Report of State Board of Horticulture. 15 



REPORT OF PRESIDENT. 



Another year has rolled around, bringing to the fruit 

 grower its hopes and fears, rewards and disappointments. 

 To the man who has eyes to see and observe, the lessons of 

 the year have been many. More and more strongly is the 

 conviction forced upon us that only the vigilant, up-to-date 

 man can possibly succeed in the fruit business. With the 

 heavy expense of fighting insect pests, and fungus diseases,, 

 with great scarcity of help and high wages, only the best of 

 fruit can pay any profit. We must continue the campaign far 

 better fruit with increased energy all along the line. 



The new law providing for the appointment of county in- 

 spectors has met with general hearty approval, and now all 

 the important fruit growing counties of the State have their 

 local inspector. And these inspectors, I am most happy to 

 say, are in every instance men splendidly qualified for the 

 work. They have during the past season become acquainted 

 with conditions in their respective localities, and are now 

 ready for an active campaign. Fellow Commissioners, we 

 have now a splendid organization for the advancement of the 

 horticultural interests of the State, and it remains for us now 

 to show results. I urge upon you that you each do all in 

 your power to stir up interest in every way possible, first to 

 get better care for the fruit that is planted, second, better 

 marketing for what is produced, and third, to induce wise 

 selection of fruits for new planting. 



Experience of past seasons has shown conclusively that the 

 most effective spraying for general good of the tree can best 

 be done in the fall as soon as the leaves have fallen. The 

 scale is far easier to kill at that time than in the late winter 

 or spring, and that is the only time when the apple tree 

 anthracnose can be successfully treated. Therefore, get your 

 inspectors together at once and instruct them to begin imme- 

 diately an active campaign to get every scale-infested tree 

 sprayed, or failing that, cut down before another season 



