34 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER FOURTH DISTRICT. 



To the Honorable State Board of Horticulture — 



Gentlemen : Again I appear before you fully prepared to 

 chronicle a most satisfactory and successful condition of the fruit 



industry in the Fourth District. Though 

 weather conditions were at times very dis- 

 couraging, trying even the mettle of the most 

 seasoned veterans in the business, and though 

 the early prospects were veiled with much 

 uncertainty, the final chapter is, neverthe- 

 less, one of complete success and entire sat- 

 faction. 



While ours is a rich soil and splendid cli- 

 mate, weather and soil conditions alone will 

 not produce a profitable crop. It is essential 

 that orchardists be ever on the alert; now cultivating, now spray- 

 ing, now pruning and thinning their fruit. 



Thorough cultivation is, of course, one of the necessities to suc- 

 cess in orcharding, and in our semi-arid climate no system produces 

 better results than shallow plowing in early spring, which should 

 be followed immediately with a thorough harrowing, sufficient to 

 break up all the clods, leaving the surface finely pulverized. After 

 the ground has been thus put in good shape, a common drag har- 

 row run over it at intervals of 10 days to two weeks will create suf- 

 ficient dust mulch to retain moisture as well as to keep the weeds 

 in check. In my orchard work, I confine myself almost entirely to 

 plow and drag harrow, having practically discarded all other kinds 

 of tools. 



Armed with a copy of the Spray Bulletin issued by this Board 

 for a manual, a first-class spray pump loaded with the proper so- 

 lution, discharged according to directions, the fruitgrower is fully 

 equipped to wage sanguinary and successful war against his nu- 

 merous insect enemies. 



