Leaf Curl of Peaches

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23127, 27 August 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Leaf Curl of Peaches

Failure to spray at the correct time will undoubtedly result in a serious defoliation of the peach trees bv leaf curl. The new growth of leaves rna.y, however, be facilitated by a light application of a quick-acting nitrogenous fertiliser such as nitrate of soda. The leaf curl is readily controlled by spraying, with either Bordeaux mixture or lime sulphur at winter strength, but the most important point is that the trees must be sprayed during the dormant period—in late winter, just as the buds begin to swell. Later applications are of absolutely no value in the control of this disease. It is rarely necessary to make more than one application of spray, but in districts where cool moist weather is usually experienced in spring, two applications may bo .given—one before the buds swell, and the other when the flower buds are showing colour. Bordeaux mixture has been found more effective than lime sulphur under conditions which favour extensive development of the disease, livery effort should be made to ensure that the spray reaches all portions of the tree, and particularly tho extremities of small limbs and twigs.