Show I LEAF CURL IS r MOST OST DESTRUCTIVE 5 I S DISEASE AFFECTING THE PEACH TREE Effects of Attack May Last Over Several Years and Renders More i Subject to Attacks of Otter Other Diseases and to VinS in Win Cause Cause and Control S Dy By LEONARD H R. HARTILL Instructor In Fruit Growing New York State StateS S School of ot Agriculture on Long Island dale Is Is' Y L Peach leaf curl curt Is more or less common common cornmon com corn mon In nearly all flU the p peach ach growing regions of ot the world In many regions It Is probably the most destructive disease dis dEs ease nse affecting the peach Heavy Henvy losses Occasioned by the disease on the Atlantic Atlantic Atlantic Atlan Atlan- tic seaboard are Infrequent yet occasionally occa occa- the damage Is severe The losses from leaf curl cannot be readily read read- fly ily estimated for the Injury to the fruit Is usually Indirect through the loss of leaves and the generally Impaired Impaired Impaired Im Im- Im- Im paired vitality of the trees The effects effects effects ef ef- ef- ef of an attack may last over several several sev sev- eral years and undoubtedly renders the tree more subject to the attacks of other diseases and to The effects on the tree seem to depend not only on the sev severity rIty of the attack attack attack at at- tack but also on the vigor of ot the tree Its location and the character of the succeeding winter Description Usually the disease Is seen only onty on the leaves lea and young branches but butt the flowers and young fruit are likewIse likewise likewise like like- wise subject to attack In Ia the latter case the disease often escapes attention attention atten atten- tion Lion since deformations are but slight and the parts affected very promptly drop from the tree The disease when on the leaves may be detected as soon as the leaf buds have become slightly unfolded The coloring of the young leaves Is heightened and as as they unfold a n curling and arching of the blades becomes becomes becomes be be- comes prominent As the disease progresses progresses pro pro- grosses the abnormally thickened distorted distorted distorted dis dis- dis- dis leaves from which the disease takes Its name are Its chief characterIstics characterIstics characteristics character character- and cannot well be mistaken The stimulation Induced d by fungus within the cells of the leaves causes the cells to develop thickened walls and ond increase in crease In size and numbers The tissues tissues tin tin- sues of ot the mid raid rib do not Increase to any extent with the result that tho abnormal growth of the tissues on either cither side of the midrib causes the leaves lea to become puckered and curled Since the greatest growth takes place In the tissues toward tho the upper side there Is a tendency for the upper surface surface sur sur- surI I face of an nn Infected leaf to be convex I Infected foliage usually drops and so the disease may result In complete defoliation de do- foliation of tho the tree If It such is the case the tree sets little or no fruit However the tree usually leafs out again and by ummer little sign of the disease may be found Cause leaf Peach curl Is caused T 1 y n a para parasitic pam pal fungus known as ns De- De formans The mycelium of the fungus fungus fungus fun fun- gus makes its among the tissues and absorbs the Juices needed for the nutrition of the tree It Is spread from tree to tree by means of spores These form under the surface of ot otIn Infected Infected infected In In- leaves finally breaking through and Imparting to the surface a frosted appearance The spores are given off and presumably are carried over the winter on the surfaces of twigs and bud scales They produce new Infections as soon as the leaf buds open in the spring The fungus may also be carried car cor- ried ned over the winter by the mycelium in twigs that have been infected Control Spray in tho the spring Just before re the buds swell using bordeaux mixture 50 5 5 pounds lime 5 pounds copper copper copper cop cop- per sulphate dissolved In 50 gallons of water It Is e essential that the sprayIng sprayIng spray- spray Ing be thorough and ind that it be done before before before be be- fore the buds show the least green S S I 5 S I S 1 I 4 L 1 q S FANCY PEACHES PEACH ES READY RE FOR PACKING |