■ NIC.' L 



REPORT OF E. L. SMITH. 



Hood River, Oregon, October 11, 1905. 

 Associate Commissioners : 



Our horticultural law provides that this Board shall meet 

 on the second Monday of October of each year "for consulta- 

 tion and the adoption of those measures which will best pro- 

 mote the horticultural industries of the State." 



Our orchards have produced the present year not more 

 than 50 per cent of a normal harvest, which is to be regretted 

 more especially as our splendid centennial exposition has 

 brought a multitude of visitors from every portion of the 

 country. Oregon, however, is not alone in this respect, and 

 the average production exceeds that of most of our fruit- 

 growing States. In consequence of this shortage, the demand 

 for our fruit is active and the prices most satisfactory to the 

 growers. Oregon apples have obtained a strong hold in 

 European markets, and it is gratifying to note that at a 

 recent sale at Edinburgh, Scotland, Oregon apples sold for 

 $6.25 per box, while those from Australia, which threatened 

 at one time to displace our apples in foreign markets, brought 

 but little more than half this amount. In years of abundance, 

 however, there is safety only in fruits of the highest quality, 

 •carefully selected, put up uniformly and in attractive pack- 

 ages. This year the apples of Hood River will largely go out 

 wrapped in paper bearing an attractive cut of Mt. Hood and 

 the name of the Growers' Association. There is no question 

 but that these conditions are greatly promoted by co-operative 

 fruit unions that sell in large quantities, search out the best 

 markets and afford the buyer the assurance of reliability. 



LEGISLATION. 



Agreeably to the recommendations of your chairman in his 

 report to our recent Legislative Assembly, that body passed 

 an act providing for the appointment of county horticultural 



