1. Keep soil on the dry side. 



2. Avoid overcrowding, excessive shade, too-deep planting, and overwatering- -especially 

 with nitrogen. 



5. Water seedlings at 5- to 7-day intervals with ferbam or ziram 76-percent wettable 



powder (2-1/2 level tablespoons per gallon of water); or use captan, thiram, zineb, or 

 folpet (all 50- to 76 -percent WP) at the rate of 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons per gallon. 

 Apply about 1/2 pint per square foot of bed surface, using a watering can or coarse 

 sprinkler. 



4. Be sure to buy and plant only top-quality seed that has been treated with a protectant 

 fungicide (such as captan or thiram). The seedbed soil should naturally be well- 

 prepared, deep, and well-drained. 



SPRAYING FRUITS TO CONTROL DISEASE 



The present period- -from the bud-swelling to early bloom stage- -is a critical time in con- 

 trolling a wide range of fruit diseases --including apple scab, powdery mildew, and cedar 

 rusts; peach- leaf curl and plum pockets ( buds must still be dormant or the treatment is too 

 late); brown rot blossom blight of stone fruits; strawberry leaf diseases; anthracnose and 

 spur blight of brambles; and grape black rot. Suggested spray schedules are given in 

 Circular 936 Pest Control in Commercial Fruit Plantings , Fruit Leaflet No. 1 Strawberry 

 Spray and Dust Guide, and Circular 935 Growing Small Fruits in the Home Garden. Copies 

 may be obtained from the Office of Agricultural Publications, 123 Mumford Hall, Urbana 

 61801. 



Captan is the best all-around fungicide for fruits, especially for the home fruit grower. 

 It is widely sold in multipurpose fruit-spray and dust mixes that can be applied to prac- 

 tically all fruits. If powdery mildew is a problem, Karathane or sulfur can be added to 

 the captan. If rusts are important, add thiram, zineb, or maneb to the mix. 



Dikar is a new fungicide for the commercial apple grower. It is sold by Rohm $ Haas and 

 is a mixture of their Dithane M-45 and Karathane. It has been highly effective in con- 

 trolling scab, powdery mildew, and rust diseases. 



NEW SOIL DISINFESTATION CIRCULAR 



Soil is treated by heat or chemicals to destroy disease-causing organisms (including 

 nematodes), insects, and weed seeds in the soil. The process eliminates the need to change 

 soil in greenhouses, cold frames, hot beds, and other plant beds. A complete, up-to-date 

 discussion of this subject is given in a revised Circular 893, Soil Disinfestation Methods 

 and Materials. Copies may be obtained from your County Extension Office or by writing to 

 the Office of Agricultural Publications, 123 Mumford Hall, Urbana 61801. 



PUMPS FOR FIELD-SPRAYING 



The roller pump is still the one most-commonlv used because of its low cost and avail- 

 ability! The principal complaint against the roller pump is that the rollers wear rapidly, 

 especially when used for pumping suspensions of wettable powders. Generally, the capacity 

 of the roller pump can be restored by replacing the rollers, if the housing is not severely 

 damaged. However, much of the wear or damage to the pump may be caused by the way it is 

 used and stored. 



