The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-11-04
T.D.CALKINS, PRO-
GRESSIVE FARMER
RANCH LOCATED WEST OF THE CITY
The Old Home of Charles Haynes, PiO-
Heer, Scene Of Great Activity
Forty Cows MIXED


world One would not believe that at
the edge Of this valley of apples is To-
Gated today one Of OIegou's most pro-
gressive general farms. This is the
dairy and general farming place of
Thomas ID. Calkins Because it is of
the main road but few Hood River res
ideuts have ever visited the farm.
The Cakins fam is formed Of river
silt that has been building up fer ages
in a deep indentation of the Columbia
river gorge. While the tract comprises
about 800 acres, less than 100 acres are
under cultivation.
MIR. Calkins holds the farm under a
long term lease from the estate Of the
late Mrs. Joseph W. Morton. 1t was
the homestead of Mrs. MortOn's grand
father, Charles Haynes. pioneer of
the Hood River valley. There were no
roads built along the Column bluffs
at that that time, and the farm was
accessible only by boat. Hood Rivers
first peaches and first apples were har-
vested on this tract MIR. Haynes would
load his sailboat with his farm product
and sail for The DslIes, where he found
a ready market, and his fruit and veg.
etables always sold at a profitable fig
ure.
Nature seemed to make provision for
homesite on this fertile tract. At
the west end of the lowland an oak
covered eminence arises, and it was
here that Mr.. Haynes reared his pio-
neer dwelling. The buildings of the
farm are still grouped around the crest
of this high point; for the lowldnds
during periods of high water in the
spring and early summer months are
nearly always covered with the Colum-
bias waters. These floods, while they
are annoying for portion of the year,
repenish the soil each season.
MIR. Calkins is primarily dairy
farmer lie milks 40 cows. more per-
haps than any other dairyman in the
mid Columbia district. However, be
deyotes much of his attention to the
production of general farm products
and to intensive gardening. During
| the past summer from two and half
acre tract he harvested 40 tons of to-
matoes. He raises caulifiowet, green
beans. cabbage. and this year he had
success with experiments from sweet
potatoes. Next year he plans to Sc
cure slips of variety of sweet pOta-
toes that will produce well in the Ore
pon climate, and 10 the future these
home grown tubers may be enjoyed by
Oregonlans. -,
Mr.. CaIkins is now harvesting 10000
celery plants. These he wraps IN
punches of dozens, which will net him
approximately so cents per bunch.
Twelve hundred dollars netsfrom plot
of ground about an acre in extent is q
return that would be gratifying to any
ranCher.
The deep. fertile Columbia river bot.
tom silt produces vegetables OF an eX'
celent quality, and all crops grow lux
uriantly. One of the caulifowers from
MIR. Cakins' gardens measured Ia inch
es across the top.
While the larger part of the truck Is
shipped to Portland markets, much oi
it is consumed by local people, and Mr.
Calkins is now shipping to eastern Ore
gon markets.
The dairy farmer finds hog raising {
profitable side line. At present he has
GO head of swine. At different seasons
of the year he sells his fat, young hogs
in carload lots to local or Portland
dealers. Last week a shipment wal
made to Portland, the hogs bringing
the top of the days market.
Mr. Calkins employs from five t
seven men on his rancn throughout thu
wear. 1t is the duty of one man to care
for the cows. Adolph Almstead-he A Il
more OF a youth than man-is th'
mixer, Almstead is a Swiss. lie hai
been in the community but few years
The lad was reared in the dairy region
of the little European republic. III
has been milking cows since he wat
large enough to todde around after hi
mother, he says. The Swiss boy de
clares that his task of handling the ~
cows on the Calkins place is an easy
one. He can with ease strip dry q
cows in an hour. He milk the animals
twice daily, arising each morning a
three o'clock. His work is finished
long before daylight IN the winteI
/ months. The evening milking is begun
at three o'clock each afternoon.
| AImstead, seated on his little stool
| grooming softly to his cows, as they
| MUNICH their rations of alfalfa or vetcl
| hav. presents pretty pastoral picture
| The boy takes a pride in his work. III
is always cleanly dressed, and his ami
mails are kept clean. The dairy barr
has a pleasing smell, perfume made
from the intermngling of the odor o
sweet hay and fresh, warm milk.
1t is the duty of another of Mr.. Calk
| ms employees 20 keep the dairy barr
clean. He hoses out the stables ever!
i day. Once daily he hauls big load o.
manure to the vegetable gardens. Thu
\ nothing is wasted. This constant fer
uiaation may be responsible for som'
/ of the fine crops of vegetables on Mr.
Calkins' farm.
Farmers along the Columbia rive
bottoms have experienced a remarkable
season this year. Usually the higI
waters do not recede until late in tn
summer, and it is possible to harves
but one crop. When seeds are sow
for an early crop the risk from hlg
water damage is great. This se8so
Il the early crops matured successfully
II The rlver was lower than any fOrme
season in the memory of pioneers.
III From a IL acre tract of alfalfa Mr.
III Calkins harvested more than 60 tons o
II hay. Without interference from hiR
Il water he got five cuttings from tn
II plot. From two and half acres O
II yetch he harvested 100 tons of fine hay
II The yeteh was so heavy that the NOV
II ing machine could only be driven on
III way. Three men were kept bus
II throwing the luxuriant growth bac
II from the sickles.
II MIR. Calkins experimental this yea
II with corn. From an acre of Minnesot
u Dent, ne harvested Is bushels of fir
grain. The success of this experimeT
will lead to further planting of corn.
Near the residence on the CalkiT
. place a giant weeping willow rears |