Report of Charles A. Park. 29 



fruit fairs at the important points in their counties, and the promise 

 is that they will see greater results this coming season than has 

 ever before been manifested. 



Salem has held two cherry fairs during the ])ast two years. The 

 manner of the display of the last cherry fair was far superior to 

 the one held the year before, while we might say that the fruit in 

 each was practically the same. 



Linn County and Polk County have held apple fairs and Lincoln 

 County showed enough interest to l)ring out a display of a])ples 

 at the Albany fair. 



These fairs are important measures in educating the fruit growers 

 in regard to preparing their fruit for the commercial market. 



The climatic conditions during the past winter and present spring 

 have been very seasonable. While the winter has lieen mild, the 

 spring has not opened up warm enough to advance the fruit beyond 

 a safe limit. At the present day, after a week of warm, pleasant 

 weather, the cherry trees are just opening into bloom, the pear trees 

 have developed their buds into nearly the blooming point and the 

 apples are following their nature by lagging on liehind. There is 

 very little danger of frost after this date and every prospect is good 

 for an abundant crop of fruit in the Willamette Valley. 



Chas. a. Park, 



Commissinner for Second District. 



OCTOBER MEETING, 1908 



To the Honorable State Board of Horticulture: 



I herewith submit for the Second District tbe report for the year 

 ending September 30, 1908. I am pleased to report tbe interest in 

 horticulture in all of the six counties (Marion, Linn. Lane, Polk, 

 Benton and Lincoln) has done a great deal in cleaning up tbe old 

 orchards and in the planting of new ones witli the determination 

 of caring for them. 



County horticultural societies bavo been organized in each of 

 the counties, and each has luhl nunici'ous meetings throughout the 

 year. I migbt say in passing that more meetings of fruit growers 

 have been held than of those engaged in all other branches of agri- 

 culture combined. The Lane County society has extended its work 

 of co-operation to a greater extent than any of the other societies. 

 During the past season it canned its own cherries and pears. 



The apple growers of the Willamette Valley organized themselves 

 under the name of the Willamette Valley A])])le Crowers' Associa- 

 tion for the purpose of stimnlal'iig the yTowing of better fruit, and 

 as conditions develop, to furnish a uniformly packed jjroduct for 

 the market. As the morals of the coiiimiinitv are on a higher plane 



