Federal Government, on economic grounds, politely to refuse tho gift tc Australia of Japanese cherry trees if it does not want the Commonivealth to run the risk of fire blight. New Zealand is not unaware of the ravages of this disease. Australia is immune from it, but, as one competent authority puts it, heaven only knows what would happen if it got into this country, favourably inclined as it is to the rapid breeding and spreading of pests.

There are now in Australia—they flourish, especially in some of the gardens on Sydney's North Shore—clean specimens of some of the best varieties of these trees which, with the Japanese, are emblematic of loyalty and patriotism as well as things of floral beauty. The point is stressed that if Australia wants more of these trees they can be budded now on ordinary plum stock from, trees growing hero and be ready for planting out at Canberra or anywhere else in the winter.

Mr. W. H. Ifould, a prominent amateur horticulturist and rose grower aud bettor known aa Sydney's Public Librarian, says the beauty of the Japanese cherry tree is exaggerated, and that Australia can cultivate several beautiful trees, noted for their foliage and their blossom, without going abroad and running the risk of bringing into the country another pest to keep the rabbits and grasshoppers and other blights company. Australians he says, do not realise the beauty of the almond tree, for example, where it grows well, such as round the foothills and plains of Adelaide.