Kkpokt of State Board ok Horticulture. 25 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER FIRST DISTRICT. 



DiLLEY, Oregon, March 31, 1905. 



To the President and Members of the State Board of Horti- 

 culture : 



The season of 1905 bids fair to be a very favorable one for 

 the Oregon fruit grower. In spite of two or three very severe 

 frosts during the latter part of March, there was but little, if 

 any, real injury done. Some early cherries and plums were 

 nipped, doubtless, but it is believed there were plenty escaped 

 to make a bountiful crop. The prune, in the later blooming 

 localities particularly, had very fine weather for the period of 

 full bloom, and it is believed that a full crop of this fruit is 

 assured. Trees of all kinds are thrifty and vigorous, and are 

 blooming full and strong. 



Market prospects are also encouraging ; the prune, after 

 several years of discouragingly low prices, seems to be pick- 

 ing up in price once more and promises som.e remuneration to 

 the grower. The market is practically bare of Italian prunes 

 now, and it is reliably reported that not more than 15,000,000 

 pounds of California prunes are now on the market. This 

 quantity will be easily consumed ere the new crop comes on, 

 leaving a clean market for the new goods. 



Let us give our trees good care, and produce as much as 

 possible, only the large sizes, then dry carefully and market 

 wisely, and prune growing will remain one of our prominent 

 industries. 



A considerable number of prune trees have been planted 

 during the season, and one or two years of good prices will 

 stimulate planting greatly. , 



The greatest interest in horticultural lines at the present 

 time is in walnut growing. The agitation started a few years 

 ago by that genial enthusiast, Mr. Henry E. Dosch, has 

 borne great fruit, and now people all over the country are 

 planting walnuts; anywhere from one tree to a hundred 

 acres. It certainly looks as though walnut growing would 



