35 



as the petals fall, beginning when thev are two-thirds off; (3) 

 three to four weeks later; and (4) nine to ten weeks after the 

 petals have been shed. The first application may be omitted from 

 varieties like York Imperial which do not suffer seriously from 

 scab. 



AMiere it is necessary to spray for bitter rot the first three 

 applications outlined above should be followed bv two or three ap- 

 plications of Bordeaux mixture at intervals of two weeks, begin- 

 ning about Tune 25 to July i. 



II. Self-Boiled Lime-Sulphur Mixture for Peach Diseases. 



Owing to the susceptibilitv of peach foliage to injury by appli- 

 cations of fungicides, the peach grower has been practically power- 

 less to combat the diseases aft'ecting the fruit and foliage. The use 

 of Bordeaux mixture has been frequently attempted and in some 

 cases,, especially in dry seasons, the results have been satisfactory, 

 but as a rule the injury produced by this and other copper fungi- 

 cides is so great as to prohibit their use on the peach. 



The eft'orts of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 during the past few years, to develop and perfect a satisfactory 

 fungicide for use on the peach during the growing season, have 

 been crowned with unusual success. A\'e have found that a prepa- 

 ration known as the self-boiled lime-sulphur mixture can be safely 

 and successfully used on the peach for the control of brown-rot 

 and scab or black spot. The mixture, when properly applied, con- 

 trols these diseases almost completely and does not injure the fruit 

 or foliage. 



The experiments have been conducted in Georgia, Virginia, 

 A\'est \^irginia, Arkansas, ^Jissouri and Illinois, and in every case 

 the treatment was successful. During the past year mau}^ fruit 

 growers in Georgia, West A'irginia, and other sections, sprayed 

 their orchards with the mixture, and so far no adverse reports of 

 results have been received. So far as it has been tried the treat- 

 ment appears to have been universally successful in controlling 

 both peach scab and brown-rot. 



Arsenate of lead may be added to the mixture for the control 

 of the curculio, which not only produces wormy fruit, but increases 

 the brown-rot infections by puncturing the skin and opening the 

 way for the fungus. This insect occurs in destructive numbers in 

 nearly all eastern peach orchards and in most cases where spraying 

 with the self-boiled lime-sulphur for scab and brown-rot is done, 

 arsenate of lead should be added. 



Preparation of the Mixture. — To prepare self-boiled lime- 

 sulphur, use 8 lbs. of fresh stone lime and 8 lbs. of sulphur to each 

 50 gallons of water. In order to get good action from the lime 

 the mixture should be prepared in rather large quantities, say 

 enough for at least 200 gallons at a time, making the formula 32- 

 32-200. Place the lime in a barrel or tub and pour on enough 

 water to almost cover it, then add the sulphur. Stir thoroughly 

 while the lime is slaking and add more water if necessarv to make 

 a creamy paste. The slaking of the lime and the stirring will make 



