Peach Leaf Curl. 



2><J 



story goes, had first been used in Australia as a sheep dip for scab. 

 Soon after the outbreak of San Jose scale in California, certain persons 

 were induced to use lime-sulfur for its control on peach trees; and as 

 early as 1883 or 1885 it was in general use for this purpose in certain 

 sections. It was soon noticed that trees treated in this way did not 

 suffer from Curl ; and from this 

 developed the practice of spray- 

 ing early in the spring before 

 the leaf buds open. Since that 

 time it has been repeatedly de- 

 monstrated that a single early 

 application of either lime-sulfur 

 solution, bordeaux or copper 

 sulfate will satisfactorily con= 

 trol the disease. (Figs. 83 

 and 84.) 



The important factors in the 

 control of this disease seem 

 to be (i) time of application, 

 (2) thoroughness, and (3) the 

 fungicide used. This statement 

 represents also, we believe, the 

 order of importance of these 

 three factors. 



(i). Time of application. — 

 This is to be determined pri- 

 marily by the condition of the 

 buds, although in some cases 

 the character of the weather is 

 also to be considered. In gen- [_ 

 eral it is desirable to spray 



before the buds " start " or ^'^- ^4-— .4 branch from a tree sprayed late 



,, . , . T^ . , , Willi bordeaux mixture. 



swell m the sprmg. Evidently 



any time within a month prior to swelling of the buds is satisfactory. If 

 for any reason spraying has been delayed until buds have begun to swell, 

 then the application to be effective must be applied before any protracted 

 period of cold rain ensues. There appears to be no doubt that many fail- 

 ures reported the past two seasons were due to late spraying following 

 instead of preceding a rainy period. Spray before rain periods, vol after. 

 (2). Thoroughness is a relative term. Every man who sprays is 

 thorough, or thinks he is, or at least tries to be, yet a thorough job 



