The Almond in CaliforniaTaylor, R. H. (Ralph Hawley)
Science
The Almond in California
Taylor, R. H. (Ralph Hawley)
Almond -- California
The use of lime-sulphur, the commercial strength of 33 to 34 degrees
Beaumé being diluted 1 part to 35 parts water, is another effective
method. For such use a flour paste may be added at the rate of 4 gallons
to each 100 gallons of the spray mixture to act as a spreader. This paste
is made by cooking one pound of flour with enough water to make one
gallon of the mixture.
The yellow mite (_Tetranychus telarius_) is much smaller than the brown
mite and is of a pale yellow color with occasionally a reddish tinge and
sometimes with two darker spots on either side of the body. Unlike the
brown mite, the winter is spent in concealment somewhere, presumably
off the tree. During the warm days of early summer, generally in June,
the mite makes its appearance on the trees, spinning a fine web on the
leaves, generally on the upper surface, and then works under this web.
The mite sucks the plant juices from the leaves giving them a yellowish
mottled appearance. These leaves soon die and drop to the ground. In
serious infestations the trees are often almost completely defoliated by
the end of August. (See figure 22.)
The use of dormant sprays is not effective for controlling the yellow
mite, but the summer sprays mentioned above are all satisfactory, and for
best results, must be applied under high pressure, preferably 200 pounds
or more.
The mites are much easier controlled where a comparatively high
percentage of moisture is kept in the soil by frequent cultivations, or,
if necessary, by irrigation (figures 23 and 24).
_Peach Twig Borer_ (_Anarsia lineatella_).—In the larval stage these
borers work on the young buds and shoots in the early spring. They
are especially troublesome in newly planted orchard trees when a
comparatively small number may kill most of the new shoots which are
needed to make the desired framework of the tree. In some years they may
be serious in large trees also. Dormant spray of lime-sulphur applied
under high pressure just as the buds are opening in the spring will
control the borers very effectively. This same spray may be used to
control the brown mite, thereby accomplishing double control.
_California Peach Borer_ (_Ægeria opalescens_).—The larvae are serious in
many parts of the state where they burrow just under the bark near the
surface of the ground. They may be detected by the small bits of frass
and gum at the entrance of their burrows. If allowed to continue, they
will eventually girdle the tree.
The surest means of control is to dig out the worms with a knife or kill
them with a wire probe. This work should be done systematically once
or twice every year and very thoroughly if it is to be effective. The
application of hot “Flotine” or asphaltum, grade D, after the worms are
killed should help considerably to prevent the entrance of the larvae. To
be effective it must be applied at least twice a year on young trees and
probably the same on old trees.
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