40 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



commercial world as an apple producer. The development 

 of the fruit industry in California largely cut off the profit- 

 able market, the building of railroads brought in all the pests 

 from the outside world, prices became low, and fruit diseased, 

 and the apple was cast aside for the prune. This should not 

 be, for while I think the prune will lead in value, I see no 

 reason why the apple should not regain its old-time promin- 

 ence. But first the old, neglected, diseased apple orchards 

 must go. They have served their time, and must now be re- 

 placed by young, vigorous stock of improved varieties, on new 

 soil, and with the latest and best methods of culture. I have 

 succeeded in accomplishing something in the way of removal 

 of these old trees, but vastly more remains yet to be done. 

 Near Portland great difficulty is experienced in finding owners 

 of tracts of land containing old trees, where former orchard 

 lands have been platted and sold in small tracts. The law 

 requires that the owners shall be notified, and where they 

 cannot be found we are helpless. This should be changed, 

 allowing the commissioner to have diseased trees removed, 

 after due search for the owner, or due notice posted on the 

 property. 



The general condition of commercial orchards is steadily 

 improving. The crop of 1898 was a remunerative one, and 

 stimulated growers to renewed efforts, so that the disastrous 

 season of 1899 did not cause discouragement. 



Marked progress has been made in the last two years in the 

 matter of spraying for codling moth and San Jose scale. 

 Careful growers are now able to obtain ninety-five per cent, 

 of apples free from worms. The use of the new arsenite of 

 lime spray has been a great help. San Jose scale in my dis- 

 trict is confined chiefly to Multnomah County and Clackamas 

 County, from Milwaukie to Oregon City. I have found them, 

 however, in Hillsboro and Newberg, in small quantities, and 

 in both instances took immediate steps to destroy them, and 

 think their farther spread in these districts can be prevented. 

 One good heavy winter spray of lime, sulphur, and salt 

 applied each year will hold the scale in check so that it need 

 not be feared. Its total extinction can hardly be hoped for, 

 and if it is accomplished it must be through the aid of nature. 

 ( California has spent large sums in importing insects and birds 

 to prey on the scale, and Oregon might well profit by her 

 example. The scale here seems to prefer mountain ash and 

 currants to any other trees or shrubs, but they also attack the 



