PREMIER The frost Proof Berry 



For many years, since 1915 when it was introduced, Premier reigned 

 supreme as the most popular, most profitable and widely planted berry 

 in the northern states. Premier territory extends as far south as the 

 high altitudes in Tennessee and North Carolina and north to Canada. 



Premier is still a favorite with many growers in that area but it no 

 longer "reigns supreme", having been surpassed by Catskill and 

 challenged by Sparkle and other kinds. The reasons why Premier 

 stayed at the top so long may be listed. 



1. Vigorous, healthy foliage, usually making plenty of plants for a 

 good fruiting row. 



2. Amazingly heavy crops of fruit which while not fancy are accept- 

 able on many markets, including the processing industry. 



3. A hardiness and frost proof factor which insures big crops every 

 year. 



4. An early berry, it starts bearing among the first and continues 

 through a long season. 



5. Most of the records for yields and profits, many of which still stand, 

 have been made with Premier. It has been considered the safe and 

 sure variety. 



Factors which contributed to the loss of leadership by Premier are: 



1. Before virus free stocks were available it became increasingly 

 hard to get a good fruiting row, especially in bad seasons and under 

 unfavorable conditions. This naturally greatly decreased yields and 

 therefore profits. 



2. Premier plants bear so heavily that they cannot size up many cf 

 the later berries. This has been particularly serious in hot dry seasons. 



3. As more desirable fruit came on the market Premier berries suffered 

 by comparison both in quality and price. 



4. Virus free stocks make it easier now to get a good fruiting row, 

 but in our opinion virus free Premier now offered is not the real 

 Premier. The fruit is the same in size and shape, but is lighter in 

 color and less desirable in quality than the old non-virus free stock. 

 We hear of local processors refusing berries from virus free Premier 

 because it makes a product that is too mushy. We are not at all 

 sure that the present day virus free Premier stock has all the frost 

 resistance of the original Premier. 



To sum up. Premier berries are early, fairly good in quality, fairly 

 attractive in appearance, acceptable on many markets, moderately 

 firm for shipping short distances and are produced in tremendous yields 

 /with a certainty of bearing unequalled by few other kinds. 

 ■"' For those who have known and grown Premier and like it we are not 

 ' suggesting a change. We have a nice lot of virus free Premier and a 

 few of the regular stock for those who want to try the old strain. 



Premier is also sold as Howard 17, which was the original name. 

 The varieties are identical in every prospect. When ordering use the 

 name you like best. Price List page 32. 



STELEMASTER 



Stelemaster is a very fine early variety in 

 addition to its ability to resist all three forms of 

 the red stele disease. It is a very vigorous grow- 

 er and close to Catskill and Premier in produc- 

 tivness. Average size of Stelemaster is much 

 larger than Premier, perhaps almost as large as 

 Catskill. 



Stelemaster berries ripen about as early as 

 Blakemore. The berries are medium red in color 

 with a glossy surface and are generally uniform 

 and smooth. The flesh is light red, firm, juicy and 

 with a slightly tart flavor. It is not considered 

 especially desirable as a freezing berry. 



Stelemaster plants are very vigorous and pro- 

 ductive. Stelemaster has not been widely tested, 

 most of the early tests having been confined to 

 Maryland and southern Delaware. However, it 

 has been so good in those areas that it is largely 

 responsible for putting back in the berry business 

 a number of growers whose soils had become in- 

 fested with red stele. The new Surecrop, a mid- 

 season variety, is the only other kind with triple 

 red stele resistance. These two, Stelemaster and 

 Surecrop we look to see much more widely grown. 



If you have red stele in your soil and still want 

 to grow big crops of fancy berries it will pay you 

 to remember Stelemaster and Surecrop — both 

 triple threats to red stele and high scorers for 

 your profit account. Price list page 32. 



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