114 DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. 



In this article Mr. Phillips concludes: 



We were not able to give enough time to the work to have the trees pruned more 

 than once, but the success of this pruning indicates that the trouble can be prevented 

 almost entirely by judicious pruning. Indiscriminate pruning, by an ordinary laborer, 

 is not, however, likely to produce beneficial results. 



This work costs but very little in excess of the regular pruning, as both can be done 

 at the same time. 



The first pruning should be done about the middle of June. 



In order to make it entirely effective, a second pruning should be given a few weeks 

 after the first. 



Where this attack occurs in peach trees that are not growing rapidly, the pruning 

 should be supplemented by a dressing of nitrate of soda to promote growth. 



Good drainage will likely prevent the trouble in a large measure. 



As stated on page 108, pruning out the laterals from the injured 

 trees, thus forcing one of the more terminal shoots, was followed the 

 past season by a Maryland nursery company with good results. 

 The pruning method would appear to be of considerable benefit, and to 

 a large extent this special work may be combined with the usual 

 necessary prunings required in growing trees of this kind. In loca- 

 tions where the mites are likely to be troublesome a lookout should 

 be kept for their injury to the plants in the spring. The tips of the 

 lateral shoots should be pinched off, except the first strong lateral 

 below the injured point, which it is desired to force ahead as much 

 as possible. 



A thorough application of a suitable spray to the infested trees, 

 especially during the period of attack in late spring, should be of 

 decided value, though the writer knows of no actual work of this 

 kind having been done. At this time the mites are on the trees in 

 numbers, and by thorough spraying many of them should be killed. 

 A contact spray such as kerosene emulsion or whale-oil-soap solution 

 should be effective, and especially the self-boiled lime-sulphur wash. 

 Most observers agree that the mite is more prevalent on trees on low 

 situations. While the writer has noted exceptions to tins condition, 

 it seems for the most part to be true. Planting trees on higher situa- 

 tions where the soil is well drained would perhaps be advantageous 

 in localities where the mite has come to be quite troublesome. 



