Page 12 



BETTER FRUIT 



March 





Figure 57 — An old Italian prune tree that four years ago -was "dehorned" 

 for purposes of renovation. Since that "dehorning" little or no pi'uning has 

 been done. Last year the tree bore a small ei'op of prunes on spurs that 

 developed on the watersprouts stimulated hy the "dehorning." There is 

 promise of a medium crop this year, but the newly-formed spurs in the 

 lo\\er part of the tree are already showing signs of weakened vigor because 

 of too much shading. To keep them from becoming long and willowy and 

 finally dying, considerable thinning out is necessai-y. Heading back, which 

 would stimulate the formation of more watersprouts, would increase the 

 trouble. This tigui-e and its explanation should be comnared w ith Figures 

 53-5(i and the explanalicjns accoinpTnying them 



known on the fruit.s of pear also. The 

 amount of blighting of blo.ssoms varies 

 in diflerent localitie.s. Secondary in- 

 fections may occur on mature leaves 

 to a limited extent. 



The control of the disease calls for 

 the employment of two methods, (1) 

 pruning and (2) the apjjllcation of fun- 

 gicides. In li.shi attacks of mildew it 

 seems probable that pruning alone will 

 sulPice. while in orchards where the 

 disease has gained considerable head- 

 way spraying must be resorted to in 

 addition to the iiruning. (1) Pruning. 

 It is known that infested buds on badly- 

 mildewed .shoots produce seriously- 

 diseased shoots the following spring. 

 Spraying will not prevent these in- 

 fections, so the affected shoots should 

 be removed and destroyed by burning. 

 This may be done at any time consist- 

 ent with horticiiltiiral i)ractice, and if 

 not done earlier should be made a part 

 of the regular dormant i)runing opera- 

 tions. If mildew is serious it will be 

 advisable to prune out iiinie brush than 



ordinary to stimulate the growth the 

 following season. In general, the prun- 

 ing practice should aim to eliminate 

 close interlacing of branches and vig- 

 orous shoots of the current year's 

 growth should be cut back one-third to 

 one-half. (2) Spraying. The time of 

 application of the spray may be given 

 lirst consideration. It has been demon- 

 strated that winter spraying is without 

 efl'ect on mildew in California. It has 

 not >et been determined whether this 

 holds for Washington conditions or not, 

 but it is probable that such will be the 

 ca.se. The times of spraying to be rec- 

 ommended are as follows: (a) .lust 

 after the petals fall, (b) In connection 

 with the second spraying for codling 

 molh or earlier if the mildew is serious, 

 (c) Three or four weeks after the sec- 

 ond si)raylng. It mav be necessary to 

 spray a fourth lime after a like interval 

 if mildew is serious and conditions con- 

 tinue favorable. 



The seleclion of the fiuigicide is a 

 mailer of i-(insiileral)le impiirlance ami 



should depend in part at least upon 

 what other diseases are present in an 

 orchard. In some sections of Wash- 

 ington powdery mildew is the only 

 fungous disease of apples that is pres- 

 ent, but in others the orchard must be 

 protected from scab also. In case scab 

 is present the regular lime-suljihur 

 treatiuent (1-.30) for this disease should 

 prove of value in the control of mil- 

 dew. .The number of sprayings for 

 scab will vary according to conditions 

 and the severity of the disease. Those 

 most generally recommended are as 

 follows: (1) Just as the blossom buds 

 separate and show pink. (2) Just after 

 the petals fall. (3) Ten days to two 

 weeks later. Experience will show 

 whether the first only or all of these 

 applications are necessary. If the mil- 

 dew is bad additional sprayings may be 

 necessary for this disease alone, and in 

 this case it may be advisable to employ 

 one of the sulphur sjjrays recom- 

 mended below. 



If powdery mildew is the only dis- 

 ease for which protection is sought 

 one of the following fungicides may be 

 used: (1) Atomic sulphur or some 

 other finely divided form of sulphur. 

 .\tomic sulphur may be used at the rate 

 of 2-Ci pounds to each 50 gallons of 

 water. It seems probable that the 

 minimum strength reconnnended will 

 give as effective jirotection as the more 

 concentrated solutions. (2) The iron- 

 sulphide mixture, 'fhe rather laborious 

 method described in the reference 

 given below does not seem to be neces- 

 sary, at least for the drier sections of 

 Washington. The modified Ballard 

 fornuda is as follows. Iron sulphate 

 (copperas), 4 pounds; lime-sulphur, 33 

 degrees Beaume. 1 gallon; water. 200 

 gallons. .\ stock solution of the iron 

 sulphate should be made and one pound 

 to the gallon is a convenient strength. 

 Fill the sprayer tank, start the agitator, 

 add the lime-sulphur and slowly add 

 the requisite amount of iron-sulphate 

 solution. In order to insure complete 

 precipitation of the iron sulphide a 

 slight excess of lime-sulphur may be 

 used. The necessary insecticides like 

 Black Leaf -10 or lead arsenate may be 

 added to either the atomic sulphur or 

 the iron sulhpide mixture. 



[Editor's note — Mooil Hiver growers 

 found modilied formula unsatisfactory; 

 now use i)reci))italiiig method.] 



SIMPSON a DOELLER CO. 



1423 NORTHWESTERN BANK BLDG. 

 PORTLAND, OREGON. 



E.SHELLEY /MORGAN MOR. , 



Tells why chicks die 



E. J. Reefer, tlie pouUi y expert, SHtiS Reefer UUig., 

 K:iiisiisCilv. Mo., is eiviiiff away free a valuahle 

 buok entitled. "White Diarrhoea and H.-w lo ( iire it 

 Thig boi'k contains ^cientiric facts on white diarrlioea 

 and tells how to prepare a BimiOe home Bolutmn that cuv.-b this 

 tprrible disease ovt-r niaht and actiiiitly rr.isea 98 per cent of 



every hatch All ^ trv r:..ser« should certainly wnt« Ur. Reefer 



iur oue of thes-c vuluatle !■ KEE booU). 



WHEN WRITINO APVEKTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



