Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs Tommy Irvin, Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's Hotline at 1-800- 282-5852.

Consumer Alert/Recall: Worldwise Inc. Recalls Retractable Dog Leashes; Metal Clasp Can Break and Cause Facial and Body Injuries to Dog Owners The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced voluntary recalls of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Products: SlyDog(tm) Retractable Dog Leashes; Units: About 223,000; Importer: Worldwise Inc., of San Rafael, Calif. Hazard: The metal clasp connecting the leash to a dog's collar can bend or break while in use, causing the leash to recoil back unexpectedly. This poses a serious risk of injury to consumers. Incidents/Injuries: Worldwise has received five reports of injuries, including facial cuts, a broken tooth, displaced eye lens, and a bruised collar bone. Description: This recall involves the SlyDog(tm) Retractable Dog Leash with a metal clasp. The leash has a handle composed of a blue plastic case with a black plastic grip. The leash is made of a black woven strap and measures approximately one-half inch wide. The end of the leash has a metal clasp which connects to the dog's collar. The SlyDog(tm) retractable leashes with a plastic clasp are not included in this recall. Sold by: Dollar General Stores nationwide from September 2007 through August 2008 for about $5. Manufactured in: China; Remedy: Consumers should stop using these leashes immediately and return them to Worldwise Inc. for a full refund, including shipping costs. Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Worldwise toll-free at (888) 296-3807 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.squareonesystem.com.

Q: When is hurricane season?

A: The hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. In the eastern Pacific, the season begins on May 15 and ends November 30. Of course, hurricanes and tropical storms can and do form outside these time periods, although rarely.

Q: Why are hurricanes given names and when did this practice start?

A: The practice of naming hurricanes is done to avoid confusion in written and spoken communications during storms. For several hundred years, storms in the West Indies were named after the saint's day on which the hurricane occurred. During World War II, military forecasters would often name hurricanes after women. In 1953, the U.S. weather service adopted alphabetical lists of female names to be used each season. Lists alternating male and female names came into use beginning in 1979. There are 6 lists of international sounding names, which are repeated on a six-year cycle. The names of particularly damaging storms are removed from the list and replaced with other names so that the public is not confused by the memory of a storm with the same name.

Q: I want to plant several apples trees in my backyard this fall. How do I select quality plants?

A: Be careful in purchasing apple trees. Often, bargain plants are not healthy or may not be a variety adapted to your area. Buy only trees of recommended varieties from a reliable source. Listed below are a few points to keep in mind when purchasing apple trees: The preferred type of tree for planting is a healthy, 1-yearold whip that is approximately 4 to 6 feet tall and has a good root system. A small tree with a well-developed root system is more desirable than a large tree with a poor root system. Trees that are two years old or older do not usually grow as well as 1- year-old trees. Frequently, older trees do not have sufficient buds on the lower portion of the trunk to develop a good framework. Do not purchase trees that appear stunted, poorlygrown, diseased or insect injured. Check the trees closely to make sure that you are getting the variety and rootstock that you desire. For more information on planting and care of apple trees in your area, contact your county extension agent.

Q: Why did my peaches turn brown and rot this summer?

A: Brown Rot is a common fungus disease that infects the twigs and fruit of peach trees. Twig infection results in the development of cankers on the branches and stems and petal blight on the flowers. Canker and blight in turn produce spores that infect the fruit. The fruit initially has a brown spot which expands to rot the entire fruit into a "mummy". These mummies cling to the tree or fall to the ground and allow the fungus to overwinter. For disease control it is critical to remove mummies and infected twigs as soon as they appear. Also, good insect control is particularly important as unblemished green fruit is not as susceptible to disease infection. The fungus needs a wound to enter these fruit. Pruning the trees annually also aids in spray coverage, air circulation and good disease control. For severe infections, treat peach trees with a recommended home orchard spray product.

If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or call 1-800-282-5852.