66 My New Zealand Garden 



scarcely care for them out of season. Red, white, 

 and black Currants, make too much foliage at the 

 expense of their fruit, although in some gardens 

 they manage good crops. Gooseberries bear larger 

 crops than I ever saw in England. Mine are 

 clipped like little hedges, to allow plenty of room 

 to walk between. They grow towards each other 

 as much as they like, but their sides get a very 

 severe pruning. 



We must not be surprised if we suffer great 

 deprivations among the fruit in future, for the 

 Blackbird has just arrived to help the Thrush at 

 it. The latter has been on this island for three or 

 four years, and has not ceased to sing all the 

 winter. I am glad to notice that he has brought 

 with him his murderous accomplishment of break- 

 ing snails on stones. The Myna, an Indian bird, 

 and a good size larger than the Blackbird, makes 

 great havoc among the fruit, and one grudges it 

 to him, as he gives no song in return. He is 

 only capable of a few loud, ugly notes, and some- 

 times a little quiet, conversational-like sound, 

 which seems as if, with a few lessons, he would 

 talk. I always thought that Starlings were war 

 ranted not to touch fruit, but they do not resist 

 the temptation here ; nor have I ever seen them 

 sitting in their right place, on the sheep's back, 

 but this I hope the farmers may have done. The 

 dear little Goldfinch is with us in numbers, 



