40 The Bulletin 



4. It permits of better and more tlioroiagb spraying. 



5. There are more crates of peaches of a better size and quality. 



6. The fruit ripens more evenly. 



7. It produces fruit that is more uniform and easier to grade. 



8. It prevents the excessive weakening of the tree. The develop- 

 ment of the pits is an exhaustive process, but by reducing the number 

 of pits produced, the tree is not so much weakened. 



The cost of thinning is one of the main factors that prevents many 

 growers from doing it, but when the advantages of the operation are 

 considered, the cost becomes a matter of small importance. The cosi 

 of the operation of thinning is variable, depending upon the amount of 

 fruit, the size of the trees, the quality of the labor, and the season. 



SPRAYING AND ORCHARD PROTECTION 



To grow peaches successfully, they must be given the proper protec- 

 tion against the different insects and diseases that attack the tree and 

 its fruit. For full instructions for spraying and preparing spray mix- 

 tures, see North Carolina Department of Agriculture Bulletin, Whole 

 No. 209, on Orchard Spraying and Orchard Protection. For specific 

 information on questions of insect control, inquiries should be directed 

 to Division of Entomology, North Carolina Department of Agricul- 

 ture, Raleigh, North Carolina, while information on questions of dis- 

 ease control may be obtained from the Office of Plant Pathology, West 

 Raleigh, North Carolina. 



*The following system of spraying has been recommended for this 



State : 



Dormant or Whiter Spray. — This is for San Jose Scale, primarily. 

 It is given in late winter or early spring. Use commercial lime-sul- 

 phur at the rate of 1 gallon to 8 gallons of water. 



Second Spray. — A week after petals fall or when the blossom shuck 

 begins to shed. Use self-boiled lime-sulphur solution made of 8 pounds 

 of sulphur, 8 pounds of stone lime, and 50 gallons of water, to Avhich 

 21/2 pounds of arsenate of lead paste or l^^ pounds of powdered ar- 

 senate of lead is added. 



Third Spray. — This spray is applied two or three weeks after the 

 second spray. Use same mixture as for the previous spray. 



Fourth Spray. — This spraying is made one month before the fruit 

 ripens. Use same mixture a.s in previous spray, but tlie arsenate of 

 lead is omitted. 



The first three si)rays sh(.ul<l \>r ;i implied to all varieties. The fourth 

 spray is omitted with varieties ripening earlier than Belle, but on va- 

 rieties ripening witli Belle and after it should be appled. Among the 

 growers, it is a question wlietlier or not the last spray for Belles, 



•Adapted from nullclin, Whole No. 209, North Caroliiiii Department of Agriculture. 



