In conclusion, I will say I am convinced we have the best fruit state in the United States. All we need is thorough work and industry. Yours most respectfully,

REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY.

ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS SUBMITTED AT MEETINGS OF THE BOARD, HELD AT VANCOUVER MAY 22, 1891, AND AT TACOMA OCTOBER 12, 1891, APRIL 13, 1892, AND OCTOBER 10, 1892.

TACOMA, WASH., October 10, 1892.

To the Honorable State Board of Horticulture :

GENTLEMEN — I present, for your kind consideration, in addition to abstracts of the first three, my fourth report as your secretary since the inauguration of the board, April 13, 1891.

FIRST MEETING, AT VANCOUVER, MAY 22, 1891.

Since my appointment as your secretary, last month, there have been issued 7,000 copies of Bulletin No. 1, which contains the law creating the board, and description of green aphis, woolly aphis, San José or pernicious scale, codling moth, apple tree caterpillar, pear and cherry tree slug, hop louse, oyster shell bark louse, currant worm and the currant fly, also remedies for the destruction of these insects, known as follows: Solution No. 1. Salsoda and lye, whale oil, soap and kerosene, tobacco and soap, lye and rosin, arsenical mixtures (with caution), and white hellebore. The Bean and the Champion spray pumps are recommended for use, being known to have given good service; work performed according to the direction given at your first meeting.

Regulations of the board have been published in two daily papers, ten days, and three copies sent to each county of the state, which have been posted as specified by law.

Regulations of the board and copies of the bulletin have been sent to eighty-five of the leading newspapers in the state, and among those which have published notices of the board and material extracts from the bulletin, as have come to my notice, are: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Press-Times, Seattle Telegraph, Tacoma Ledger, Tacoma News, Every Sunday, Tacoma Globe, Columbia Chronicle, Palouse Gazette, Walla Walla Daily Statesman, Walla Walla Daily Union, Spokane Review, Mason County Journal, Orting Oracle, Review of Roy, Ellensburgh Localizer, Elma Chronicle, Wilbur Register, Goldendale Sentinel, Washington Farmer, Olympia Tribune, White River Journal, San Juan Graphic,

Vancouver Register, La Camas Times and the Northwest IIorticulturist, which has published the entire contents of the bulletin.

During the month over seventy letters have been written, and correspondence with horticultural societies and officials in Oregon, California, Illinois, Michigan, New York and the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C., carried on.

There have been 120 visits to the office during the month by parties seeking information in reference to horticulture. There have been requests for bulletins by mail from various portions of the state, through seventy-two postoffices. To all these persons bulletins have been sent; also to the leading horticulturists, as shown by directories; in all, about 2,000 copies have been distributed to date, aside from the work performed as assistant inspector of fruit pests. Seventy-five fruit dealers and merchants in Tacoma and Seattle have been seen, and their attention called to the danger of importing pests, also to the law relating thereto. These gentlemen, with scarcely any exception, have said they would handle no fruit infested with the San José scale, or any other known fruit pest, or would disinfect any fruit which may be infested found in their possession.

Endeavors have been made to enlist the coöperation of the press so that the board may, through its channels, reach every person in the state who is or may become interested in horticulture. The work of the press thus far has been of great value in spreading information, and the willingness shown by persons connected with. it to aid and enhance the horticultural interests of the state is highly commendable and appreciated.

SECOND MEETING, AT TACOMA, OCTOBER 12, 1891. Statistics have been collected from a portion of each of four districts, as follows: In Clarke county forty-three orchardists have 520 acres, with 56,626 trees. In Walla Walla, forty-three orchardists have 1,101 acres, with 117,915 trees. On Orcas island there are are fifty-five orchardists, who have 820 acres, with 83,186 On Snake river there are fifteen orchardists, who have 498 acres planted with fruit trees and grapevines.

trees.

The woolly aphis is the most injurious pest demanding the attention of the Clarke county fruit growers. There are, in a few instances, some San José scale, but not to any serious extent. In Walla Walla the San José scale does the greatest damage; some

woolly aphis are also found. On the islands trees are exempt from these two pests, but some oyster shell bark lice are found. The green aphis and codling moth seem to have begun their depredations over the entire state. The woolly aphis is found in the Puyallup and White River valleys, and the maple scale on trees in Tacoma and Seattle.

WORK AS ASSISTANT INSPECTOR.

By order of D. M. Jessee, as assistant inspector, seventy-five or chards were examined during July on the islands and in Whatcom county. The great drawback to the best results from most of the places visited was the lack of thorough cultivation. The first pest found in the orchards of Orcas island was the apple tree borer, but it works only in uncultivated orchards, and only in a few places. Coal oil, applied by means of a sponge or machine oil can, where the small punctures made by this insect are seen, was found effective in destroying the larva. The red spider was found in one orchard, and the same remedy is used to destroy it. No woolly aphis were found on the island, and only in a few instances any green aphis. The trees where cultivated are very thrifty, having healthful trunks and strong, spreading branches, showing the effects of this calcareous or lime soil. Some of the large orchardists who have many apple trees, some of which are about fourteen years old, have experimented with applications of lime with fertilizers with results showing good returns. The bark on these trees has a green, fresh appearance, and heavy dark leaves, free from insects, and a fair crop of fruit will be produced this season.

The young prune orchards, of which the varieties are mostly Italian, are also in good condition. There are also apricots, among which the Breda variety is found.

The Orcas Island Fruit Company has about 160 acres enclosed in picket fence, and about 55 acres of this in prunes and apples. The 5,000 young prune trees, mostly Italian, are making vigorous growths, and are clean and thrifty. A few apple tree borers are found among the older trees, but are being exterminated, and all trees carefully watched. Among the places inspected on Orcas island are those of A. C. Kittles, W. H. Johnson, T. E. Smith, W. Sutherland, G. H. Williams, A. H. Van Sant, James Tullock, L. M. Durkee, G. Burroughs, J. N. Nichols, Wm. Wright, P. Bostian, J. H. Ryman, W. B. Hambly, Peter Frechette, J. E. Noland, Thos. D. Dixon, Orcas Island Fruit Company, A. J. Hill, Chas. Clark, J.

O'Neill, Henry O'Neill, J. N. Fry, C. Armstrong, C. Shattuck, J. B. Fry, M. S. Donohue, Charles Bramer, J. Barnes, Geo. Abbott, E. Langle, R. R. Cockerill, James Jorgenson, Sam. Belch, W. S. Guy, Wm. Johnson and Peter La Plant. E. L. Von Gohren, commissioner of this third district, has a young nursery in which the trees are all very thrifty and free of any insect pest.

James Tullock, who is one of the largest apple producers, says the Monmouth Pippin, Gravenstein and Imperial Pippin are among the most profitable. A red winter apple (Rubicon) is being tried, and thus far is reported to show evidence of becoming worthy of indorsement for cultivation. Amongst other growers on this island. at Olga, where inspection was made, are Chas. A. Anderson, B. P. Cunklar, Wm. Emch, P. Reddick, J. W. Grey, B. F. Westfall, Wm. Moore and Thos. II. Robertson; and among those at Doe Bay postoffice are C. H. Nelson, P. T. Morrass and John G. Verrick. The orchardists on this portion of the island should observe the fact that they cannot grow two crops on the same ground at the same time. In some cases, in favorable years for the spreading of pests, these owners will have much work and trouble unless their places are more thoroughly cultivated. P. T. Morrass, who has a number of acres of bearing apple trees, says he sells at an average price of sixty cents per box (fifty pounds) for fall and $1 for winter apples in wholesale quantities.

Other fruit growers, whose postoffice is Orcas, are Wm. Miller, G. H. Adkins, T. O. Clark, W. O. Nichols, T. Holland, Geo. Gibbs, Chas. E. Bashear and Ned Martin. This southwestern portion of the island is specially adapted to prune growing, as can be seen by the well loaded prune trees this year of the Italian variety. There are also some French and Silver varieties, about seven years old, and all bearing heavy crops. The ground is of southwestern slope and is kept entirely free from weeds in the best orchards.

The total number of trees not less than two years old on this island in fifty-two orchards, owned by parties whose names are given above, are 83,186, or an average of 1,599 to each orchard, with prospects of increasing not less than 50 per cent. during another season.

In Whatcom county inspection was made in thirty orchards, in vicinity of Bellingham Bay, and on Nooksack river, from Nooksack City to Lynden. The soil in this river valley is similar to that of the White and Puyallup, being sandy loam. Several large hop