43 



spraying, but the application must be made early before the 

 buds start into growth in the spring. 



Scab affects some varieties more than others, Greensboro 

 being especially susceptible. It is readily recognized through 

 the appearance of black spots" over the surface of the fruit. 

 The usual spraying program will ordinarily prevent the disease. 



There are other diseases that sometimes cause damage, but 

 these are the most common and serious in Massachusetts. 

 Their prevention by spraying will be discussed later. 



_ 4. Insects. 



The toll taken by insects is serious, but by care and watch- 

 fulness their ravages may be held in check. While there are 

 a great many insects feeding on the peach, only three are 

 deemed important enough to find mention in this brief dis- 

 cussion. 



Borers work just beneath the bark on the tree trunk, below 

 and a little above the ground. Their presence is indicated by 

 the appearance of masses of a brownish jelly-like material, 

 commonly at the surface of the ground. The only satisfactory 

 remedy is to dig them out. Go over the trees in the fall, 

 and, if the insects are abundant, again in the spring. Dig 

 away the soil 5 or 6 inches deep and go over the bark care- 

 fully. Dig out the "worms" and kill them. Put back the 

 soil and do it all over the next year. 



Various protective and repellant materials have been tried 

 for borers, but while they may decrease the number of borers, 

 nothing has been devised yet that will remove the necessity 

 of digging them out. Heaping up a mound of earth 6 or 8 

 inches about the trunk of the tree in late June, forcing the 

 insects to locate where they are more accessible, is as helpful 

 as anything. Liberal fertilization with nitrate of soda to 

 promote vigorous growth will help the trees to overcome 

 borer injury. 



The San Jose scale is found on peach as well as other fruit 

 trees. Formerly it was very destructive, but now it does 

 serious damage only in neglected orchards. Nevertheless, one 

 should watch for the ashy-gray scurfy appearance on the 



