78 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



time I have received two hundred and twenty-seven letters 

 and visited four hundred and seventy-eight orchards, with a 

 combined area of twenty-four hundred and seventy-six acres, 

 which is probably less than one-fifth the acreage of the dis- 

 trict. There are few sections in Eastern Oregon where the 

 farmer cannot grow in abundance all the hardy deciduous 

 fruits, and in many localities the more tender varieties. Ap- 

 ples, pears, cherries, prunes, plums, apricots, peaches, and 

 grapes abound. Berries of every variety seem to flourish, 

 and in some favored places tomatoes and melons are grown 

 and shipped by the carload. It is not so much a question of 

 the kinds of fruit which may be grown as the special varieties 

 which are of greatest commercial value. There are many 

 things to be considered before entering into the business in a 

 commercial way. Experiments and mistakes are expensive 

 when conducted on a large scale, hence one cannot study too 

 carefully the location, soil, climatic conditions, likewise the 

 varieties, marketing, freight, etc., at the outstart. The fruit 

 industry is yet in its infancy. Every year demonstrates more 

 clearly that the larger the supply of good fruit we have, the 

 better it is for the producer. We find more buyers in the 

 field, and, all things considered, better prices rule. Of no 

 product of the farm is it more apparent that we must not only 

 have a choice quality, but must have it in large quantity to 

 enter the world's best markets. Cheap and rapid transporta- 

 tion we must have, and that can only be obtained from the 

 transportation companies by sending large quantities. 



Two years have made some important changes in my dis- 

 trict. Many fruitgrowers that had not enough apples for 

 family use two years ago are now gathering in their crops, 

 estimatiilg them by the carload. A few instances that have 

 come under my immediate observation : One man with a ten- 

 acre apple orchard of five-year-old trees has four carloads of 

 choice apples ; another, with a twenty-acre apple orchard of 

 trees the same age, has ten carloads. I do not like to make 

 an estimate of the apple crop of 1900 ; I am afraid of making 

 it too small. If the actual yield could be determined this 

 early in the season, I am sure it would astonish many people. 



The owners of young orchards are more than ready to adopt 

 new methods, and anxious to learn in every possible way. I 

 have had many requests, both in peison and by letter, for 

 copies of the fifth biennial report, from those who wished to 

 own a copy. Some have expressed surprise that so able a 



