W. F. ALLEN’S CATALOGUE, SALISBURY, MD. 5 
MASCO77T.—I offered this variety last season, 
but as I had never fruited it could 
not y very much personally as to its qualities. 
After fruiting it the past season I am prepared to 
say that it is one of the largest berries that we are 
growing. The berries are of a beautiful, glossy red 
color, good quality and productive. The plants make 
a healthy, strong growth, with plenty of plants. I 
see no reason why this would not become a popular 
standard variety. I picked a number of quarts where 
twenty-seven filled a basket heaping full. The illus- 
tration on this page is one of them. I do not know 
much about the history of this berry further than 
that it hails from Virginia and seems to be a strong 
competitor to the Gandy. It comminces to ripen a 
few days earlier and continues to bear after the 
Gandy is gone, I was certainly very much pleased 
with the berry the past season and shall plant largely 
of it, and I would advise you not to fail to include 
this in your list. 
WM. BELT.—There are a few lovers of straw- 
‘ berries that would not cross a 
plot and pick out the William Belt as the best fla- 
vored. It is the standard for quality the country 
over. The demand for this variety has been much 
greater for the past few years, and we frequently 
dispose of every plant that we have and sometimes 
do not have cnough. A Washington grower says: 
“The William Belt and Chesapeake for flavor and 
good eating are dandies I am going to run all my 
patch to these two kinds. They stood the drouth 
best and are in good shape now.” © Notwithstanding 
the William Belt is somewhat subject to rust, its 
popularity seems to increase right along, owing, no: 
doubt, to its exceptionally good qualities. I find, 
however, that it does not rust as had now as it did 
a few years ago. and there are few amateur growers: 
who do not include this in their co!lection. For 
fancy market and the home table it is indispensable. 
I know of nothing that approachcs it in quality ex- 
cept Chesapeake. 
This ~ariety was received 
BLACK BEAUTY. c 
last season from the origi- 
nator and grown for the first time the past year. fF 
therefore have not had an opportunity to fruit this: 
variety yet. except on young plants, which gave us: 
some very fine specimens of high quality. The origi- 
nator describes it thus: “This plant is a result of 
eighteen years of scientific breeding, terminating im 
one of the grandest creations in the strawberry 
world. Berry rich, aromatic, sweet, firm and free 
from core. Conical in shape, large, even and smooth, 
dark red to center. and so rich in sugars and essen- 
tial oils that it will remain sweet when left hanging 
on the plant several days after being fully ripe. A 
large, healthy, well balanced plant of the multiple 
crown type: a splendid plant maker and very pro- 
ductive. Season late.” 
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%’ WE MAKE FRIENDS OF OUR CUSTO- - 
rs MERS BY TREATING THEM AS SUCH. 
2 New York City, Feb. 15, 1910. - 
% Dear Mr. Allen—It was fifteen years ago that = 
I sent you my first order, and the way that or 
% der was filled has captured an order from me * 
mw every year since, thé plants sent me at that 
time being so far superior to any that I had 
*% ever before been able to procurt I inclose an 
*¢ order for plants for the coming spring, and will 
* ask you to kindly send your catalogue to my 
** friend, who has recently purchased a home and 
“ has asked my advice in relation. to a new straw- ‘ 
** berry bed. I have recommended your plants to 
* him, telling him of my pleasant experience in 
** dealing with you these many years. I have no . 
‘* doubt he will be happy to possess some of your 
ot '- = es . 
~ unrivaled plants, and to be treated, as I know he 
x will be, as fairly and generously as I haye been: 
x Sincerely yours, J. O. STEVENS. 
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MOT ae eye ah i a a ae FS a a he OS ah Oe oe re rd 
