138 PEACH LEAF CURL: ITS NATURE AND TREATMENT. 



Formula K (5 poionds sulphur, 15 pounds lime) was applied March 19 to 278 trees 

 in a block 10 rows wide, with control rows of 69 trees each on each side. Curl 

 appeared on about 2 per cent of the foliage of the treated trees, while the check rows 

 were, as in the previous year, a mass of curled leaves and twisted branches. Formula 

 K was also applied to 25 Salway trees and to 15 Alexanders, which had curled very 

 badly for many years, the Salways always being defoliated completely. These trees 

 were 8 years old. No curl appeared on either variety. 



Formula L (5 pounds copper sulphate, 15 pounds lime) was apphed March 13 and 

 again March 21 to 262 trees, with 7 check rows interspersed through the lilock. Less 

 than one-fourth of 1 per cent of curl appeared on the treated trees of this test, while 

 the check rows were almost destroyed by the disease. The greater portion of these 

 vmtreated trees have been dug up and replaced (February 13, 1895). Treated trees 

 in this block made an excellent growth, though cultivated only moderately, and a 

 great majority were absolutely free from curl. 



The ammoniacal copper carbonate. Formula M (5 oimces copper carbonate, 3 pints 

 26° ammonia) , was applied March 22 to 210 trees, 2 check rows of 69 trees being left 

 alongside. Less than 3 per cent of curl appeared on the block, while 65 per cent of 

 the foliage of the control trees was curled. This formula was also apislied twice, at 

 intervals of two weeks, upon 5 acres of trees upon which no curl could be found. 

 This experiment, though remarkably successful, was not as conclusive as desired, as 

 no control trees were left. This was upon a block of thrifty trees, of which I did 

 not care to sacrifice any portion to an experiment. The same treatment had pre- 

 served them the previous year, and I feared a change. 



All my treated trees have grown satisfactorily this year, but the 10-acre check 

 block of untreated trees was so nearly destroyed by curl that all the trees will be 

 dug up. Several limidred are dead, and of the remainder I think no tree has had a 

 growth of 12 inches. 



It will be seen from Mr. Lownsdale's report of the work in 1894 

 that several of the sprays used gave most excellent results. On May 

 18 of that year he wrote: 



Curl has developed moderately, and everywhere the better condition of treated 

 over untreated trees is apparent. The trees treated with 5 pounds of copper sul- 

 pha.te and 15 pounds of lime may be said to be absolutely free from the curl and the 

 experiment a success. This block was sprayed twice in March. The check rows in 

 this block and alongside are curled as badly as any trees except seedlings. 



The modified eau celeste (Formula J) is also giving good results, as is the 5 pounds 

 of sulphur and 15 pounds of lime; but I l)elieve the copper sulphate, 5-pomid for- 

 mula, is in the lead. This may be attributed to more thorough work, as most of the 

 other sprays were only applied once. 



Owing to the fact that no fruit records could be obtained from Mr. 

 Lownsdale's experiments in 1891, as the trees were yet too small, 

 arrangements were made for the testing of some of the more valuable 

 sprays in the spring of 1895. The experiments of 1895 show the gain 

 in both foliage and fruit, though the yield was low, resulting from the 

 use of 5 sprays — 1 sulphur and 1 copper. The experiments were con- 

 fined to the Crawf ords Earl)^ variety, and in each experiment the trees 

 received two sprayings in March. All trees were 1 vears old, but 

 rather small. Mr. Lownsdale's data on this work are- presented in 

 the following table: 



