8 



cember is less effective than is a single treatment made 

 in February or March, and that two treatments, one in 

 the Fall and another just before the buds start, are but 

 slightly more effective than is the later treatment alone. 

 The exact time for spraying after January 1st may be 

 decided by convenience as related to other work and by 

 the continuance of the dormant condition of the buds. 



A solution strong enough to kill the scale may be ap- 

 plied to the bark v ^thout injury at any time during the 

 summer. It may be applied by painting or swabbing it 

 onto the trunks and largest branches to check the sum- 

 mer development of the scale, but such a solution will 

 destroy all foliage touched by it, and cannot therefore be 

 sprayed on as in winter. 



At about one-fifth of the strength recommended, how- 

 ever, it is thought by some that Lime-Sulfur can be 

 sprayed upon even peach foliage which is fairly matured 

 as at fruiting time, and that at that strength it will be 

 a very effective agent in the prevention and control of 

 the brown rot of peaches which is now one of the most 

 .serious problems in peach production in Alabama. 



Preparation on the Orchard for Treatment. — This 

 is a matter of considerable importance and the exact 

 measures to be applied to each tree depend largely upon 

 the degree of its infestation. 



Slightly infested trees should be pruned before being 

 treated as is best for their fruiting regardless of the 

 presence of the scale. With heavily infested and badly 

 injured trees, the pruning should be much more thorough. 

 Trees which are nearly dead should be cut out and, in a 

 "^ung orchard, replaced if desired by new ones. All dead 

 ^ranches should be removed. Branches still alive but 

 which have made very little growth during the preced- 

 ing season should be strongly cut back, in some cases leav- 

 ing them as mere "stubs" a foot or two long from the 

 main trunk. If the cuts are more than three-fourths of 

 an inch in diameter their surfaces should be painted over 

 with White Lead. If there is still life enough in the tree 



