BOARD OF HORTICULTURE 15 



some of tlie trees followinsr the unprecedented freeze last winter. However, 

 inspection service is adequiite in tliis section and the Cooperation of tlie growers 

 is such as to guarantee a good cleanup. 



The freeze last winter killed a number of trees throughout the District, but 

 did not cause as mueli dauiage as first appearances indicated. 



Anthracnose caused considerable trouble the past season in Douglas county, 

 but the growers generally liave taken hold and are spraying for its control. 



The whole country is still suffering from a lack of water — the annual pre- 

 cipitation being again about half of the normal. Haj' cx'ops in unirrigated 

 districts have suffered and even those under Irrigation have feit the need of 

 more water. 



Taken all in all the horticultural and agricultural Industries are assuming 

 a healthy and very optimistic tone. 



A. C. ALLEN, 

 Commissioner for the Third District. 



REPORT OF T. A. SAM3IIS, JR., C0>OIISSI0NER OF THE 



FOURTH DISTRICT 



To the Honorable State Board of Horticulture : 



I respectfully submit my report for the term ending December, 1920, as Com- 

 missioner for the Fourth Horticultural District of the State of Oregon, com- 

 prising the following counties : Morrow, Wasco, Gilliam, Hood River, Crook, 

 Sherman, Wheeler. Jefferson and Deschutes. 



The principal fruit growing counties in this district are Hood River and 

 Wasco. 



The extremely low temperatures experienced last winter caused considerable 

 damage to all fruits. The peach crop was practically wiped out and many of 

 the trees on the lower lands were killed. The cherry crop was about fifty -per 

 Cent normal and many trees were killed, but the extremely high price paid for 

 cherries more than compensated for the small crop. Pears, prunes and apples 

 stood the cold much better but heavy losses of trees were experienced in some 

 sections. 



There were a great many fruit trees dug out on account of winter injury 

 that could have been gaved. Experience this past season has shown that a tree 

 badly injured and heavily pruned before the leaves come out would die while 

 others with the same injury that were not pruned tili the middle of the summer 

 lived and will eventually come back to noi'mal. 



The apple crop was below normal with a high percentage of worms caused 

 by the hot weather and conditions favorable to the codling moth. 



The blight conditions as a whole are encouraging. There has been a slight 

 extension of the district infected but continuous cutting has held it pretty well 

 in check. The county inspector has been very active in the fight agatnst blight. 



The county inspector of Hood River County has been active in combatting 

 anthracnose which has been very bad in some sections of that county. 



The commercial growers of fruit in this district comply with the horticultural 

 laws of the State and keep their orchards fairly clean. The small tracts. many 

 of them unoccupied and uncared for and the home orchards and trees in city 

 lots are a source of consideral)le trouble and should be dealt with more severely. 



The Wasco County Fruit Inspector carried on a campaign against the Elm 

 Tree Beetle which made its appearance in The Dalles last year and completely 

 defoliated most of the elm trees in the city. The results of this work cau not 

 be determined until next spring when if necessary the work will be carried on. 



The prices received by the grape growers have been extremely high and 

 that with a fairly heavy crop has made grape growing very profitable this year. 



