DISEASE CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19098, 20 August 1936, Page 6

DISEASE CONTROL

HOUSEHOLD ORCHARDS A DVT C E ON STRAYING The control of pests and diseases in fruit trees is n matter that requires the immediate attention of all who wish to produce good crops of clean fruit during the coining season. The 'Government orchard' instructor at Gisborne, -Mr. P. Everett, has supplied the following notes, which are designed to assist the household orehnrdist:

Most apple trees are infested with one or more insect pests such as red-mite, mealy-bug, and scale insects, although in very many instances the inexperilenced eye of the amateur gardener does not delect such minute pests. These pests suck certain substances from the foliage and young growth and thereby defoliate the tree. The most effective means of controlling them is to spray the trees thoroughly with red oil emulsion at a strength of one part of oil to 15 parts of soft water. This spray must be applied before the earliest blossom buds open, the present being a suitable time to make tins application. The common leaf-curl on peaeli and nectarine trees can only be controlled by spraying before the blossom buds become fully open, and on certain varieties this stage of growth has been reached. However, in many eases it is not yet too late to apply this spray, for if only a. small percentage of the blossoms are fully opened, there need be no hesitation in making the application. Also, all plum trees should be sprayed as early as possible for the control of: bladder-plum disease. The most effective; spray to apply for the control of these fungus diseases is Bordeaux mixture. The following strength is recommended: .Bluestone, 60/... hydrated, or quick, lime, 80/.., water, four gallons. Tliis winter application of Bordeaux mixture on peach, nectarine and plum trees also assists very appreciably in the! control of brown rot. by killing the mycelium of the consul fungi which overwinters in bark crevices and dead twigs. The first application should be made within the next few days, and for later flowering varieties if is advisable to repeat the application about one week later.