Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-28
FARM EDUCATION
Spraying Pecan Trees to Pre-.
vent Scah
BY DIR. ANDREW M. SOULE

Spraying Pecan Trees to Pre-.
vent Scab
D. J. B., Dublin, Ca, writes:
What spray must L use for my
pecan trees, and where can L
set the same? Trees bearing
some nuts, which turn black and
fail to mature. Land is deep
sandy. Also tell me about talk
ing care of my pecan trees.
There are two formulas used or
dinarily to spray pecan trees. The
first of these is arsenate OF lead. 1t
is prepared as follows: Take one
pound of powdered arsenate of lead
or two pounds of paste. Mix the
arsenate of lead with small guam
tity of water. Then take two pounds
of unslaked lime. Thoroughly Stake
it and strain into the arsenate of
lead solution. Previous to adding
the lime, increase the arsenate of
lead solution up to fifty gallons.
Keep this material thoroughly agi-
tated and apply Immediately. Arse
nate of lead is used primarily to
destroy the pecan case bearer. The
spraying should ordinarily be done
during the latter part of August or
the first of September. This is nee
essary to destroy the larvae which
may have Matched out from eggs
laid during July or probably at
later period: The pecan case bear
er is quite prevalent in southeast
Georgia, and it is necessary to pro
tect pecanS against its ravaSes by
the method of procedure indicated.
Pecan nuts are also rather COM
monty attacked by the fungous dis
AaASe known as scab. This makes
me nut turn dark, causing the husk
No harden and crack and results in
its improper development. Frequent
ly, they are shed off the trees when
only partly matured. The spray to
use against this disease is Bordeaux
mixture. 1t should be prepared as
follows:
Bluestone copper sulphate), 3 to
S pounds; lime, fresh and unslaked,
5 to 6 pounds; water, so gallons.
Dissolve the bluestone in twenty-five
gallons of water.
Since a solution of bluestone is
heavier than water, the copper sui
phate should be suspended at the
surface of the water, deep enough
to be covered. Stake the lime and
mix with twenty-five gallons of wa
ter. Pour bluestone solution and
the lime solution at the same time
through q strainer. When a large
quantity of Bordeaux is needed,
stock solutions can be made up, US
ing one pound of bluestone to a gal
Ion of water and the same ratio
with lime and water.
To improve the spreading and
sticking qualities of Bordeaux mix
ture, it is advisable to dissolve from
two to three cakes of hard soap to
each fifty gallons.
T?r making small quantities, use
~--e ounce of bluestone, two ounces
~ lime, and one gallon of water.
Spraying pecans is a rather diff
ficult undertaking because of the
size of the trees. Hence, if the
work is to be effective, it must be
thoroughly well done. A power
sprayer should be purchased and
used where one has ten or more
acres of bearing pecans to treat.
Such an outfit should possess tank
capacity of two hundred gallons of
spray material. A good pump
should, be purchased. The power
needed is probably best generated
through the agency of a gasoline
engine. Where one only has a very
few trees, a barrel spray pump may
give fairly satisfactory results
In handling pecans, it is impor-
tant to remember that the land must
be kept clear of weeds and trash
and the trees well fortified.