-C 



Pnr^i-in.T "oth Sone fresh larval entrances and unhatched eggs of Codling 

 Codlr^^ot^ inlvll These should represent the last Icick-up of first brood 

 S urg^HotTfor^^h fseas;n.''Grow;rrwho applied sprays during the first .ee. of 

 miv o? early this week (July 12) should be well protected against these late . 

 hSch?ncfSst brood larlae Ld ihe final egg laying of the late eraerging moths. 



E. H. \meeler 

 ■$^ ^5- -K- rr -;(■ <- * * •»• -> <'<■ -"- -5^ '-^ ^' ^'<" ^ ■*'" 



PF,Ar. H PT?ODUCTION III '^1 SH0.7S GAINS IH RESEARCH 



(Following is an abstract of a release on this subject from the USDA} 



Science is bringing changes to the peach orchard. Although weather is still 

 the main factor in determining the size of the crop, ^-'^PJ^^^i^^^^^^,!',^"^^ 

 important advances in cultural practices, and disease and ^"^^^^ <^°f ^°i^^^^ 

 Sping to stabilize yields of high-quality fruit, purveying research gains 

 Dr. F?^P. Cullinan, assistant chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and 

 Agricultural Engineering, points out that a number of the varieties expected to 

 tike a good shoSng thil'year have come out of the Federal-State cooperative 

 breeding program within the past 7 years. 



One of the chief objectives has been to extend the production season mth 

 superior commercial varieties that ripen earlier or later than Elberta, the standard 

 m?ket pea?S! In makinp the crosses and selections from which the new varieties 

 originaredihe breeders have been guided by consumer preference for peaches with 

 bSlht-colored skins, good size, firra flesh, and sweet flavor. From the 

 Nei Jersey Station have come Jerseyland, a solid red-skinned peach ^^^h yellov. 

 flesh, thkt ripens about h to S veeks before Elberta, f ^^^^f ^f ,',f P^°SJ^^ 

 variety that ripens soon after Elberta. Goodcheer, jntroduced ^ jj;^^^' ^^^^J^, ^^ 

 about 10 days after Elberta. The fruit, medium-sized to large, ha. an attractive 

 red skin, and firm yellow flesh. 



Recent research is giving a better understanding of the effects of pruning. 

 The trend is toward less severe pruning of young trees and more cutting bacK oi 

 older trees! The findings show that trees pruned while domant produce the longest 

 Soot groJ;; and lar^es^number of flower buds per foot. But in oases ^^ere 

 weather and other factors delay the operation until after dormancy, ^he studies 

 indicate it is better to prune late - about a month after bloom if necessary - 

 than not to prune at all. 



Fruit thinning is now an established practice in the commercial poach orchard. 

 Research shows that, in general, the earlier the variety, ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^.^^^^^^^^ 

 to early thinning. Chemical blossom sprays have not been completely worked out 

 . for the peach orchard. Results with different chemicals under trial vary. Brush 

 brooms made from prunings are being used advantageously to thm blossoms on early 

 varieties in the South. They are not recommended in areas where ir°f thinning 

 i- still a possibility. Poles of various kinds are used to jar small branches 

 b^foJe Ld dSig the^une drop. In the Pacific Northv-.st some orchardists are 

 using spray equipment - a single nozzle spray gun opened to its narrowest stream- 

 to "T;ater-thin" blossoms. 



The trend is towaixi less cultivation in the peach orchard. The specialists 

 now recomiaend cover crops that can be seeded in late summer and S^°^^^^l^^°^|^, ^ ^^^ 

 winter and early spring when the cover will not compete with the trees for water and 

 nitrogen. V/here erosion is a problem, growers are advised to use mulch. 



