BOARD OF HORTICULTURE 17 



The apple market is very unsatisfactory. Iiicreased freight rates is a big 

 faetor. Most of the apple buyers lost heavily last year, due to the high prices 

 paid in the early part of the season, the large crop of apples produced, and the 

 lack of consumption due to the sugar shortage in the east which practically 

 eliminated the baked apple, aj^ple pie and sauce. Due to there being no Imyers 

 in the field the apple storage houses in the east are about half füll while last 

 year at this time storage space was at a premium. 



This district is very fortunate in being supplied with a vinegar plant and 

 evaporating plant and a cannery all of which can handle tremendous amounts 

 of fruit. 



T. A. SAMMIS, JR.. 

 Commissioner for the Fourth District. 



REPORT OF H. H. WEATHERSPOON, COIMÄIISSIONER OF THE 



FIFTH DISTRICT 



Hon. Chas. A. Park, 



President, State Board of Horticulture, Salem, Oregon. 



Dear Sir : In addition to reports relative to conditions in the Fifth District, 

 which have been made from time to time, I am pleased to furnish you this report 

 covering general conditions up to the present date. 



Owing to the severe winter commencing early in fall of 1919 and running 

 up to about March 1 of the present year, great damage was done to fruit trees 

 of all kinds ; also berries. 



Reports gathered recently show that there was only about 15 per cent of a 

 berry and cherry crop and taking the fifth district as a whole there was less 

 tlian 20 per cent of an apple and pear crop, and no peaches at all. 



Umatilla County came through with about 30 per cent of an apple crop, while 

 the other counties feil below 10 per cent. 



Trees bloomed very late in all counties and fairly well, but there was later 

 a heavy drop occasioned by the vitality of trees being very low due to a very 

 severe past winter. 



In certain localities where heavy Irrigation was carried on up to late in the 

 season of 1919, there was a severe loss in prune trees, cherry trees, and a slight 

 loss in apple trees, with almost a total loss of peach trees. 



In the dry land sections of the Fifth District there was not a great number 

 of apple trees killed outright by the winter, but a severe damage done to the 

 thousands of trees that will not be fuUy developed until the next season. 



Those observing the weakened condition of trees damaged in a few linibs 

 or one entire side of tree, and cut these weakened branches out probably saved 

 a great many of their trees which would have otherwise died the Coming year. 

 The prune acreage in Umatilla and Malheur Counties has increased since our 

 last published report about 1.5 per cent, while there has been a heavy decrease in 

 peaches, a slight decrease in cherries of the sweet varieties, and a heavy decrease 

 in apple acreage. 



A fair estimate of the acreage in Baker, Malheur and Union Counties now 

 compared with five years ago would show not over 10 per cent of the acreage 

 we then had in these couijties in apples. 



In the Milton-Freewater district the apple aci*eage has been well maintained 

 while in the Stanfield-Hermiston district there has been a falling off which 

 slightly reduces the Umatilla County acreage. 



For the year 1919 the entire Fifth District enjoyed a fair yield in all kinds 

 of fruit and while there was no very high prices received for the fruit there 

 was a constant steady demand, and the growers' profits were all that could be 

 expected ; in fact, very satisfactory. 



