TALKS WITH PRACTICAL IRRIGATORS, 



REMEDY FOR CUBL LEAF. 



BY the time this number of THE AGE reaches its 

 readers in most parts of the country, orchardists 

 will have commenced or possibly finished the work of 

 early cultivation, pruning and spraying. During the 

 dormant condition of fruit trees is the time when the 

 lime, sulphur and salt wash proves most effective, and 

 it will be found most efficacious if used early on nearly 

 every species of deciduous fruit tree. Elsewhere is 

 given the most approved method of preparing this 

 valuable and inexpensive wash. In this article will 

 be given in brief form a remedy for curl leaf in peach 

 trees. Without going into the origin of the disease 

 unnecessarily, it may be stated that the curling of 

 peach leaves is due to a parasitic fungus which at- 

 tacks the leaf tissues, and if unchecked will often 

 make short work with a crop of fruit. Until recently 

 no certain remedy for curl leaf had been found ; but 

 orchardists may now congratulate themselves upon 

 the fact that this dreaded disease has been brought 

 under subjection by the application 'of science com- 

 bined with persistent and well-directed experiments. 

 It is found that if properly prepared and applied the 

 Bordeaux mixture will prove a practical and almost 

 certain remedy against curl leaf. For this purpose 

 the mixture is used effectively in California, Michi- 

 gan, Maryland and Australia, and the results obtained 

 fully justify the statement that no peach grower 

 should hesitate in its use the moment he detects the 

 presence of curl leaf in his orchard. 



PREPARING THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE. 



In the preparation of the Bordeaux mixture care 

 should be observed that good, fresh lime, properly 

 slacked, be used. Three pounds of copper sulphate 

 and three pounds of lime, added to 32 gallons of 

 water, make a highly effective spray for curl leaf fun- 

 gus. In preparing the mixture either cold or hot 

 water may be used, but unless the water be boiling 

 it should at first be added only so fast as taken up by 

 the lime. The trees should be sprayed the first time 

 just before the opening of the leaf buds. A second 

 treatment at the end of two weeks may be required, 

 and even a third spraying may be found to be neces- 

 sary. Something will depend on the amount of rain 

 that may fall after the spraying. In case of heavy 

 rains soon after treatment, it will generally be found 

 advisable to go over the orchard again after the 

 weather has become settled. 



In case it be found desirable to introduce an insecti- 

 cide for any leaf-eating insects, one pound of Paris 



130 



green may be added to 300 gallons of the Bordeaux 

 mixture. This will be found very effective, and the 

 combination will prevent injury to the leaves by the 

 arsenious acid of the Paris green. 



It may not be out of place here to urge the absolute 

 necessity of the use of the various approved fungi- 

 cides and insecticides among which the substances 

 mentioned above hold a high rank. The best fruit can 

 alone be produced upon healthy trees, and trees may 

 be kept in a healthy condition only by the prompt ap- 

 plication of proper remedies for any diseased condi- 

 tions which they may show. The commercial orchard- 

 ist everywhere must be alert, and as solicitous for the 

 health of his trees as for that of his children, and be 

 prepared at all times to summon and apply the proper 

 remedies on every needed occasion. 



So fully do California orchardists recognize the 

 prime necessity of spraying their trees that in some 

 localities efforts toward forming cooperative associa- 

 tions for preparing and administering sprays on a 

 large scale have been made. This is certainly a step 

 in the right direction, for it is manifestly easier and 

 cheaper to have the work done by experts, and in a 

 wholesale way with the most approved appliances. 



LIME, SULPHUR AND SALT WASH. 



For Winter Use Upon Deciduous Trees for Curl 

 Leaf, Mildew, Etc. 



The following formula and directions, if properly 

 carried out, will produce an effective solution : 



Unslacked lime, 40 pounds. 



Sulphur, 20 pounds. 



Stock salt, 15 pounds. 



Water to make 100 gallons. 



DIRECTIONS. Place 10 pounds of lime and 20 

 pounds of sulphur in a boiler with 20 gallons of 

 water, and boil over a brisk fire for not less than ONE 

 HOUR AND A HALF, or until the sulphur is thoroughly 

 dissolved. When this takes place, the mixture will 

 be of an amber color. Next place in a cask 30 

 pounds of unslacked lime, pouring over it enough 

 HOT WATER to thoroughly slack it; and while it is 

 boiling add the 15 pounds of salt. When this is dis- 

 solved add to the lime and sulphur in the boiler and 

 cook for HALF AN HOUR longer, when the necessary 

 water to make the 100 gallons should be added. 



Curl leaf and mildew are becoming quite preva- 

 lent in parts of the State in unusually wet seasons. 

 The above wash is recommended by the State Board 

 of Horticulture, and should be applied while the 

 trees are dormant. 



