56 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



Fruit crops of all kinds were most bounteous this year and 

 prices, ruling high, have brought a season of prosperity to the 

 fruit grower never before equalled. Owing to the most favor- 

 able season ever experienced in this district, fruit of all 

 varieties attained nearer perfection than before, and the grade 

 therefore is far above the average of previous years, resulting 

 in much higher net returns than the most sanguine expecta- 

 tions presaged. 



Naturally enough, every grower had from one-fourth to one- 

 half more fruit than he had estimated early in the season, 

 and the resultant scramble for additional boxes and other 

 packing material is better imagined than described. Thanks, 

 however, to the box makers' energetic work shortages will be 

 relieved and the crop fully taken care of and forwarded to 

 eastern markets in due season. 



All sections of the fourth district are showing enormous 

 gains in production over previous seasons, as is evidenced by 

 comparing the various annual crop reports, as printed in the 

 biennial report of the State Board of Horticulture. 



There is much need for a greater number of canning and 

 preserving plants throughout the fruit growing sections of the 

 State. These should be built and operated in every fruit 

 growing Community, and in larger districts, as for instance 

 the Hood River Valley, they should be located in several 

 Community centers, where they would be most easy of access, 

 so that culls and over-ripes which at present are practically 

 a total loss, could be cheaply and quickly delivered, and con- 

 verted into eider, vinegar, preserves, jams, or pie fruit, thus 

 increasing the net profits of the orchard considerably by utiliz- 

 ing the by-products and saving the waste. 



Much encouragement should be given to local fruit faii:s, 

 and to the several district fairs where fruit is invariably 

 exhibited and where a keen rivalry is created among the grow- 

 ers, and every year sees great improvements in quality and 

 pack. From these smaller local and district exhibits could 

 then be selected the best for display at the Oregon Horticul- 

 tural Society exhibit, where the display of a much larger 

 quantity of fruit should be encouraged than has been the case 

 in the past. At this show all sections of the State should have 

 exhibits, to encourage which more liberal prizes should be 

 offered as an inducement to bring out larger displays. _ 



Orchard planting shows no abatement in this district, and 

 instead of diminishing seems rather on the increase, for new 

 plantings are contemplated everywhere. Land is being cleared 

 as fast as men and machines can remove trees and stumps, 

 and much virgin forest is being removed to make room for 

 the more-profit-bearing orchard trees, and many hundreds of 



