The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., October 9, 1913, page 8

ORCHARDS THRIVE IN SKAMANIA COUNTY

     Among the most thriving orchards in the Underwood district, opposite the Hood River valley, across the Columbia in Skamania county, Wash., are those on the west side of Underwood Heights overlooking the Little White Salmon river.  Here the man traversing the community is surprised to find large tracts of orchards just coming into bearing.  The soil is deep, red shot and produces a rapid tree growth.
     One of the most promising of these young orchards, which will soon add their quota to the northwest's production of fruit, is owned by W. M. and D.G.C Kollock.  The former, with Mrs. Kollock, makes his home on the place and gives the orchard the best of care.  Last Sunday, the writer accompanied Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Blanchar in their automobile to the Kollock home and inspected the orchards of this district.
     Mr. Kollock is a strong believer in pears as fillers in an orchard.  On his Underwood Heights tract he has planted a number of acres of dwarf pears.
     “These pears, grafted on quince roots,” says Mr. Kollock, “come into bearing very quickly, at about two or three years of age.  And when they are planted deep, so that the roots may grow from the main stems, will after a few years’ time grow into standard trees.”
     Other orchardists of this district are J.B. Purcell, A. Haswell, E.M. Cummins, H. F. Stickney, Dr. S.E.V. Weber, H. W. Hamlin, George Hewitt and Ben Cleveland.  Mr. Cleveland recently purchased the Brown orchard on the west side of the Little White Salmon.  Mr. Haswell was formerly a furniture dealer in Madison, Wis.
     Great strides have been made in the district in the past few years, and all the residents of the beautiful region, where one has a view of the valley of the Little White Salmon and the Columbia Gorge, are making additional clearings.
     It is especially beautiful in the west Underwood country at the present time.  The vine maple and dogwoods grow profusely there, and the hillsides are now aflame with color.  The dogwoods are as handsome as holly trees, their bows laden with bright red berries.