LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

GASTON, OREGON, January 1, 1911.

To the Honorable the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

GENTLEMEN: In conformity with the statute which directs the Board of Horticulture to report biennially to you, I herewith submit my report of the work of the board for the years 1909 and 1910.

The board as now organized consists of five members for the five horticultural districts of the State, a commissioner at large and a secretary, and is supplemented by a county fruit inspector for each of the prominent fruit-growing counties. It is the duty of the district commissioners to look after the enforcement of the horticultural laws in their respective districts, to train and supervise their county inspectors, to gather information and statistics, and to attend to inspection of nurseries. The law requires that the commissioner at large, who is ex-officio president of the board shall visit all the principal fruit growing sections of the State at least once each year, and the fruit shipping centers during the shipping season, and that he shall at all times meet and address as many fruit growers' meetings and associations as possible.

The efficiency of the inspection work has been greatly increased during the past two years as evidenced by the improved condition of the orchards in general, and especially by the vastly better grade of fruit to be found on the markets. But considerable difficulty has been experienced by the commissioners in securing and retaining the services of competent county inspectors owing to the small remuneration connected with the office.

I would respectfully call your attention to my report of April, 1910, to the board, regarding the "Lafean Bill." This is a matter of federal legislation which came before the last Congress, that is highly inimical to the interests of the fruit growers of this State as it would require great changes in the size and shapes of our apple boxes as well as the methods of packing, grading, and labeling. We feel that we cannot submit to such legislation but it was only by great effort that it was defeated at the last session of Congress, and in all