The Ordway new era., 1906-05-04
PEACH MILDEW
pe,e,,ptlen Of the plssase and Means
Of Combating Il

ment Station.)
pesch miIdew has made It's appear
ance in n few orchards and appears W
be spreading. While no great amour, ~
of damage has yet been DONE some y.
the growers arc beginning 10 sp,ns
their trees for the control OF Inc us
ease. . A. 90 =.
The injury in Colorado 10 due 10 = :
fungus which attacks leaves ,M'ss a q
fruit alike. 1t appears on .ne iu
vh,io they are vet small and immature.
often causing them to fall prematureiy'
II. arst appearance IL indicated by
musty or frost-like patch upon the sur
face when well established. the spots
become almost pure white; the color
being due TO the mycelium and its
frni,jpr branches. which overrun the
surface upon which the fungus estap-
lisbes itself The flesh OF the fruit be-
comes hard under these spots and the
| Skin takes on n brown or dead color.
Tho anpearance upon the twig is very
much the same, It being very conspic'
uous as white blotches along inc
twirs. the underlying bark becoming
drv and brown, Where the attack IL
very severe the leaves fall, the bark
becomes shriyeled, and the young tips
often assume curved position. IL
only ,ppears on the current years
rrnwtb Il being able to establish IL.
self upon the more tender growing
parts only. on the leaves II generally
appears upon the under surface, most
promInently along the midrib as white.
irregular blotches. The attack is not
confined TO the under surface OF the
leaf. but is found there more often.
probably because strong sunlight is It's
worst enemy. The leaves become
crimpled and curled, the younger ones
near the tip often falling during Sc
we're attacks. The tissues OF the lear
are deadened. and 1t folds more or less
along the midrib, The upper surface
folding upon itself
Attacks of this fungus often injure
the fruit, in some cases almost ruin
ing the crop for market. The young
twlgs are checked in their growth. ana
sometimes killed outright, while the To-
liage is greatly reduced. II no Injury
To the crop is experienced during the
season OF attack 1t is no doubt true
that the future crops and good health
OF the tree Is at stake. Fruit buds for
the coming year cannot be developed
on halfdead twiss. poorly nourished by
a scant supply OF foliage. Neither is
the tree In shape TO withstand other
troubles to which the unhealthy peach
tree falls heir.
AS preventive measures. several OF
more or less Importance can be men
toned. As the fungus thrives best In
warm, moist and shaded location.
anything that will overcome these con
ditions might be classed as n prevent
i've. Too close planting is not recon-
In ,.ta m NJ IA
free circulation of air is shut of.
Pruning TO an open head would no
doubt be an advantage in IA
vor OF the tree. In other words. plant
and prune the orchard to favor a free
circulation of air and plenty OF sun
about and on the inside OF the tree.
Experience with other mildcws would
seem to suggest that ms preventive
measure cool soil and location be &C.
lected. Some have recommended the
planting OF varieties that seem to be
free from attack. but in this state lit
tie or no preference has been shown by
the fungus for certain varieties. The
statement has been made that the
disease seemed to be restricted to the
serrate, glandlcss-leaved varieties. but
In three lots OF infected material sent
into the station by fruit growers OF the
state two had serrate leaves and very
conspicuous glands. while the third
was serrate, glandless. II has been no.
ticed that It Is especially bad on seed
lings In infected localities. II seems
hardly necessary to take out infected
trees. rs some have recommended, but
no doubt the seedlings above men.
toned could be disposed OF at little
loss to the grower and may noticeably
check the spread OF the disease.
Peach mildew being surface
grower there is no reason why any Of
our standard fungicides might not be
employed in fighting It. A thorough
spraying. before the trees come into
bloom. with formula A or c is recon.
mended. After the blossoms have
fallen. an application Of b or ID should
be made. Follow this Mt intervals OF
ten days or two weeks with one or two
more applications of b or d. While
A and = are sometimes recommended
for use on the peach while the tree Is
In full leaf. they are liable to burn the
foliage more o. less. and though It may
not prove dangerous to the life or
health OF the tree. II IL well to give
up their use for others that are saes
as well as efhcient. Formula d ia q
modification OF the regular Bordeaux
mixture sometimes recommended for
the peach. and can be safely used upon
tho peach during the growing period.
Formula E is n very safe and effective
spray for the first application before
the leaves come out, but others given
are much more simple in preparation
aad Just as effective.
Formula A BORDEAUX Mixture)-
Copper sulphate (blue stone or blue
vitrioD, 4 lbs; quick lime, 4 lbs: water.
/ As gal.
Formula B-Copper sulphate, 2 lbs. !;
quick lime, 4 lbs: water. 45 gal.
Formula Cooper sulphate, 1 lb.; /;
water. 25 gal.
Formula D-Copper sulphate, / lb.;
water 400 gal