30 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



than that of the individual of that community, so is the box of 

 apples packed under the supervision of the association better than 

 the one packed by the individual gi'ower. The Willamette Valley 

 Apple Growers' Association is fortunate in having Mr. M. 0. 

 Lownsdale of Lafayette for its president, a man well qualified by 

 intelligence and judgment to do a great work for the association. 



Numerous fruit fairs have been held at different places in this 

 district. Linn County concentrates its energies in making an exhibit 

 of apples, and Marion County has been holding an annual cherry 

 fair. On account of the most wonderful and beautiful exhibit of 

 cherries displayed at the Salem cherry fair, Salem is called the 

 "Cherry City of the World." We are glad to note that other sections 

 of the State are following the example of Marion County. 



Many inquiries have been received during the past year concern- 

 ing this district as a fruit growing section. At this time it might 

 be well to give some general facts concerning this district pertinent 

 to fruit growing. 



The counties of Marion, Linn, Polk, Benton and the greater 

 part of Lane Counties may be taken as one section of the country 

 in the Willamette Valley, and in fact includes all of the Willamette 

 except the few counties lying north of this district, which embrace 

 a continuation of the same beautiful and productive country. This 

 section is bounded on the east by the Cascade Mountains and on 

 the west hy the Coast Range. The remainder of this district con- 

 sists of Lincoln County and the western part of Lane County, and 

 lies west of the Coast Range on the Pacific Ocean. It has the same 

 general type in regard to climate, soil and products. I will speak 

 of this section after presenting some facts concerning the Willamette 

 Valley section in regard to its climate, soil and fruit products. 



The climate of the Willamette Vallev is temperate in all respects. 

 The temperature does not go to extremes either in summer or 

 winter. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean keeps the pendulum 

 from swinging too far at either end of the arc. "UHiile the mercury 

 may fall below zero once or twice during a winter, it seldom does. 

 It is a rare occasion when the frosts prevent our roses in the open 

 garden from blossoming until Thanksgiving and Christmas. We 

 look upon freezing point as the low point on the thermometer as 

 the people of the Eastern States look upon zero as the low point 

 with them. It is not infrequent to have a winter pass without the 

 mercury falling below 25 degrees above zero. The summer 

 months are not hot. Mnety degrees above zero is seldom "^-egistered 

 on the thermometer by our summer heat. The northwest trac'e 

 winds bring us cool, refreshing breezes every afternoon during the 

 summer, and hot nights are unknown. Our summers are dry, rain 

 not interrupting the harvest of our products. Do we b.ave rain 

 during the winter months? Yes, a merciful Providence does briiig 

 to us on the mild southwest trade wind gentle showers, abundant 

 and sufficient, to bless us — and we enjoy it. 



