Smyrna times., 1932-03-02
FRUIT SITUATION REPORTED
BETTER THAN FORMER YEARS
ORCHARDS ARE AHEAD WITH
PRUNING WORK AND GROWTH
only Killing Frosts At Budding Is
Feared; Growers Urged to Use
Orchard Spray Treatments

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Feared; Growers Urged to Use
Orchard Spray Treatments
The orchard spray service pro-
gram which was inaugerated six
years ago for the benefit of the
fruit growers throughout the state,
will be continued again this COM
ing season under the direction of
DR.. j. F. Adams, plant pathologist
OF the University of Delaware and
the State Board of Agriculture,
and the first edition of the 1882
orchard spray notes for the grow
ers in Kent county have been mail
ed from the Office of county agent
Russell E. Wilson. In comment
ing upon the fruit situation in gen
eral, DR.. Adams states that the
favorable weather this winter has
made it possible for fruit growers
to be farther ahead with their
pruning than they have been in
former years, and that plant
growth in general is much more
advanced than has been observed
for years in this section of the
country. In view of the difficult
season through which the fruit
growers passed last year with a
large crop and a restricted public
buying power, every grower should
seriously consider every practical
phase of economy which may be
put into practice during the COM
ing year, and one method of meet
ing this situation would be to re-
move all Improbable varieties to
reduce the expenses of pruning and
spraying such trees. There seems
to be the opinion that short fruit
crop may be expected this year,
although the late season and dry
weather conditions of 1881 were
favorable for fruit bud formation.
Healthier Orchards, Better Crops
Considering that the 1882 fruit
crop would be equal to so percent
Of the crop of 1881, and if business
conditions should improve, there is
every reason to believe that fruit
growers who give their orchards
the necessary care this year will
be in a better position financially
than they have been in the past.
In the spray program for this sea
son peach trees will be the first to
be considered, for the earlier the
peach buds start to swell the earl
ier it is necessary to apply the
spray for the control of leaf curl.
Both leaf curl and scab showed the
heaviest development the past sea
son that has been noted for years, /
and this condition favors heavy
overwintering for infection this
spring. Where leaf curl infection
in paintings last year the
growers are advised to use the
commercial lime sulphur spray at .
the dilution of l to Is, which will .
also check the scab infection on
the twigs. If red mite and scale +
are prevalent, it is suggested that
an oil spray be applied according
10 commercial recommendations in
with a fungicide. This
spray may be applied at any time
1ow with favorable weather and
conditions, but eau
ion should be taken to not spray
n face Of freezing temperatures.
Control for the Curculio
Peach growers in Kent are also
,eing advised to take advantage
If a dry period during early March
o burn over woodlands and waste
ields for a distance of from 200
q 300 yards from their orchards
IS a sanitary control measure for
he curculio. Extreme precaution
hould be exercised, however, in ]
ollowing this practice in order to
prevent forest fires.