COURSE OF TREATMENT RECOMMENDED. 25 



combined remedy for both troubles. The fact that arsenate of lead 

 sometimes injures both the fruit and the foliage of the peach is well 

 known and should be borne in mind by the orchardist, but when 

 the applications are made early in the season the danger of injury 

 seems to be slight. Therefore, upon the advice of Mr. A. L. Quaint- 

 ance, of the Bureau of Entomology, arsenate of lead is included in the 

 course of treatment outlined below. 



BROWN-ROT, SCAB, AND CURCULIO TREATMENT. 



For the Elberta, Belle, Reeves, and other varieties of peaches of 

 about the same ripening season, the following is advised: 



(1) About the time the calyces (or shucks) are shedding, spray with arsenate of lead 

 at the rate of 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water. In order to reduce the caustic prop- 

 erties of the poison, add milk of lime made from slaking 2 pounds of stone lime. 

 The date of this treatment is too early for scab and ordinarily no serious outbreaks of 

 brown-rot occur so early, so that the lime-sulphur may be omitted with reasonable 

 safety; but during warm rainy springs, especially in the South, the lime-sulphur will 

 doubtless be necessary in this application. 



(2) Two to three weeks later, or about one month after the petals drop, spray with 

 8-8-50 self-boiled lime-sulphur and 2 pounds of arsenate of lead. 



(3) About one month before the fruit ripens spray with 8-8-50 self-boiled lime- 

 sulphur, omitting the poison. 



For earlier maturing varieties, such as Waddell, Carman, and Hiley, 

 the first two treatments outlined above would probably be sufficient 

 ordinarily, but in very wet seasons bad-rotting varieties would doubt- 

 less require three treatments. Late varieties, such as Smock and 

 Salway, having a longer season, would not be thoroughly protected 

 by three applications, but on account of the expense the writers 

 dislike to recommend a fourth spraying. In view of the results 

 obtained on mid-season varieties it seems likely that three treatments 

 will ordinarily be sufficient for the late varieties. 



a The attention of the reader is called to the following statement by Mr. Quaintance 

 regarding the use of arsenate of lead on the peach for the control of the curculio: 



"The schedule of applications, arranged to effect a combination treatment for the 

 plum curculio and brown-rot, represents a compromise as to the number of applica- 

 tions and times of spraying considered strictly from the curculio standpoint. Thus, 

 were the control of the curculio the only consideration, the first application should 

 be made within a week after the falling of the petals; the second about as the dried 

 calyces, or "shucks," are being thrown off by the rapidly swelling fruit, and a third 

 about two weeks later, though this latter treatment is attended with increased risk 

 to the foliage and fruit. 



"Of the several arsenical poisons, arsenate of lead should always be employed for 

 stone fruits, especially the peach. There are now numerous brands of arsenate of 

 lead on the market, and while most of these are carefully prepared and ordinarily 

 free from dangerous by-products the grower should exercise care in the selection of 

 a brand, purchasing only from reputable firms. Arsenical injury to peaches mani- 

 fests itself by a shot-holing and dropping of the leaves and an excessive reddening 

 and sometimes falling of the fruit as it approaches maturity. The extent of injury 

 liable to result will depend upon weather conditions, and the number of applica- 

 tions given. Ordinarily, the risk from two applications of arsenate of lead, as out- 

 lined for use with the lime-sulphur mixture, will be inconsequential, and the 

 orchardist can well afford to take the chances of injury in view of the great benefit 

 derived in lessening brown-rot and in the control of the curculio itself." 



174 



