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(Continued from Page A3O)
dons, Travis said, are necessary for
the development of fireblight:
open flowers, wetness from rain or
heavy dew, and temperatures 62
degrees or above. Those three con
ditions can spell onset of fire
blight. Trees with blooms, espe
cially after damaging hail, need to
be treated within 24 hours with
streptomycin.
Some of the apple trees as well
as the peach trees were “frozen
petty hard,” said David Hess,
orchard manager, from the cold
weather early in April this year.
Rob Crassweller, professor of
horticulture at Penn State, pro
vided pointers on tree limb spread
ing and correct pruning techniques
to achieve maximum fruit produc
tion. It is important, Crassweller
noted, for growers to “spend some
time when the tree’s young” in
using limb spreaders and “any-
Carl Felland, entomologist, left and Mike
Hampshire.
ippife. ppoi
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thick. The poles are supported over
head by a high tensile fence wire linked
to telephone poles.
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thing you can do to slow the top
down a little bit.”
Crassweller also reviewed the
effectiveness of a variety of com
mercial fruit thinning chemicals
available for the grower.
Carl Felland, entomologist with
Penn State’s Fruit Research and
Extension Center in Biglerville,
told growers to treat trees for Euro
pean red mites at petal fall.
Felland provided information
on the efficiency of insecticides on
a variety of tree fruit pests for
apples and peaches. Data were
obtained from the ‘Tree Fruit Pro
duction Guide.”
Felland also looked at apple
trees for evidence of mites, and
found 10 mites for 10 plants, on
average, he inspected Thursday at
Hampshire Orchards. This is not
over the threshold but needs to
be watched closely as the season
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progresses.
For peach growers, the grei
peach aphid could pose a problei
especially on nectarines, whf
could result in cracked a
unmarketable fruit if not kept.
check with a spraying program,
Unfortunately, there is no “excel
lent” material for use against'
aphid, Felland noted.
“We would like to see a beti
material for this insect,” s
Felland
The flower thrips that were v
in force to damage strawberries
couple of years ago are not in e'
dence this year. It could be a m.
mal year for most strawberry
fields.
Earlier on, David Hess provided
a review of a homemade rope
peach thinner as well as some
modifications to pruning
equipment.
Also, the sprayer at Hampshire
Orchards was recently converted
to an all-electrical system.
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could destroy trees. In one location, with apples on M 26
rootstock, the tree swayed easily. Travis dug down to the
trunk collar to examine evidence that would cause the
loosely swaying tree. One of three factors could be present,
Including firebllght (M 26 rootstock Is highly susceptible),
collar rot (caused by a fungus in wet soil that literally travel
through the water), or mouse damage (which can attack the
girdles down into the roots of the tree). Growers need to dig
down along the side of the trunk to look for evidence of one
of those three If they suspect damage.
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