INSECTS AND DISEASES OF THE PEACH 



L. F. STRICKLAND 



Horticultural Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Albany, N. Y. 



Like other deciduous fruits, the peach 

 has its pests and diseases. In the follow- 

 ing article the writer mentions certain 

 points not commonly emphasized in scien- 

 tific literature, but points which in prac- 

 tice are found to be particularly valuable. 

 Field workers often find that, in combat- 

 ing pests and diseases, the growers have 

 varying degrees of success. In many 

 cases this may not be entirely due to lack 

 of thoroughness in their methods 4 but to a lack of knowledge of 

 important points in the life history of pests or diseases. 



INSECTS 



In this latitude the peach is attacked by eight distinctive insects, 

 four of which are minor in importance. In this bulletin these 

 insects will be considered in the order of importance in New York. 



Black Peach Aphis 



The black peach aphis (Aphis persicce Niger Ej Sm.) infests the 

 tender leaves and shoots of the peach, although the serious injury 

 occurs on the roots. Its presence on the roots is suspected when 

 the leaves of individual trees take on a yellowed sickly appearance, 

 each leaf of the affected tree being yellowish green, except the 

 area along each midrib and lateral veins, which is dark green. The 

 leaves develop to normal size, growth is checked, and serious in- 

 festations even indirectly cause the death of the young trees. 

 Blocks of nursery stock are often found slightly infested, but the 

 main trouble comes one, two, three, and four years from planting. 

 Here in the north older trees are seldom found seriously infested. 



There are other factors that are supposed to cause similar foliage 



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