Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-03
j. s. EXPERTS TELL
HOW To ERADICATE
PEACH TREE BORER

FORT VALLEY, Ga, Sept. 3d.
Observation-Disclosures is the proven
successful control of the peach-tree
borer here, according to the peach
pest laboratory here, if applied
properly and at the right time as
specified in the directions below a so
to 100 per cent control may be ex-
pected. Peach growers in the
south are urged to take advantage
Of this new nrstk@S of peach borer
control and eliminate the expense
Of worming as well as the serious
injury to the trees which often re-
suit from the use Of worming tools
in the hands of careless laborers.
The chemical can be used with
safety on all peach trees five years
Of age and older. Sufficient data is
not yet in hand to permit recon-
mending the treatment to younger
trees. Young trees ranging in age
from one to six years were USED IN
1921 observation-disclosures expert
ments with the result that none
were killed; however, indications or
injury to the outside bark layers
were observed on some of the one,
two and four year old trees. No in
jury of any kind could be discerned
on the three, five, and six year old
trees nor on older trees. The young
er the tree the thinner the bark
which protects the camblum layer
of the tree from the toxic action of
the Observation-Disclosures gas.
When TO apply
Peach growers in central Georgia
are advised to use the chemical be-
tween October 10 and Is. In the ex-
IRENE northern and northeastern
part of the state apply between
October / and 5. In South Georgia
use between October Is and TO- The.
desired results cannot be expected
unless the material is applied on or
very close to the dates recommend
ed,~ and growers are cautioned to-
give careful attention to this point.
For all trees five years OF age
and older of average size, use the
full one ounce dose. One and one
quarter ounce doses should be used
on very old trees if the trunks are
unusually large. If the grower de-
cides to use the chemical on trees
younger than five years of age TAX
ing chances on possible tree injury.
it is suggested that the three
fourths ounce dose be used.
No preparation of the soil is neces-
sary except to merely break the
soil crust with a hoe to make it
smooth, and to remove any grass
or weeds. After the crust US broken
make the soil surface smooth with
the back of a shovel. Do not mound
the trees before applying the para
acknowledgements. The gas from the
chemical is much heavier than air
and any borers working in the tree
above the point where the crystal
ring is placed will not be affected by
the gas. Consequently, it is very
necessary to place the crystals at
least at the level Of the topmost
borer gallery. Should there be indi-
cations of borers working in the
tree trunk Just above the soil level.
sufficient soil should be placed
around the tree to bring the level
up above the cumming emulation
before applying the chemical.
The material should be applied in
q continuous band about one and
one-half inches wide about the tree.
Avoid placing the crystals against
the tree or too far fnom it. A ring
of crystals placed from one to one
and one-half inches from the tree
trunk, has been found to be mos
satisfactory. Several shovelfuls of
soil free from stones, sticks and
trash are then placed on the crystal
ring and packed with the back of
the shovel. This packing after the
soil is placed on the chemicals is
important in order to prevent sur
face loss Of the gas and to prepare
q mound which serves as contain.
er for the gas. This mound also
prevents surface washing Of the
crystals. Avoid pushing the crys-
tails against the tree trunk with the
first shovelfdl of soil when covtr-
ing the ring.
If the weather conditions are nor
NAL during October and November,
it will not be necessary il Georgia,
to tear down the mounds from
around the older trees four to six
weeks after treating with paradi-
Chlorobenzene as was formerly adj.
yised. However, if the tempera-
lures are unusually low or if an alb
normal precipitation occurs during
these two months it would be advis-
able, as precaution against injury,
to tear down the mounds four to six
weeks after making the application,
and do not replace the soil for sew
eral days. This would remove any
unspent crystals and allows the
remaining gas to escape. If a grow
er has decided to take chances on
the use of the chemical on young
trees, it is suggested that the
mounds around all trees under five
Years of age be torn down twenty.
eight days after applying the chemi
cal. irrespective of wecther condi-
tons.
Orchardists are strongly advised
to use only pure paradichlorobep-
zene, and when ordering specify a
grade of the fineness of granulated
sugar. According to our present
knowledge of this new means of
peach borer control successful re-
suits can be assured only with the
above chemical.