Smyrna times., 1931-04-29
SMYRNA VINEYARDS LOOKING
FORWARD TO BETTER SEASON
THEY ARE ADVISED TO TAKE
CARE OF DORMANT SPRAY"
Russell e. Wilson, Kent County
Agent, Gives Grape Culturists
Some Advice on "Black Rot"

Agent, Gives Grape Culturists
Some Advice on "BIack Rot"
Smyrna vineyardists are still
hopeful for a better year in grapes
this year and are spraying their
vineyards and preparing for the
season which they hope will not
only be one of good yield but bet
ter prices will prevail. Last sea-
son was most disappointing in this
respect due to the drought as well
as the market conditions. This
year our grape culturists look for
more profitable crops and if frosts
do not nip the buds and all other
conditions will favor the growth
and development of fruit there
should be better year. To this
end Russell E. Wilson. Kent Coun-
ty Agricultural Agent, is cooperat-
ing in the matter of sprays for
black rot and other diseases. THE
delayed dormant spray for grape
vineyards" he says, lis one of the
most important and effective
sprays for the control of anthrac-
nose, black rot and dead-arm dis
eases. This should be applied when
the new growth is about one-half
inch in length since these diseases
start to shoot spores at this stage
of vine growth, according to the
advice which has been sent recently
in the form of mimeographed
letter from the office of county
agent Russell E. Wilson to all the
grape growers in the central part
of the state where the majority of
the commercial vineyard acreage
is located. For this delayed dor
mant application the growers have
( been advised to use the 12-12-100
I formula for Bordeaux mixture,
which consists Of II pounds of
bluestone and IL pounds Of lime to
100 gallons of water. 1t is very
essential that this spray be applied
under good pressure in order that
the new growth may be thorough
ly covered with a fine mist as a
protection against infection from
any tcarry-over" diseases that
may be present on the old wood.
In making a study of these fung
Gus diseases in the laboratory at
the Delaware experiment station,
DR.. I. F. Manns, plant pathologist
ard ea;1 Observation-Disclosures found that
they start to discharge their spores
during the period when the new
vine growth is about one-half inch
in length, resulting to the neces-
sity of growers keeping the new
wood completely covered with the
Bordeaux spray to prevent a pos
sible reinfection from this source.
The second spray, which is known
as the cluster-break, should be ap-
piled when the new shoots are
from to 6 inches loing, or about
two weeks after the delayed dor
mant spray. For this application,
as well as for the predecessor, af-
ter-blossom, and Today sprays, the
growers are advised to use. the g.
12-100 formula Bordeaux mixture
which calls for 6 pounds of blue
stone and II pounds of lime to
each 100 gallons of water. Start
ing with the predecessor spray, 4
pounds of powdered arsenate of
lead and / pint Of fish oil should be
added to each 100 gallons of Bor-
deaux for the control of the grape
berry moth, leaf-folder, root worm
and rose bug. In addition to these
materials, / pint of nicotine sui
phate should be added to each 100
gallons of spray in the Today ap-
pncation as a control measure for
the leaf-hoppers which in some
seasons are very troublesome in
many of the vineyards. Those
grape growers who are not receiv-
ing this sprayDservice are request
ed to get in touch with the county
extension Office in Dover where
their names will be placed on the
mailing list to receive these spray
notices and other information in
regard to grape culture"