412 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



injury by mice, rabbits, peach-borers, cultivators, etc., or a serious lack 

 of moisture or nitrogen in the soil may discolor the foliage and cause 

 premature ripening of fruit and should not be mistaken for "Yellows." 

 The only method of control is by the destruction of an infected tree, — 

 fruit, root and branch — just as soon as discovered. It is especially im- 

 portant that diseased trees should not be allowed to blossom, as it is 

 believed that the disease is spread by insects at that time. 



LITTLE PEACH. 



In "Little Peach," characteristic symptoms are : — the leaves of a 

 part or the whole of the tree have a bunched appearance, and are shorter, 

 and broader than normal leaves. They are usually yellowish-green in 

 color with veins appearing dilated and darker than the intervening 

 tissue.. The fruit is usually under size and ripens from a week to two 

 weeks late. The flesh is more or less stringy, watery and very insipid, 

 while the pit is usually very small. One or all symptoms may be present 

 and unless they can be positively attributed to some other cause, the 

 tree should be condemned, pulled out and burned. 



Spraying I'ear Orchards. 



Dormant Spray. In the jail, lointer or early spring, inspect for scale- 

 insects the same as in apple orchards, and if found, spray as is directed 

 for apple orchards. (See page 405.) 



A spraying for scale will also control the Pear blister-mite, (a mite 

 that causes thickened red spots which later become brown on the leaves 

 and fruit). This creature has been a serious pest in parts of Michigan 

 for the past few j'ears. 



A Delayed Dormant Spray. In orchards infested with pear psylla the 

 dormant spray may be delayed until the blossom-buds are just showing 

 white, and beginning to separate from each other in the cluster, using 

 lime-sulphur solution (6i/4 to 50). Some foliage burning may result but 

 not enough to offset the beneficial effects of this spray. Kiefers are apt 

 to be a little ahead of the other varieties. During the season of 1921 

 this spray directed against the eggs of the pear psylla proved very ef- 

 fective and it may in time supersede the older practice of using nico- 

 tine while the tree is dormant. 



Summer Sprays. Just as the blossom huds are showing ivhite and be- 

 fore they have separated in the cluster, a spray should be applied to 

 prevent scab, especially on varieties susceptible to scab. For this appli- 

 cation bordeaux mixture or lime-sulphur (1-50) may be used, to which 

 add 1 to 114 pounds of arsenate of lead powder for each 50 gallons. 

 The delayed dormant spray for pear psylla will take the place of this 

 spray. Primary infection of scab occurs some seasons before the 

 succeeding spray. 



When the blossom buds have separated in the flower cluster, — spray 

 with lime-sulphur (1-50) or bordeaux, adding IY2 pounds of powdered 

 arsenate of lead to each 50 gallons. 



Immediately after the petals fall, — a spray should be applied, using 

 bordeaux-mixture to which li/o pounds of arsenate of lead powder should 

 be added for each 50 gallons. Add nicotine-sulphate (1 pint to 100 



