28 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



cleaning- up prevails everywhere, and more pruning, spraying, 

 and cultivating has been done than for years past. A county 

 inspector has been appointed in every county in my district 

 save Tillamook, where the fruit interests do not yet warrant 

 the expense. Local horticultural societies have also been 

 formed in every county, to work in conjunction with the 

 State society and with the Board of Horticulture. We are 

 now splendidly organized to carry on an aggressive campaign 

 against the pests and diseases. Meetings have been held dur- 

 ing the winter in almost every fruit-growing locality in the 

 district, and have been addressed by the best authorities ob- 

 tainable, giving thorough instruction in every detail of or- 

 chard work. And never before has such keen interest been 

 taken in the matter of fruit growing. 



The past year has apparently been a very favorable one 

 for the spread of the San Jose scale, as that pest has certainly 

 spread very rapidly during the year; the fact that it has 

 spread so rapidly has aroused people to the danger and to 

 the necessity of putting up an organized fight against the 

 pests in general. 



My observations lead me to believe that much more effec- 

 tive work in spraying for San Jose scale can be done in the 

 fall than in the spring or late winter. By beginning spraying 

 just as soon as the leaves fall one can catch the greater num- 

 ber of the insects before they become encased in their scales 

 and established under protection for the winter. In fact, I 

 believe that a great deal more orchard work can be done to 

 good advantage in the fall, pruning as well as spraying. 



The severe freeze that came so unexpectedly in March did 

 some damage to early cherries and strawberries, and possibly 

 to other fruits also, but it is yet too early to tell, as fruit 

 buds that are injured may not show any damage until the 

 fruit begins to set, when it will fall off for lack of vitality. 

 But I am inclined to think that the later, hardier fruits are 

 not injured, and that we should have good crops during the 

 coming season. , 



In the matter of spraying I find that there is still a great 

 deal of confusion among many people in regard to the kind of 

 spray to use. I think we should try as much as possible to 



