Report of State Board of Horticulture. 61 



I visited Umatilla County a few weeks ago and was glad to 

 learn that the scale is fast diminishing and that there is a 

 strong growing sentiment to fight the codling moth. I 

 understand that mucli more spraying for it was done this 

 year and that they feel well paid by the good results. To me 

 one of the most interesting portions of my district is the irri- 

 gated land of Malheur County. The orchards are under a 

 fine system of cultivation and tlie results are truly wonderful. 

 Nothing would do so mucli to place Eastern Oregon on a foot- 

 ing with the more highly developed portions of our country 

 as the development of her arid lands. 



There is no branch of agriculture in which a mistake in the 

 beginning is so serious as that of fruit growing. The com- 

 mercial fruit grower can not afford to experiment. An experi- 

 ment costs him too much. He sliould leave that to the man 

 who can afford experiments. Let the wrong varieties be 

 selected, or his trees be planted too closel}^ together, and there 

 they stand a living reminder to him for years, perhaps a life- 

 time, of his folly. A little mistake in the beginning and his 

 income may be reduced by half, not for one year, but a life- 

 time. Too much attention can not be given to varieties, and 

 other things being equal, I would always select a variety 

 with an established reputation. An old and favorite variety 

 will often bring from twenty-five cents to fifty cents more per 

 package, and of course this amount is clear profit. The "new 

 variety fiend" and the nurseries that are always booming 

 something "new" have damaged the commercial fruit grow- 

 ers thousands of dollars in my district. 



In October I made the yearly examination of the nurseries 

 in my district. I found them in good shape. So far as my 

 experience has gone I found the nurserymen willing at all times 

 to co-operate with the board. The cool, dry atmosphere of 

 Eastern Oregon produces a superior grade of stock. It is much 

 easier to keep it clean and free from injurious insects in such 

 a climate. I do not favor the irrigation of young trees to any 

 extent. Cultivation without irrigation, if possible, produces 

 the best stock. I have seen beautiful year old trees grown 

 with plenty of water ; their bark was glossy as though it had 

 been varnished, and they stood from six feet to ten feet in 

 height. I never saw anything more attractive in the way of 

 young fruit trees, but they would not be my choice if I were 

 selecting stock for my planting. The top had outgrown the 

 roots, as it were, and the tree would not prove half so hardy 



