E. W. TOWNSEND & SONS, SALISBURY, MARYLAND 3 
Our 1931 Message 
HE Year 1930, will probably go down in history as the most disastrous year any of the farm- 
ers now living have ever experienced. Taking the country over, it has been extremely hot 
and dry. Practically all crops have been injured from fifty to seventy-five per cent. The 
Strawberry crop has been one of the worst failures of any, owing to the fact that plants will not 
take root during extremely dry weather. 
We have branches in other states, besides our big plant here in Maryland. And they have all 
fared practically the same. We will have less than one-fourth of a crop of strawberry plants, and 
most varieties can be sold only in small lots. We were fortunate in having our ‘‘Howard’s Supreme” 
plants under irrigation—that is, most of them—and we have an ideal bed of these plants. 
We are very sorry to be compelled to advance our prices at a time like this, when we know that 
our good friends and customers have been “hard hit,’’ as well as ourselves. 
But even at the prices which we are quoting we cannot realize fifty cents on the dollar of what 
we have invested in our crops. We have cut corners everywhere possible in order to make the 
prices. We have cut down our Catalogue. We will do no advertising. Many of our employes have 
volunteered a cut in their salaries, in order to ‘‘do their bit.” 
And even though the price of plants is advanced, we do not feel that our customers can afford 
not to buy plants this year. With the drought so severe the country over, the acreage cut so much, 
there is sure to be an unheard-of demand for berries for the next few years at least. And a small 
acreage planted this spring is sure to repay big dividends. 
There seems little need that I should advise all our customers to place their orders as soon as 
possible this time. I am sure they all realize this importance. Late orders will not be filled. There 
is absolutely less than one-fourth enough plants grown to fill the demand. 
Thanking you for your many past favors, and hoping that Nineteen Thirty-One will be a pros- 
perous year for you all, I am sincerely yours, 
BE. W. TOWNSEND, SR., President. 
(PERFECT FLOWERING) 
—The New Extra Early Straw- 
berry introduced the past season. 
Originated by a Mr. Hurley, in 
Wicomico County, Maryland, being 
a chance seedling, and for the past 
several years has been grown by 
several of our leading berry grow- 
ers in this County, with excellent 
results. 
Season—Very early to ripen. 
Fruit large to extra large. Firm 
enough to be classed as a good 
shipper. Color bright red with a 
heavy double green calix that re- 
sembles the Big Joe. Flavor extra 
good, being mild and sweet. Berries 
round to top shape, being very uni- Fruitland 
form in size. Exceedingly produc- ee ca 
tive. Is one of the very best plant Top Prices 
makers on average soil. Plants in the 
Market. 
dark green throughout the growing and fruiting 
season and not subject to rust. FRUITLAND 
is a perfect flowering variety, has an extra large | it again the past spring, and it was equal in 
bloom that carries an abundance of pollen, which | every respect to any early variety on our 
makes it extremely valuable to plant with other | grounds, and surpassed most of them. And 
varieties of its season, and especially along with | never failed to sell for at least $1.00 per crate 
such varieties as Howard’s Supreme. We fruited | more over Premier. 
