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New Control Methods for Peach Pests 



Experimental work in recent years has brought to light 

 three important control measures of interest to the peach grower, 

 first, the introduction of parasites for the control of Oriental 

 fruit noth, second, the destruction of choke cherries to prevent 

 the spread of X-disease and third, the use of ethylene dichloride 

 for peach borer control. 



This latter material promises to replace the familiar 

 Paradichlorobenzene which has been commonly used for a number of 

 /ears. It has several advantages over the older material, being 

 effective at lov/ soil temperature and so can be used later in the 

 season than Pdb. It appears to be safer on young trees and acts 

 miore quickly than Pdb. Furthermore, it rec^uires little previous 

 treatment of the soil and no subsequent treatment. As a final 

 advantage, it costs a little less than Pdb. 



The ethylene dichloride emulsion may be prepared cold 

 by stirring 9 parts by volume of the material in 1 part by volume 

 of potash fish-oil soap. A good grade of potash fish-oil soap 

 should be used, that is, one without an excess of caustic potash 

 and containing approximately 30 percent of soap and 70 percent of 

 water. (Complete details concerning the preparation and use of this 

 material may be obtained from your county agricultural agent or 

 from, the State College.) Best results are obtained by applying 

 in the fall, after egg-laying has been completed and v/hen many 

 of the borers are small. The emulsion is applied at different 

 strengths for trees of different ages, the strength varying from 

 7^^ for 1 year trees to 25^ for trees 6 years old or older. Peach 

 growers in Massachusetts will do well to examine all peach trees 

 for borers this sumiaer, and if present obtain the details of this 

 promising new treatment. A local source of the materials may also 

 be obtained on request. 



Present Status of Salvaged Trees 



During the past few days the writer has visited a num- 

 ber of orchards where apple trees were damaged by the hurricane. 

 Treatment in these orchards varied from nothing at all to thorough 

 anchorage plus mulching and watering. These latter trees look 

 very promising at the present tim.e in spite of serious root break- 

 age last fall. Foliage on the injured side looks surprisingly 

 well and many of these trees are carrying a fairly good crop. In- 

 cidentally, a retentive soil type may be partially responsible. 

 In other orchards there is a distinct flifference in size and color 

 of leaves on normal trees as compared with daraaged trees. This 

 is to be expected. All of our observations show that an apple 

 tree is able to obtain its water supply from a comparatively snail 

 number of roots. There is reason to believe, however, that it 

 cannot obtain a supply of nitrogen in each branch unless it has 

 roots directly supporting each branch. The need for the develop- 

 ment of new roots in this connection is readily understood.- V/here 

 trees were mulched before the dry spell they look verj'- well, on the 

 average. Even late mulching is better than none at all. Any 

 grower with damaged trees worth salvaging is missing a good bet 

 if he fails to mulch thoroughly and generously, using whatever 



