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Show PEACH DROPS ARE CAUSE OF INJURY Observations taken at the Federal Peach Pest laboratory at Fort Valley, Ga., emphasize the importance of prompt destruction of all peach drops, according to E. H. Rawl, associate extension horticulturist. Practically all of the small peaches which drop to the ground within a fw weeks after the "shucks" have been pushed off are badly infested with curculio worms, about 75 to 90 per cent of the drops containing one or more worms. Growers should bear In mind that the larvae remain In these drops and that, after a process of development they emerge and enter the ground for pupation. Each larva prepares a cell within about three inches of the surface, sur-face, in which it undergoes transformation trans-formation and from which It later emerges as the adult beetle. This beetle bee-tle gives rise to the second generation genera-tion that in turn lays eggs and causes wormy peaches just before picking time. It Is quite obvious that picking up and destroying the early drops will prevent heavy infestation at picking time. The Infested drops should be collected and buried at least 24 inches deep. It is usually advisable to make two or three gatherings of the drops. Special care should be taken that the very small shriveled peaches are gathered, for they are more likely to contain worms than the larger drops. In one of the Georgia observations two and one-half bushels of dropped peaches were placed in a wire screen container and ' watched carefully. Within a few weeks 13,000 larvae emerged from these drops. This number num-ber would have produced sufficient second brood curculios to badly infest 100,000 peach trees. Such conditions emphasize the Importance of using proper control measures ln connection with the early peach drops. In addition to picking up the drops. It is a good thing to disk or harrow the surface of the orchard frequently. The tools should loosen the ground at least three inches deep. This will break up the pupal cells and expose the inactive Insects to best and weather. The pupal stage usuallj averages about one month and disking disk-ing at intervals of one week should continue from the time the peaches bloom until late varieties are almos' ripe. Good Bordeaux Mixture Controls Apple Blotch There has been some tendency lately late-ly for fruit growers to reduce the strength of their bordeaux mixture below the 3-4-50 strength, and, according accord-ing to Dr. H. W. Anderson of the College Col-lege of Agriculture, University of Illinois, Illi-nois, this Is a mistake. He says, "Wille there Is reason to believe that a 1-3-30 bordeaux would control apple blotch under certaiu conditions, It would be unwise to use this on the entire orchard. Growers who are confident that they are applying apply-ing sprays In a very thorough manner, and who have not been seriously troubled with blotch the last few years might well try this weak bordeaux on a small block of their trees one year I In order to test the effect. However, the old expression that 'It Is better to be safe than sorry,' applies to the use of full strength bordeaux for blotch control. Last season was unfavorable un-favorable for apple blotch, and the chances are that blotch will not be very serious this season. It would be a good policy, therefore, to keep the disease ln check by using methods which have proved successful for many years. "Bordeaux spray should not be applied ap-plied during cold or rainy weather. Clear, bright days should be selected, If possible, and If the weather continues con-tinues cool, lime-sulphur, ,1-50, should be used in place of the bordeaux mixture. mix-ture. In fact, on those varieties especially espe-cially susceptible to russetting, lime-sulphur lime-sulphur should be used throughout the season, since It will give almost as good control as bordeaux." |