LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Gaston, Oregon, January 1, 1911. 



To the Honorable the Legislative Assembly of the State of 

 Oregon: 



Gentlemen : In conformity with the Statute which directs 

 the Board of Horticulture to report biennially to you, I here- 

 with submit my report of the work of the board for the years 

 1909 and 1910. 



The board as now organized consists of five members for 

 the five horticultural districts of the State, a commissioner at 

 large and a secretary, and is supplemented by a county fruit 

 inspector for each of the prominent fruit-growing counties. 

 It is the duty of the district commissioners to look after the 

 enforcement of the horticultural laws in their respective dis- 

 tricts, to train and supervise their county inspectors, to gather 

 Information and statistics, and to attend to inspection of nur- 

 series. The law requires that the commissioner at large, who 

 is ex-officio President of the board shall visit all the principal 

 fruit growing sections of the State at least once each year, 

 and the fruit shipping centers during the shipping season, 

 and that he shall at all times meet and address as many fruit 

 growers' meetings and associations as possible. 



The efficiency of the inspection work has been greatly 

 increased during the past two years as evidenced by the 

 improved condition of the orchards in general, and especially 

 by the vastly better grade of fruit to be found on the markets. 

 But considerable difficulty has been experienced by the com- 

 missioners in securing and retaining the Services of competent 

 county inspectors owing to the small remuneration connected 

 with the Office. 



I would respectfully call your attention to my report of 

 April, 1910, to the board, regarding the "Lafean Bill." This 

 is a matter of federal legislation which came before the last 

 Congress, that is highly inimical to the interests of the fruit 

 growers of this State as it would require great changes in 

 the size and shapes of our apple boxes as well as the methods 

 of packing, grading, and labeling. We feel that we cannot 

 submit to such legislation but it was only by great effort that 

 it was defeated at the last Session of Congress, and in all 



