The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., September 22, 1966, page 4

OREGONIAN STORY OF MAY, 1939 PRAISES PRODUCE OF JOHN DICKEY

     Mr. and Mrs. Ted Pierson received from their daughter, Marjorie Yung of Portland, a clipping from the Sunday Oregonian of May 28, 1939 in which she had found in the basement of the home into which they had recently moved telling of the success of John W. Dickey in raising vegetables at that time. Now 27 years later, much of the same soil is still producing fine quality produce and in some instances many of the crops then produced are still products of the farm. Onions, however, were not listed in the crops produced at that time.
     "Use plenty of fertilizer and sell nothing but first-grade produce - these are two of the main points John W. Dickey credits for his success in growing vegetables in the mid-Columbia area.
     "Dickey's 126-acre farm is located at Bingen, Wash., just opposite Hood River. The rich, river bottom soil and the mild climate combine to make this area ideal for raising garden produce.
     "Farming is really a full-time job for Dickey, for besides supervising the growing and harvesting of his crops, he makes the 126-mile round trip to Portland nearly every morning to bring his vegetables to the farmers' early wholesale market.
     "Asparagus is Dickey's principal crop in the spring. His own brand of grass is famed locally for its high quality, and regularly sells five to ten cents higher than the going market price. Although his annual asparagus production is about 6000 crates, Dickey is unable to keep up with the demand and is often sold out for days in advance.

Lake Covers Fields

     "Dickey started farming in 1921. He now has 22 acres planted with asparagus. The rising water of the new Bonneville lake has covered an equal acreage of what was formerly his best asparagus land. To prevent further encroachment by the river during flood season, he recently completed 1½ miles of dike.
     "Most of the acreage on the Dickey farm is devoted to raising tomatoes. About 70,000 boxes are marketed yearly. He is one of the few growers whose tomatoes are graded and sorted by machinery.
     "Other major crops grown on the ranch are cucumbers, fall head lettuce, cabbage, eggplant, peppers and summer squash.

Much Fertilizer Used

     "Asparagus plants are perennials and thus do not require replanting every year, but Dickey says continual care is needed to keep the roots in good condition. This year he spread 27 tons of commercial fertilizer, besides large quantities of manure, on his fields.
     "Young asparagus plants are first seeded in beds. After growing unmolested for a year, they are taken up and sorted. The best roots are then planted in the fields in 5-foot rows, 3 feet apart.
     "Three years are required before the asparagus is ready for harvesting. The peak of production is not reached until the eighth or ninth year. Some of Dickey's asparagus plants are 40 years old.

Frequent Cutting Practiced

     "During very warm weather asparagus stocks will grow as much as six inches a day. Since No. 1 quality asparagus is supposed to be about 10 inches long, twice-a-day harvesting is then necessary to prevent waste.
     "Asparagus harvesters work with long butcher knives. The stocks are cut one at a time just below the surface of the soil. The work usually starts before daylight and is rushed to completion before the hot sun has a chance to strike the plants, as asparagus keeps longer if cut while cool.
     "After harvesting the stocks are carried to the packing house to the graded, bunched, weighed and crated in 30-pound boxes.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer