The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-11-09
Horticultural inspection In Oregon.

lou WuON are Interested III suCl
matters know that for the past ten or
twelve years we have had in Oregon a
State Board of Horticulture. This
beard has been composed of practical
fruit growers, who have tried to solve
the various questions relating to the
industry; the best methods of culture,
pruning, spraying, etc. and by means
of Biennial Report they have given
this knowledge to the public. These
reports have come to be recognized all
over the Northwest as standards of
authority on the subject. All nurser-
les have been given careful inspection,
and uone Tut clean trees have been
allowed to be sold; and, as far as the
limited funds would permit, personal
inspection of orchards has been given.
But in the last few years pests have
m'ltiplied amazingly, and fungous
dit eases deyeioIe, Q, seemingly, in
night. The territory is so vast and
the orchards are so numerous that it
was impossible for the commissioners
to get al ound and attend to all the
work necessary if our fruit industry
is to be maintained. So, last winter,
the Legislature was asked to pass a
law providing for the appointment of
county fruit inspectors, and under
this law Cl9ckamas County was one
Of the first to petition for an inspect
or. The county court appointed Mr..
James II. Reid, and few weeks lat
er the county court of MultnOmah
County also appointed him for that
county. 1t is needless for me to speak
of the good work he has been doing
in stopping the sale of wormy and
scaly infested fruit in the markets.
This is a step in the right direction,
and a movement that should have the
support Of every fruit grower, and, |
should add, consumer also. For the
consumer is being defrauded when he
buys box Of wormy, scabby apples,
even though he may think he is get
ting them cheap. When only clean,
sound fruit is allowed on sale, prices
can be better maintained; the con-
sumer will get full value for his mon
ey and the demand will be increased.
This is the only rational way to fight
the fruit pest question. You may try
to compel man to spray his trees,
but if he Can still sell the fruit wheth-
er he sprays or not, he is not very
likely to care much, and if he sprays
at all will do it only half heartedly.
You can lead IA horse to water, but
You can't make him drink so you
may compel man to spray occasion
ally but you can't make him have
clean fruit, unless it is to his direct
interest. If he knows he can't sell it
unless it is clean he is very likely to
clean up. If man has trees infest-
ed with pests that are an injury to
his neighbors, and he refuses to abate
the II isanCe, the inspector, under the
new law, has the power to have the
trees destroyed by due process. There
is no desire to work hardship on
anyone, hence the diseased fruit this
year is allowed to be sold to the can
merry and vinegar factory, as it was
thought right and proper to give full
notice that none might plead igno
rance. The lines will be closer drawn
next season, and the pig or sheep will
be the only market for such fruit.
The services of the county inspect
or and the district commissioner are
at the disposal Of any fruit grower
who wants any information or in
struction as to the care of his trees,
spraying, etc, and it is urged that
everyone will help in building up
once more a reputation for fine fruit
in the willamette valley. Right here
in Milwaukee was at one time the
most famous orchards on the Pacific
Coast, and some of the most magni-
hcent apples that ever grew we're
prodced here. You b ,ar it said on
every hand: ooh yes, fine apples used
to grow here, hut they won't do it
any more. But l believe theykwill
grow now just as fine as they ever did.
OF course, it requires more care and
work, but it is work that will be well
paid. Insect pests and fungous dis
eases have increased SO rapidly that
it is of course absolutely useless for
anyone to attempt growing tree fruits
without preparing to do thorough
spraying, not only once year, but
every time it Is needed. L am not
going to bore you with any formulae
for spraying tonight, but it has been
proven beyond question that tree
properly pruned, cultivated and I
sprayed will produce just as many
fine apples right here in Clackamas
County as any tree ever did any
where, and furthermore, these apples
being free from sCab, miidew, bitter
rot and worm holes, will keep just as
long and have Just as fine flavor as
they ever did.
Two years ago, in a test, Jonathan
and Northern Spy apples from Soap
pOose we're sent to Hood River and
placed in All apple storage house to-
gether with great variety OF apples
grown there, and proved to be better
keepers than the same varieties there
and among the very best of any va
Iiety. Last fall some 1900 boxes of
apples were placed in cold storage,
for the Lewis and Clark Exposition,
and the Willamette Valley ones were
among the best keepers.
There is vast market opening up
across the Pacific Tor our fruit, not
high-priced market perhaps, but our
medium grades will 60 there, while
our strictly fancy ones can go to the
Eastern states and Europe.
Profitable fruit Season In Idaho.
The last shipment OF prunes to the
eastern market for the season Of 1903
was uduS hOuudgs lhO pAONuNV "
southwestern Idaho approXlmatlng 3OO
cars, and at prices considerably above
the average. The commission houses
and larger growers are now packing
pears ana apples for shipment. This
will continue for two or three weeks.
About twenty cars of pears and
peaches have been shipped, with per-
haps ten cars of Winter Nellis pears
vet to be loaded, says the Boise News.
The Sinsel Commission Company is
loading It's first CaI of apples today.
1t consists Of Jonathana, Roman
Beauty, aud Grimes Golden, in about
equal parts, and all Of IA superior quail
lty, which are expected to bring the
TOP OF the market The prediction Is
made that fully llO0 cars of apples Will
be sent east, besides larger amount
t4sn ever viii 90 into storage Tor
home consumption.
While the early report that the crop
would show shortage has not been
verified by the result of the shipments,
IrVfs I.taa II .