The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-04-18
state Board Of Horticulture.

The state board Of horticulture held
its semi.annual meeting in Portland
Monday. Encouraging reports were
submitted by the various commission
ers, of remarkably successful fruit sea-
son last year, and prospects for record
breaking season in 1902. The governor
has not appointed a commissioner Tor
the fourth district.
Following is the report of the presi-
dent, Hon. E. L. Smith OF Hood River
Gentlmen: We have convened at this
date in order TO compare the past years
experiences and discuss methods for inn
proved work the ensuing season.
In 1901 we harvested the most
valuable fruit crop ever grown In the
state of Oregon, aggregating IN Vaiue
81, ,375, 900. :,
The commissioners of our state board
of horticulture, the professors OF the
Hatch experiment station, at Corvallis,
and the press, contributed materially IN
securing this grand result.
1t is also gratifying to note that our
fruit exhibit at Buffalo secured nrst
recognition, as in addition to the much
coveted Wilder medal Of the American
genealogical association, we we're award
ed by the Pan-American exposition "
medals and % honorable mentions.
Our fruit exhibit was dwarted IN ex-
tent by that of other states, but It's su-
perb quality ELECTED the unqualified ad-
miration of all visitors.
There is an increasing demand for our
high-grade apples in Europe and our
former president, now Consul Miller, in
Mancuria, is confident that with low
trans-P Pacific freight charges, which we
have reason to believe can be secured,
we will be able to send our oriental
neighbors large quantities OF our second
grade apples.
In 1900 the apple crop was exceeding
ly large in the United States, yet we re-
ceived satisfactory prices for our fancy
| fruit,as / believe we will continue to do,
and if we can unload in China and Japan
our second grades the future success OF
our orchardists seems assured.
Our horticulturists are fast becoming
convinced that to always have market
they must have the best in the market,
and that these results can be secured
only by planting few varieties of high
quality and then properly growing them.
The apple acreage of the state is rapidly
increasing, especially in Southern and
Eastern Oregon, and the nurserymen
inform us that the demand has been large.
ly for Newtowns, ,Jonathans, ,Spitzenbergs
and few other varieties all OF the high
est quality.
Our prunegrowers also have done fair
ly we'll, new markets have been found
and the superior excellence of our Ore
gon product is fast becoming recognized
The demand for information and spray
bulletins is large, and my table is bur
dened with inquiries, mot only from oul
own citizens, but from those OF othe
states as we'll.
On the whole we can congratulate our
selves that the outlook is encouraging
. and that fruit growing is rapidly be
coming one OF the promising lndustrie
of our resourceful state.
1t is my earnest desire that this boart
{ Of horticulture shall give intelligent di
rection to this industry by popularizinl
all best-known methods and by cordia
cooperation with the experienced grow
er, in the field, and the specialist in tn
, laboratory.
/ Our transportation companies ar
, lending their assistance by reporting tt
: our secretary all shipments OF trees, grow
outside our state and to whom consigned
: thereby enabling us to secure promp
and rigid inspection, and in some in
, stances entire car lots of infected tree
! have been condemned.
The nursery is the fertile source o
distribution OF insect pests and disease
and as in the past urge their frequen
, and thorough examination. And righ
, here our horticultural law is sadly def
cient. / refer to that portion relating +
r inspection. As you are aware the tota
allowance Of the state for all horticulture
work is only $4,500 per annum, and thl
must cover the entire work Of our board
! including per diem and expenses of 81
4 commissioners, salary of secretary
: printing of bulletins, making of report
and bulletins, attending fruit meetings
j, etc.
AS result commissioner can inspec
, annually only portion of his distriC
embracing several counties.
!, The statute provides for the appoint
ment of deputy inspectors, but make
: : no provision for their compensation. w
ought to have an inspectorin every fruit
!. growing county in the state, to be pal
: only when called upon to inspect shiE
: ments OF trees and fruit, and when spe
cial complaint has been lodged of an il
tested orchard.
. Carloads of moth-infested apples hay
: been shipped out of this state and sol
. as Oregon apples greatly to our discredit
: A small additional appropriation, wit
y authority to pay deputies, would enabl
our board to secure vigilantsinspectio
!; at all important points Of shipment.
y A new spray bulletin should be pre-
!, = pared, as the old one is exhausted, an
= some of the formulas need modification
= | again call your attention to the valu
of cooperative organizations at centrt
6 points Of fruit production.
). Such organizations are of great educi
% tional as we'll as business value, and 5,
cure better results than can be obtaine
:, through isolated individual effort.
n We are witnessing the beginning of
great westward movement Of people
q TIC hClIlC COdsb. OIOBOuj WIN va
k territorial area and varied resource
is will attract a large portion of this imm
o grafton.
With less than ten per cent of OF
available fruit lands now utilized +
that purpose, with constantly enlargiI
,r markets and better known methods
J. orcharding, what more inviting field +
the new homeseeker than that of hort
, culture?
,. The other commissioners gave bri
~ ~ verbal reports, following which gene
al discussion was held
= nko 1.oaA nis,,,al Cuax,nV