48 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



too, can be seen an oil tractor pulling spring tooth harrows 

 cutting a swath over twenty feet wide. 



In addition to this large tract, many other extensive orchard 

 plantings are being made in the Dufur district, consisting 

 mostly of apples, though pears and cherries are receiving more 

 or less attention. The Fifteen-Mile Valley, in which the 

 beautiful little town of Dufur is located, is specially adapted 

 to pear culture, a fact fully recognized by the owners of land 

 in this valley, which is fertile and productive almost beyond 

 description. 



Summing it all up, the fourth horticultural district is show- 

 ing wonderful progress in horticultural lines and furnishing 

 homes for many new settlers attracted by its fertile soils and 

 unsurpassed climate. 



R. H. Weber, 

 Commissioner for Third District. 



OCTOBEK, MEETING, 1912. 



The Dalles, Oregon, October 14, 1912. 



To the Honorable State Board of Horticulture: 



Herewith I respectfully submit my report as commissioner 

 of the fourth horticultural district for the year 1912. 



This district Covers a large area consisting of the counties of 

 Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Wheeler and 

 Crook. Hood River is the most westerly county in this district, 

 being located in the heart of the Cascade Mountains ; next east 

 of Hood River County is Wasco, and these two counties repre- 

 sent the commercial fruit-producing section of the district, for 

 nearly all orchards of commercial size are located in these 

 two counties, though Sherman and Gilliam each have several 

 orchards from which fruit is exported, but the average season 

 finds the home demand sufficient to consume the entire crop. 



All varieties of fruit bore a heavy crop this season excepting 

 cherries and pears, these being injured by cold, rainy weather 

 during blooming season, reducing the crop to about one-half 

 the estimated normal yield. 



Planting of orchards continue in all parts of this district, 

 and it is a safe prediction that the crop from now on will 

 double every two or three years. Largest plantings consist of 

 apples, and many thousand trees of these will again be set out 

 this fall and next spring. Pears, cherries, peaches and 

 apricots are also being planted quite extensively, while prunes 



