74 ANNUAL REPORTS or DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1953 
Tests completed in L953 show that 2,4,5-T may be used effectively 
throughout the growing season in eradicating skunk currants. Here- 
tofore, spraying operations have been delayed until ribes leaves 
reached approximately full growth. This chemical also gave excel- 
lent kills when used on cultivated flowering and wild black currants. 
Improved methods for more rapid resurvey of areas on mainte- 
nance to locate changes in forest cover, recurring ribes. and extension 
or elimination of pine areas are being studied. As part of this study, 
a State-owned plane was used in New York in 1952 to locate white 
pine stands scattered over 225 square miles of forested area. Survey 
work was complete! I in 6 hours of flying time that would have re- 
quired 6 weeks of ground activity. 
Halogeton Surveys 
The Secretary of Agriculture authorized the Bureau of Entomology 
and Plant Quarantine to make a survey to determine the distribution 
of halogeton and, through interviews with State officials, stockmen 
and others familiar with western range problems, to discover its po- 
tential as a range pest. This survey was conducted during the fall 
of 1952. The results indicated that, of the 1,800,000 acres Known to 
be infested, 1,125,000 were on lands under the jurisdiction of the Fed- 
eral Government. Its importance as a range pest appears to be closely 
associated with range and herd management practices. The survey 
indicated that, although halogeton can be controlled in certain local 
areas by reseeding or through the use of herbicides, an extensive re- 
search program is needed to determine the biological and manage- 
ment factors which will result in the suppression of halogeton in 
areas where infestation is general. It was felt that halogeton cannot 
be eradicated with control methods now known. 
Regulatory Activities To Control Phony Peach and Peach Mosaic 
Phony peach, which is considered to be one of the most serious 
diseases of peach in the Southeastern State.-, has caused the lo£ 
3 million trees. Peach mosaic, another very serious disease in the 
Southwestern States, has resulted in the destruction of nearly 400, 
trees. Direct losses attributed to these two diseases in 1952 amounted 
to $1,600,000. 
Surveys for these diseases were made in SI counties of 17 States. 
More than 354,000 trees were inspected on 8,100 properties. Phony 
pencil was found in 517 \vcv< on L8 properties, and mosaic infection in 
8,200 trees on 114 properties. 
Survey- for phony peach were also made of wild plum in 89 counties 
of n; State-, since this disease is symptomless in plum, the survey 
v. :i- made by mean- of a chemical te-t on plum twigs. More than 7. 'JO') 
twigs were tested at 300 locations. One hundred and two twig- from 
36 locations weri' found infected. The wild plum survey demon- 
strated that phony peach disease occurs in this wild host in much of 
the urea in which the disease occur-, or has occurred in peach. 
Programs for the detect ion and removal of t reee infected with either 
of these diseases were conducted in 1 1 1 counties of L3 States. Phony 
peach WBQ found in 1 1 counties in s States, and mosaic in L8 counties 
Of 6 States* Phony peach was found in more than L06,000 trees, or 
