-5- 



In most past seasons, a small percent of the scab ascopores were 

 ready for discharge, in some orchards at least, at the delayed dormant bud 

 stage (^ - 3 inch green tip). Our records over the past sixteen years in- 

 dicate that this situation is not dangerous, even in Mcintosh, because under 

 such conditions scab infections either do not occur or are quite unimportant. 

 Hov/ever, if ascospore development is abnormally advanced, v/ith possible 

 heavy discharge during that bud stage, it is advisable to include a copper 

 fungicide or Fermate in the oil spray, particularly if tha* spray is applied 

 at the late delayed dormant stage. Enough Bordeaux powder, or a neutral 

 copper fungicide, is added to give two pounds of metallic copper to 100 

 gallons of the oil spray, or 1-g- pounds of Fermate may be used. 



As has been emphasized time and again this v^^inter, this is one of 

 the seasons occasionally encountered when it is considered highly advisable 

 for many apple growers to apply a ground spray of Elgetol (-g- to 1 gal. in 

 100 gals.) to reduce to a minimum the unusually heavy carryover of the scab 

 fungus before very many of the ascospores reach maturity. This spray should 

 be applied so as to wet all of the old leaves on the orchard floor including 

 those along the borders, and at the rate of 500 to 600 gallons per acre. 

 Any time now through the delayed dormant stage would be appropriate for the 

 Elgetol spray, although care should be taken to avoid its drifting to the 

 green leaf tips. Such a spray would not only eliminate the need for a fun- 

 gicide in the delayed dormant oil spray on the trees, but it v/ould permit 

 the grower to proceed with his regular sur.imer spray program vdth much more 

 confidence in his effort and ability to prevent scab infections than would 

 be the case if the huge, initial supply of scab spores were present. 



This sane spray of Elgetol may be used to advantage on the floor of 

 the peach and plum orchard for brown rot control, and of the vineyard for 

 black rot. However, the spray should be prepared at l^o concentration. 



— 0. C Boyd 



Yjm SOIvIE APPLE TREES GROyf TOO TALL 



Abnormal height in an apple tree may be due to one or more of the 

 following causes: (1) crov/ding from closely adjacent trees, (2) lack of 

 production, (3) two or more "leaders," (4) unwise heading back of top, and 

 (5) variety. These five factors are arranged in approximately a descending 

 order of importance. Let's examine them separately. 



(1) The closely planted orchard v/ith its gradual loss of lower limbs, 

 results in tall, trees because they are continually trying to overtop their 

 neighbors to maintain their "place in the sun." In other v/ords, the trees 

 must grov/ upward because they can't grov/ in any other direction. Nearby 

 buildings or shade trees have a similar effect. 



(2) A good spray prograr.i tends to develop a drooping type of tree. 

 The downward pull of 10 bushels of apples brings many of the branches to a 

 horizontal position or lower, while a peck of apples on the same tree would 

 permit the branches to grov/ upward. The average backyard tree is tall 

 partly because it lacks this earthward pull. 



