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8 Ranch and Range. ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY. In the interests of the Farmers, Horticulturists and Stockmen of Wash ington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah and British Columbia. Official organ of the Northwest Fruit Growers' Association, embracing Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. Subscription (in advance) ------ $1.00 per year MILLER FREEMAN Editor Address all communications to 534-535 Pioneer block, Seattle, Wash. Branch office at North Yakima, Wash. We have heard of orders being placed for four cars of poultry to come from the East for the holiday trade to Wash ington. From this it would seem as though we needed to develop our poultry industry a little more. A horsethief in Whitman county, this state, who had been brought up for trial on the charge of stealing a horse, pleaded not guilty, because the horse he stole was not a horse but a gelding. The judge held that the horsethief could not be prosecuted on the charge and so let the thief go. J. B. Palmer seems determined to continue his criticisms of the methods of King county's fruit inspector in orchard pruning. It is a discussion that can do no one any harm, and as Mr. Brown is an officer serving the public, such criticism is entirely in order so long as it is done in a conscientious manner. B. J. Cole, Latona, Wash., reports that he expects a good demand this coming season for purebred Italian queens. He receives many orders from California and expects his trade with that state to constantly increase, as it is impossible to raise pure bred queens there for the reason that there are so many wild mixed bees with their homes in trees, hillsides, etc. Also, the fact that foul brood is so prevalent there, makes it doubly difficult. Criticism of any one in a public position is perfectly justi fiable. | The scathing comment of L. A. Porter regarding the editor's views as to the San Jose scale is given full prom inence this week, as would be the correspondence of any one, no matter how much the opinions of the writer would oppose those of the editor. The columns of RANCH AND RANGE are open to the free entry of communications upon any topic of practical interest to its patrons, and a fair hearing is al ways accorded to every one. There are a number of orchards in this state that to the editor's personal knowledge have been effectually ridden of the San Jose scale by proper spraying, and, as we stated in our issue of October 28, the orchards are more profitable than ever, due to the improvement in quality and quantity of fruit secured. The lime, sulphur and salt mixture was the one used and the benefit did not end with the freeing of the treea from the ravages of the scale and other insect pests, for this compound invariably stimulated the growth of the trees and production of fruit. It has been found that the spraying solution accomplished best results when applied very warm and of such a consistency that upon cooling it would harden upon the limbs. As in this state, the fruit growers in Oregon are losing faith in fruit unions. In the last issue of the Hillsboro, Ore., Inde pendent we find that a number of fruit shippers are receiving expense bills for freight and commission. In one instance RANCH AND RANGK. the fruit shipped did not pay expenses by $2.50, in another, where the amount shipped was larger, the shortage is $150. This is particularly unfortunate for the country and for the transportation companies. Last year something was made on fruit shipments by both growers and the railroad com panies and both classes were expecting a big traffic this year, but the commission men have blasted all hopes. Growers will simply not attempt to handle fruit hereafter, wherefore the transportation companies will pull empty cars if they move them at all. The orchardists believe that the "fruit unions" are a job lot of swindlers. The trend of emigration and of general interest will be in the direction of the Pacific coast, markedly bo on account of the Alaskan excitement, and the Alaskan excitement and settlement will, in turn, afford a marjtet for a large amount of produce raised in Oregon and Washington. People make conditions; conditions do not make people. Progressive peo ple make cities; cities do not always make progressive men. Therefore, you have struck the keynote —if we stimulate our selves to active enterprise results are bound to follow, and others will respect us. The future of the state or Washington and Oregon can hardily be anticipated, with their wonderful resources and with their wonderful people who will keep add ing to their wealth and population and become constantly more influential in the councils of the nation.—A. L. Mohler, President O. R. & N., in Walla Walla Statesman. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson says: "It is my purpose to thoroughly reorganize the division of statistics and as far as possible consolidate the system with the weather bureau, as the character of the work is very similar. The plan which I propose to put into operation is to have an agent in each state. Where his salary is large enough to bring him under the civil service law a most rigid and practical examination will be exacted before he is appointed. With an agent in each state and an intelligent correspondent in each township the data collected by the division of statistics will be as reliable as it is possible to make it. The entire force will be reorganized and overhauled. The efficient agents and correspondents will be retained and the inefficient will be dismissed. lam deter mined that there shall be no guesswork in the reports of the department and aim to have all reports as complete and reliable as are those of the weather bureau at present." Little items like the following show how great a trans formation is being wrought in the great wheat belt of the Northwest states. It is an authoritative statement and can easily be substantiated: The mortgage indebtedness of in dividuals in Umatilla county, Oregon, was decreased during the month of September last by $60,572.26. Mortgages amount ing to $109,305.53 were canceled, and during the same time those filed for record amounted to only $48,733.58. During October the amount of recorded mortgages was $38,641.53, and of those canceled $94,429.71. So that the mortgage debt during these two months has been reduced $116,213.79, and only about three-fifths of the wheat crop has been sold. Cliff Cleman has a 7-year-old boy that is as sharp as a tack. He is always ready with an answer of some sort to every legitimate question. One day his teacher asked him: "Jack, what is the longest day in the year?" After a moment's re flection came the answer in no uncertain tone —"Sunday!"— Yakima Herald. The law of Great Britain ruling against the importation of prison-made goods does not apply to the use of penitentiary made sacks, used in holding wheat,~as was at first announced.