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THE W. F. ALLEN CO., SALISBURY, MD. 



A field of our plants photographed in August, with the best half of the growing season ahead of them 



Why Allen's Plants Are Superior 



I. Allen's plants are grown in light, sandy loam 

 soil. In this type of soil any plant will develop its 

 root-system to the highest degree. Our Strawberry 

 plants are no exception. They make many strong, 

 fibrous roots of great length, in fact, a wonderful 

 root-system. And having a light soil, we can dig 

 the plants without breaking off any of the great 

 bunch of roots. With plants grown in heavier soils, 

 the roots cannot penetrate the earth and make the 

 root-system they do here; and, even if they could, 

 it would not avail in giving fine plants, as plants 

 are not removed from heavy clay soils without 

 breaking off many of the fibrous roots, the kind 

 necessary to start plant growth. We repeat: The 

 root-system of our Strawberry plants is never 

 bettered, seldom equaled. 



READ WHAT OTHERS SAY 



April 22, 1916. Middlesex County, Mass. 

 Dear Sirs: The Strawberry plants came to hand in excel- 

 lent condition and were heeled-in this morning according to 

 your directions. In twenty odd years' experience with buying 

 and setting out nursery stock of various kinds. I have never 

 before received any plants which equaled those in quality and 

 condition. At least half of the best lots of Strawberry plants 



Our plants have a fine root-system 



we get from dealers in this region are sure to be old plants 

 easily distinguished by their black roots. Most of them are 

 equally sure to have at least half of their roots cut off. Among 

 all your plants I did not find an old one nor one that does not 

 retain all its roots to the very tip. How you can dig them — this 

 is something I do not understand and wish you would tell me. 

 I cannot do it when I move plants in my own beds. The pack- 

 ing of your plants was the most perfect and intelligent of any 

 I have ever seen. Perhaps you will not mind getting this 

 expression of my appreciation. Yours truly, 



William Brewster. 



WHY SHOULDN'T THEY GROW? 



January 22, 1916, Union County, Ky. 

 Gentlemen: Of the several hundred of some nine or ten 

 varieties, I think almost every plant grew. And why shouldn't 

 they? Such strong, splendid, thrifty, heavily rooted plants I 

 had never seen. I think every variety was true-to-name and 

 such fine berries. They were the admiration of all who saw 

 them, so much so that we sold our entire surplus at 12^ cents 

 per quart-box at the farm. Yours very truly, 



W. B. Threlkeld. 



2. Allen's plants, both crown and roots, are of the 

 largest size. Of course, the plants of some varieties, 

 like Chesapeake, Big Joe, and Glen Mary, are much 

 larger than those of other varieties. We have a 

 moderately long growing season — not long enough 

 for a plant to wear itself out — but 

 just long enough to reach its highest 

 possible development in size, matur- 

 ity, and root-system. As a valuable 

 aid in securing such fine plants as 

 we have, we might say that the 

 grass is diligently kept pulled from 

 our plant patches, and the plants 

 are kept in good growing condition 

 all the while by the manure we 

 apply and by the thorough culti- 

 vation which we give. Our plants 

 are thoroughly hoed by hand and 

 cultivated from eight to twelve 

 times during the growing season. 

 Plants grown as ours are make 

 a good stand almost certain. Of 

 course, in a good season almost any 

 plant will grow. In a very severe 

 drought any plant will have a 

 hard time, but we can say that 

 the large size, good roots, and great 

 vitality of our plants are a form of 

 insurance worth in itself the cost of 

 the plants. If you buy such plants 

 as these you will lose very few 

 plants. 



