40 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



THIRD DISTRICT. 



SEMIANNUAL REPORT, APRIL, 1902. 



Grants Pass, Oregon, April — , 1902. 

 To the President and Members of the State Board of Horticulture — 



Gentlemen : I herewith submit my semianuual report of 

 the horticultural industry of the third district to April, 1902. 



At the present date the prospects for a large fruit crop in 

 the third district is very promising. Fruit trees of all varie- 

 ties have wintered without any damage to trees or fruit buds 

 from climatic causes. Almond, peach, cherry, and prunes are 

 in full bloom. The pear is beginning to bloom, while the early 

 blooming varieties of apples the fruit buds are forming, but 

 show no color yet. All varieties of fruit is blooming from two 

 to three weeks later this year than last which is favorable to 

 base prophesy for a large crop. 



The fruit crop the past year, while not a record breaker, was 

 quite large, averaging perhaps sixty j^er cent of a crop of all 

 varieties, and with good prices which prevailed through the 

 season fruit growers realized a good profit, and were success- 

 ful. Their success has stimulated all classes of fruit growers 

 to spray, prune and put their orchards in the best possible 

 condition for this year's crop. 



With experience the fruit growers find their success, if they 

 have any, comes from an intelligent knowledge of injurious 

 insect pests and fungous diseases, and the remedy for them. 

 I have answered a great many letters of inquiry from all parts 

 of the district as to the methods and remedies suggested by 

 the state board for fighting insect pests and fungous diseases, 

 and in visiting various localities of the district I find a great 

 majority or orchard men active and alert to the necessity of 

 spraying. I know of many men two years ago who had no 

 faith in spraying for San Jose scale, whom I have induced to 

 spray their infested orchards with the result ; tliese men are 

 now strong advocates of the spray pump. Their success in 

 destroying the scale has removed want of faith. 



The confidence of the fruit growers through their success 



