Report of CoMxMISsioner Fifth District. 41 



or northeastern direction, and enter Snake River in the southeast- 

 ern part of Oregon. In the k>wer part of their courses these rivers 

 pass through broad valleys already partly developed, the summer 

 flow being used for irrigation. In order to reclaim additional lands 

 it "will be necessary to store the flood flow in various valleys 

 traversed by these rivers. Such changes as these, it can readily 

 be seen, would have a great bearing in changing j)ortions of East- 

 ern Oregon. 



No one should get the mistaken idea that water is everything. 

 It cannot take the place of cultivation. After irrigation, cultiva- 

 tion is all the more necessary. An orchard should be cultivated 

 both ways after being thoroughly irrigated. Water will be needed 

 less often, and the fruit will be of better quality; in fact, more 

 naturally developed, than where too much dependence is placed on 

 water alone. 



Some argue that irrigation produces a fruit of poor flavor. I 

 contend that it is the manner in which the water is applied that af- 

 fects the quality of the fimit. An intelligent application of mois- 

 ture, combined Avith climate and good soil, will produce good fruit. 



THE APPLE. 



I 



The apple is destined to ever head the list of commercial fniits in 

 Eastern Oregon. Nor could we wish for a worthier fruit to be at 

 the head could we have the whole world to choose from. All of the 

 foothills and many of the creek bottoms, as well as numerous 

 prairies, are well adapted to apple culture, and land that produces 

 good wheat will produce good apples. Reall3^ I think barely 1 

 per cent of the good apple land in my District is in use for that pur- 

 pose. 



To the amateur orchardist I would say : First, select your loca- 

 tion near a good orchard. Second, don't experiment on a large 

 scale. Try to observe what apples mature to perfection in your im- 

 mediate vicinity. Many of the choicest apples attain perfection 

 only in certain locations, Mobile other varieties equally as good and 

 highly profitable may be grown with most satisfactory results. 

 Study the markets, the demands of the buyers, shipping and cold- 

 storage men in making up your list, and then do not make it too 

 large. A carload of one or two varieties always commands a higher 

 price than one made up of a dozen different varieties, even though 



