Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-25
PEACH GROWERS
MUST FIGHT SCALE

FORT VALLEY, Ga, Oct. e.
Numerous observations made in va
rious parts of the Georgia peach
belt recently by the U. S. depar
ment of agriculture to determine the
present San Jose scale infestation in
peach orchards revealed the fact
that the insect is apparently more
abundant this fall than usual. The
'tcrawlers," or young of the insect,
were observed to be quite numerous
in many sections of the peach belt,
and especially in the Fort Valley dis
trict. These craWlers are the prog
epy Of adults that lived through the
past winter.
The large number Of adults that
probably survived the winter of
1920-21 and the abundance Of young
at present may be the result of sew
eral causes. Last winters spraying
Job for the scale may have been care
! less, or not thoroughly applied to all
branches of the trees; someNgrowers
may have been careless with scale
infested limbs removed while prun-
ing; the parasites which usually as
sist in controlling the scale may have
been few; and the mild winter prob
ably assisted the insects develop
ment. Furthermore, the weather
conditions have been unusually faV-
orable for the development Of thu
progeny Of last winters adults dur
ing the past summer. It is well
established fact that satisfactory
scale control cannot be attained
without thorough and careful spray
ing during the dormant period of
the tree.
Heavier Than Normal
| Nevertheless, the San Jose scale
infestation this fall is apparently
heavier than normal in the Georgia
peach belt, and all peach growers
are warned to make a special effort
to see that the winter scale spray
is thoroughly and carefully applied.
The scale works very fast on peach
trees, and little time is required for
an incrusted infestation to cause the
death of a tree. The insect is pro-
vided with a threadlike beak for
piercing the tree and through which
sap is taken into the body as food.
Not only does this insect damage the
tree by the extraction Of sap, but
the piercing of the bark by the slen-
der beak often causes a diseased con-
ditiOn of the. wood, and gum can be
seen eXuding from cracks in the
bark as result.
| If the scale infeStation is heavy,
growers are advised to make two ap.
locations of the line-sulphur solu
ton or other scale during the winter
months with sprays. If the LIQUID
lime-sulphur concentrate tests from
80 degrees to "a degrees Baume, ii
should be used on the trees at a rate
OF one part Of the concentrate to
eight parts Of water. Where only
one application is necessary, it is
probably best to apply it some time
during November, as fall applications
} appear to have some advantages
over spring applications in the south
Foliage Should Be Off
The fall scale spray should not
however, be applied before the tree
has defoliated, as the removal OF
foliage before the normal time fox
the tree to defoliate, by either spray
material or pruning, is a devitaliz
ing process. A great deal Of sum.
the Georgia peach belt during the
past several months, which is a very
bad practice, due to the fact that the
portion of the branches which are
removed with their foliage removes
from the tree a very considerable
part of it's food celebrating ma.
chinery, which is still in active oper-
alton. This reduces the working
[ n w nf hn 70
and consequently reduces the devolp-
ment OF the crop Of next year on ac-
count of the fruit buds not being
properly nourished. Furthermore,
summer pruning is not desirable on
account of the blossom and leaf buds
being unduly forced into growth if
the late summer or early autumn is
warm. This is one reason why so
many blooms have been noticed in
orchards during the past month, and
the abnormal operating of these
buds reduces the 1922 crop prospect.
This practice should certainly be
branded as detrimental, rather
than beneficial, process.
Winter Pruning
1t is quite desirable to complete
the winter pruning before the scale
spray is applied, since a more thor
ough job of spraying can be done and
quite a quantity of spray material
will be moved however, if the scale
infestation is severe, do not wait un
til the trees are pruned before spray
ing, but make an application shortly
after the leaves fall, in order to
check the insect as soon as possible.
If the pruning is done before the
winter spray is applied. do not al
low the prunings to remain on the
ground, as many scale insects are
carried through the winter on prun-
ings that are neglected. Pick up all
limbs and twigs Immediately after
pruning, and burn. Many growers
have allowed prunings to remain in
the orchard for months after they
| rzro,.o n,1t x1rhink is a VERY had and