LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL GASTON, OREGON, January 1, 1913. 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 1911 and 1912. 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 commissioner 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. Section 5491, Lord's Oregon Laws, says that it shall be the duty of the board to report to the legislature, what, if any, legislation is needed in aid of the horticultural and fruitgrowing interests of the State. In accordance therewith, I submit a draft of two proposed bills embodying the recommendations of the board in this respect. The points covered in these recommendations are those in which the experience of the board has shown the present law to be weak and in need of amendment. They are briefly summarized as follows: 1. Strengthening the Quarantine Law.-A condition arose |