12 



2. Do not apply more than 1-1/2 pts/acre of Promalin. 



3. Do not apply Promalin when the temperature exceeds 85°F. 

 Excessively warm temperatures may increase the thinning 

 response without a corresponding increase in the shape re- 

 spons e . 



4. Do not apply Promalin on young trees. A good rul e-o f- thumb 

 is not to apply this growth regulator on any tree until 



it is bearing heavily enough to consider chemical thinning. 



5. Apply Promalin as soon as weather permits after opening of 

 the king blossom. This is earlier than we have suggested 

 in the past. It is our feeling that the reduced leaf sur- 

 face at this earlier timing may reduce the possibility of 

 thinning . 



6. The addition of surfactants or spreader stickers increases 

 both the fruit shape and thinning response to Promalin. 



7. Our thinning trial in which an application of Sevin followed 

 Promalin usage was not conclusive. It is possible that no 

 thinner is needed on Promalin- treated trees. Therefore, we 

 urge you to carefully assess the need of Sevin prior to its 

 use . 



8. Leave a few untreated and representative trees in the Promalin- 

 treated block. Initial fruit, subsequent drop and fruit 

 shape are never constant from year to year. Therefore, the 

 only way to accurately assess the performance of Promalin 



in your orchard is to leave a few untreated trees in the same 

 block to indicate what would have happened in the absence 

 of the Promalin spray. 



********** 



SOIL MANAGEMENT OF PEACH TREES 



Wi lliam J . Lord 

 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



Peach trees withstand grass and weed competition during sum- 

 mers of inadeuqate rainfall less successfully than do apple 

 trees. We found in a study of 6-year duration that even though 



