Fig. 23.—Forty-three-year-old Languedoc almonds on peach root, near Davis. This orchard has not been thoroughly cultivated or irrigated. Mites have largely defoliated the trees. See contrast in [Fig. 24].
The brown mite may be controlled satisfactorily by means of a dormant spray of lime-sulphur solution, 1 gallon to 10 gallons of water, applied just before the buds open in the spring. Crude oil emulsion as a dormant spray is also effective, if thoroughly applied over the entire tree under high pressure. This also applies to applications of the lime-sulphur spray.
During the growing season a milder material must be used. Dry dust sulphur, using only the very finest grade of “flowers of sulphur,” is often very effective, provided weather conditions are satisfactory, but generally this must be applied a number of times if best results are to be obtained. The work is done by blowing the sulphur dust into the tree with blowers in the early morning when there is little or no wind.
A more satisfactory method is the use of “Atomic sulphur” or other sulphur pastes or similar material. “Atomic sulphur” is a prepared spray whose value consists in the fact that the sulphur is held in suspension in water so that it may be applied as a liquid spray. By this method the material may be more effectively and thoroughly applied. “Atomic sulphur” is applied at the rate of 10 pounds to 100 gallons of water.
Fig. 24.—Forty-three-year-old Languedoc almonds on peach root, near Davis. This orchard has been irrigated and thoroughly cultivated, and mites have not defoliated the trees. Note contrast in [Fig. 23].
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.