-2- 



Three Four Total to 



Jan. Fob . Mar , months Apr . May June July months Aug. 1 



Normal T761 3.19 3.70 10.50 3.35 3.60 3.75 4.10 14.80 25.30 



1945 3.07 3.33 2.16 8.56 5.43 6.45 7.67 7.36 26.91 35.47 



During the first three months of the year precipitation was prac- 

 tically two inches below normal. In April the heavens opened and have been 

 "pouring it on" ever since. Tho excess for April through July has been 12.11 

 inches, making the excess for the seven months of 1945 10.17 inchos. 



This heavy rainfall, together with hot, humid weather during June and 

 July, has made the control of many diseases on both fruits and vegetables very 

 difficult. This has been the worst apple scab season in years. Orchards which 

 vrero not frequently and thoroughly sprayed are heavily infected. Also carry- 

 over for next year will be heavy. Brovm rot of peaches and plums has been 

 severe, particularly on susceptible varieties. The mummy berry disease of 

 blueberries, a very close relative of the brovm rot of peaches and plums, has 

 been unusually severe on both wild and cultivated berries. Because of this 

 disease and the depredations by birds, tho College blueberry crop will be far 

 belovf early estimates. 



A good raspberry crop was in prospect but tho repeated rains caused 

 many berries to mold on the bushes or to become soft and v/orthless. 



Several unusually heavy rains during June and July have made insect 

 control more difficult by washing off arsenicals soon after they were applied. 

 This has been especially true of codling moth control during July. 



Because of the light crop and abundant moisture apples are sizing up 

 more rapidly than nonnal. The prospect is for many over sized ones of poor 

 keeping quality. 



— J. S. Bailey 



KILL THE CHOKECHERRIES 



If you are growing peaches and don't want the X-Disease, get rid of 

 the chokecherries . Novj- is a good time to do it with a weed killing spray. 

 The X-disease, or Yellow-Red Virosis, is a virus disease which spreads read- 

 ily from chokecherry to peach but not so easily from peach to peach. There- 

 fore it is very important to eliminate all chokecherries within 200 feet 

 of a peach orchard. 



The chokecherry is a very persistent thing and will sprout from any 

 pieces of root left in the ground. Attempts to get rid of it by mowing or 

 digging are ineffective. The surest means is a weed killing spray. 



New weed sprays have been put on the market recently and mtHI probably 

 bo made available next year. Although several of these are being tried at 

 the College, it is too early to draw any conclusions. From past oxporience, 

 tho t^z-po of material containing ammonium sulfamato appears to be most ef- 

 fective. It should bo used according to the manufacturer's directions, 



— J. S. Bailey 



