THE PEACH ROT 75 



ing destruction wherever they light on a blossom. This 

 injury is sometimes called '^ peach blight." Some blos- 

 soms so injured are represented at the right in Plate VIII, 

 from a drawing published by Professor F. D. Chester. 

 Some tufts of spores on a twig are shown at the left of 

 the same fio-ure. 



Treatment. — The remarks upon this subject con- 

 cerning the plum (p. 58) arc equally applicable to the 

 peach. Experiments made in Delaware indicate that a 

 considerable proportion of the rot may be prevented by 

 proper treatment. Professor Chester recommends the 

 following procedure : Pick off late in autumn or early 

 in winter all mummied fruit on the trees. It would be 

 better to remove it at the time of picking, or soon after. 

 S]>ray with simple solution copj^er sulphate (one pound 

 to twenty-five gallons water) early in spring before fruit 

 l)uds begin to swell. Spray again with ammoniacal so- 

 lution copi^er carbonate as soon as these buds begin to 

 swell, and repeat the application just before the buds 

 open, to prevent injury to blossoms. ^^As soon as the 

 fruit shall have reached full size and begins to show 

 signs of color, make a third application. This should 

 be followed by two or three other applications at close 

 intervals of five or seven days during the ripening period. 

 A heavy rain followed by warm weather may, at this 

 vital period, cause the peaches to rot rapidly ; hence, 

 due regard should be given tliis point in regulating the 

 exact time when a spraying should be made. Due atten- 

 tion to this principle may save hundreds of baskets of 

 fruit, and the grower can well aiford to make spraying 

 at the right time his first business." It may be doubted, 

 however, whether these late applications are advisable, 

 from a sanitary standpoint. Treatment with copper 

 mixtures at frequent intervals during the ripening 

 period means the presence of copper salt upon the mar- 

 keted fruit, unless it is wnshed off after picking. 



