- 8 - 



Among the numerous host plants, those which are near the flower- 

 ing stage are preferred. Hence a continuous succession of plants 

 are attacked as they reach the favorable stage. These pests rarely 

 breed on fruit trees; their activities on these hosts are apparently 

 restricted primarily to feeding. 



The life cycle from egg to adult is completed in 3 to 4 weeks. 

 In New England, there are several generations per year and the bugs 

 may become numerous late in the season. Controls are aimed at the 

 early overwintering forms, however, due to the nature of damage 

 which they inflict on the young developing fruit buds. 



In pear orchards where plant bugs are a problem, use Guthion* 

 or Gardona* in the pre-blossom spray and again in the petal-fall 

 spray. Apple trees should be treated at the late half-inch-green 

 or up-to-pink stage with the same materials. 



In the 1972 Apple Fruit Spray Guide, tarnished plant bugs 

 were first mentioned under the pink spray; however, they can be a 

 problem earlier if periods of high temperatures occur and treat- 

 ments may be necessary through the petal-fall spray. 



*Trade name 



*************** 



POMOLOGICAL PARAGRAPH 



Central Leader Trees : The Extension Pomologist is of the opinion 

 that central leader trees being advocated in other areas for high 

 density plantings differ little from the modified central leader 

 trees suggested for our apple orchards in Massachusetts for many 

 years. However, there is greater emphasis on the following as- 

 pects of training young trees for high density plantings. 



1. Use of mechanical 

 into a horizontal 



devices to spread scaffold branches 

 posi tion . 



Heading scaffold branches (removal 

 year-old wood) to stiffen them and 

 growth . 



of a portion of one- 

 to promote lateral 



3. Heading of the central leader to produce lateral growth 

 if no lateral branching has occurred. 



Our biggest challenge is maintaining a central leader on trees 

 with size-control rootstocks because (l)being weaker growing than 

 those on seedling roots, the presence of excessive scaffold limbs 

 more readily stunt the growth of the leader above them and (2)early 

 fruiting on the leader reduces its vigor and its dominance. 



*************** 



