Bh Wit OWNSEND,, SALISBURY. MARYLAND 
PROPER POLLENIZATION 
We have learned through close and careful attention that in our former methods in 
pollenizing imperfect varieties with perfect varieties, that we were not at all times 
correct, The old method was to set out four to eight rows of the imperfect variety, then 
one of the same season of a perfect sort. We have found that this method fails in 
many cases and in almost nine out of ten. 
THE PROPER WAY TO POLLENIZE (OR FERTILIZE) 
Where a main portion of the field is to be of an imperfect variety, set as follows: 
Begin with a row of some perfect variety with season a few days earlier than the im- 
perfect variety, then set three or not over four rows of your imperfect variety; follow 
with a row of some perfect variety that ripens a week later than the imperfect variety, 
and follow this style until the field is planted. The idea is this: The first perfect variety 
is to be sure to catch the first blooms from the imperfect variety, and the later perfect 
variety to be sure to catch all the later blooms. Secure perfect varieties that are rich 
with pollen, as many so-called perfect sorts are not sufficient in pollen to fertilize, the 
imperfect bloom probably has sufficient pollen for its own use and no more and many 
times we have found that when some perfect sorts were planted near a perfect variety 
rich in pollen they were greatly benefited. I mention a few old standard varieties for the 
reader’s benefit. The Gandy is one that is deficient in pollen; the Klondyke another, and 
many more I could mention. 
I have tried to make this part of my book as plain to you as possible, and 1 trust that 
I have not failed. Believe me, I had much rather have you take up the 20th Century 
method of growing strawberries than to receive any money that you could send me for 
an order of plants. ‘It is the better fruit that the great cities are cailing for and more of 
it. The supply of good fruit is always short. It is the common trash that goes a-begging. 
It costs no more to grow an acre of good berries than an acre of common; the only saving 
is in the picking and hauling as I have said before, and that saving goes in the wrong 
pocket. It is not the number of acres you set, but the number of quarts you get. 
Never set more acres than you can properly cultivate. 
Many a poor fellow has tried to get rich in one season and set ten acres when he 
could only properly cultivate two. His profit would have been far greater if he had only 
set out the two. A few acres of properly selected plants well arranged for and well 
eared for will show better returns than any other crop of fruit ever grown. 
It is the right start that brings the results every time. I am proud of the fact that 
I] have already helped hundreds of berry growers in almost every state to start right: 
they are finding strawberry growing more profitable than any other occupation. Their 
many letters, of which I print only a small part, are very encouraging to me, and make 
me strive each year to try to produce the best it is possible to produce for them. 
The demand for my plants has grown year by year by Jeaps and bounds from every 
corner and it is almost impossible for me to supply the demand, and my small annual 
catalog is about all the advertising I do. Very little advertising is done by me through 
the farm papers. I leave it tc my Customers to do my advertising. I have found to my 
entire satisfaction that their advertising pays well. 
I can properly say more than any other plant grower in the business. I received more 
orders the past season than the number of catalogs I mailed. 
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THE DAWN IS BREAKING 
I believe that the dawn is breaking on the 20th Century ideas. I believe that the 
ealis for cheap plants, cheap seeds, cheap trees, cheap stock, will be less and less every 
. year. I believe that there is to be a great awakning along these lines in the very 
near future. I have noticed for the past few years that in sections of the country where 
it was almost impossible to sell good plants at their worth, that they are now calling for 
the best that can be grown and insist in getting only the best, no matter what the cost. 
Of course, there are a great many sections that this awakening spirit has not reached, 
but they are sure to follow. The cheap, shoddy nursery stock that cnce was in demand will 
be no longer sought for even at the very lowest price. In my mail this morning was a 
price list from a concern quoting me peach trees, in Jots of ten, at two cents each: 
apple trees at three cents each. I have prices from a reliable nursery company, near my 
home. Their prices are twenty-five certs per peach tree and thirty-five to forty-five cents 
per apple tree. The latter firm has a reputation at Stake. Their stack is the best that it 
is possible to grow. I shal] place my order with the latter firm. I] have faith in their 
stock. I am willing to give them a profit and try to encourage them to keep up the great 
work they have begun. : 
Don’t plant heavy of varieties until they have been tested in your immediate locality. 
The list of varieties is now entirely too long. It is my intention each season to discard as 
many of the less desirable varieties as possible and thus keep the list as short as possible. 
‘a Ee re. eo process, as there are many new varieties coming to the 
must be given space, and th 5 io’ 
Steuucuet ecirintiie diet £ p d these almost offset the reductions made 
It is true that there are being some great improvements made in the way va 
troductions, especially the new race of berries (ever-bearing varieties). : They gh pele 
the 20th Century wonder, and one can hardly believe, after growing and fruiting them and 
seeing them with their own eyes, that they really are a possibility. The fellow that eats 
the fruit is amazed, and the fellow that grows the fruit is amazed most. There are three 
or four wonderful introductions on this line, and they should be grown by every lover of 
strawberries that has a rod of ground, or a few feet of space in a back vard. ii 
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