Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-04-20
HIGH COMPLIMENT FOR
ROGUE RIVER FRUIT
From President Z. l.. Smith of
The State Board of
Horticulture.

CULTURAL oOCltty uclu III EOrtlduu lhSl
week, President E. l.. Smith rendered
his resignation rs presiding officer
and a member of the board. On
severing his connection with the
board President Smith delivered a
short address outlining the condition
of the fruit industry in Oregon, and
among his statements he paid high
compliment to the possibilities of
grape growing in Josephine county,
aud of the splendid quality of grapes
grown by A. H. Carson Of Redlauds
Vineyard. and who is member of
the State Board of horticulture.
The following is President Smith 8
address:
Commissioners, Oregon State Board
Of Horticulture: The relation which
l have borne to the State Board of
Horticulture for the past six years.
that of commissioner at large and
chairman of the board, ceases today,
and am gratifed to state that the
horticultural interests of Oregon were
never in more promising condition
than at present. 1t is indeed true
that the number of orchard diseases
and pests have not materially de.
creo sed, but we have more we'll
known specific treatments that regu-
late and control them.
My recommendation to our Legisla-
tive Assembly, embodied in the eighth
biennial report of this board, that
law be enacted providing for the ap-
pointment of county fruit inspectors,
met with approval and such legisla.
tion was enacted. The beneficial re-
suits which have followed the ap-
pointment of the county fruit inspect
ors are too well known to require fur
ther mention here.
Our State horticultural Society
has blossomed into new life aud large
auxiliary societies have been organ
lied in different portions of the state.
In the Willamette Valley a cam
'paign of reclamation of old orchards
is being vigorously waged and an in.
creased planting of young trees over
previous years is reported. In all the
principal fruit growing sections of the
state vast area of young orchards
will come into bearing thin the
next three or four years. In Hood
River alone there are about 5000 acres
OF such orchard, all of which are Vel.
low NewtowDs and Spitzenbergs, esti-
mated to produce three years later
400, 900 boxes of fancy fruit.
jackson county, however. is now
and likely to remain the leading fruit
county OF Oregon. 1t is first in ap-
Piles, first in peaches, first in pears
and I'believe first in grapes. Its or.
chards are large, well kept, and it's
growers are up-to-date in all that re.
lates to their industry. Immense
planting of young trees has been
going on for years past and in few
years the output of apples and pears
from Jackson county will exceed any
esti mate we dare make.
Josephine county in a less degree
produces most excellent fruit. The
grapes shipped to Portland last season
by Commissioner Carson, where not
to be excelled by same varieties Cali.
fornia grown.
Douglas county has almost limit
less possibilities for fruit growing and
her prune orchards are among the
best in the state.
East Of the Cascades, Union, Una.
tilla and Wasco counties must be
classed among the great fruit growing
scounties of the state. Oregon has 30
many counties admirably adapted to
fruit growing that it is unnecessary to
specialize farther.
1t is q matter of congratulate tion
that this Board after this date will be
~ hoppiiJ ObnstiluLtu lOF tHtCtlVe
work. Your chairman is man Of
ability. practical horticulturist,
and of many years service as mem
ber Of this board
Our new Commissioner of the First
District. the most important of any
in the state. demonstrated, while
county inspector OF Clackamas and
Multnomah counties, that he was
fully competent to enforce the statutes
made for the protection of our fruit
growers.
Gentlemen. approach the vonolus-
lou of this brief report with no little
reluctance. For six years 1 have
shared the councils Of three members
of the Board, Commissioners Carson.
Newell and Geer, and for a briefer
period Commissioners Weber and
Park. During all this time not the
least dissention has arisen, but all the
&c ibera.ious Of III, bcarl wers