W. F. Allen's Plant and Seed Catalogue. Salisbury, Md. 





"LEA." — This berry will undoubtedly be a winner 

 as a market berry. It has already won 

 the second prize of $100.00 offered in my 190S cata- 

 logue for one dozen plants of best unintroduced new 

 variety and is well worthy of it. Because It takes sec- 

 ond place is no indication of any inferiority. This is 

 entirely a different type of berry from the "Twilley." 

 and I would not be surprised if it proved equally as 

 valuable as a market berry and is really a "close sec- 

 ond"' as fruited here. The "Lea"' makes a strong, 

 sturdy growth without a spot of rust, has perfect blos- 

 soms, texture firm, season early, very productive, rip- 

 ens evenly all over at once without green tips and is 

 uniformly medium large in size as represented by the 

 above illustration, which well represents it. I consider 

 the berry very promising and would not hesitate to 

 plant it largely for fruit If a sufficient number of 

 plants could be procured. I have named this berry 

 "'Lea"' in honor of my esteemed friend, Mr. Elisha Lea. 

 superintendent X. Y., I'. & N. R. R. Co., under whose 

 efficient management this road has given the best serv- 

 ice in the movement of perishable freights it has ever 

 done since I have been a patron, covering a period of 

 twenty-five years, and this new berrj- has been named 

 for him without his knowledge in grateful apprecia- 

 tion. The prize money has been paid to Mr. Thos. .T. 

 Custis, of Accomac Co., Va.. who has twice been a 

 lucky competitor for the "Allen Prizes,"' having re- 

 ceived SIOO.OO for twelve plants of the Virginia in 

 inOfi. The Virginia has many warm friends, among 

 them some large growers who plant it extensively for 

 fruit, but I miss my guess if the "Lea"" does not be- 

 come much more popular in general than that varietj- 

 has done. Mr. Custis. in. writing of the "Lea."" speaks 

 of it as follows :' "It was the best thing I had in the 

 strawberry line. Clima.x produced a few more quarts, 

 but did not bring near the money. The "Lea" sold 

 along with th^ 'Bubach/ and it will stand more rainy 

 weather and keep in l>etter condition than any berry 

 that I know. It is a rampant grower of strong, 

 healthy plants and should not be allowed to mat too 

 thick on the row for best results." I should like to 

 offer this berry at a price that would enable commer- 

 cial growers to buy it by the thousand from the start. 

 but fate decrees otherwise. My contract with Mr. Cus- 



tis covers a period of three years, but at present the 

 stock is limited, and after reserving enough for my 

 own planting to make stock for another year, I only 

 have a few hundred left, which I will furnish as Ions 

 as they last at .?3.00 for 12 and .$15.00 per 100. 



^ ■W^\>'TED E\'^RYBODY TO READ THIS. 



New Haven Co., Conn.. August 5, 1909. 



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■«•. F. Allen-,. Salisbury, Md. 



Friend Allen — Xow about that new straw- 

 berry — The Chesapeake. Well, it is a good 

 one, and you have not praised it half enough. 

 It is not only a good grower and tremendous 

 cropper, but it is delicious flavor, and car- 

 ries the fruit out good size to the last. I 

 shall set largely of it the coming season. I 

 have raised strawberries over 45 years, but 

 never have seen a strawberry so near perfect. 

 As you were the introducer of the Glen 

 Mary, and now the Chesapeake, puts you in 

 the front rank of introducers of new varie- 

 ties of strawberries. Very truly yours, 



A. E. PLANT. 

 WE AL"VJrAYS TRY TO PLEASE. 



Belmont Co.. Ohio. April "23. 1900. 

 \V. F. At.t.en, Salisbury. Md. 



Dear ."^ir — Received my 7,500 strawberry 

 plants yesterday, all in e.\cellent condition ; 

 am more than pleased with them. 



Yours trulv. P. T. RINr;. 



BEST IX 2«; YEARS. 



Champaign Co.. Ohio. April i:i. 190:1. 

 Ml!. W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. 



Dear Sir — The plants came in good condi- 

 tion : the quality is first-class. I have been 

 growing strawberries for 20 years and have 

 never received finer plants, nor any quite so 

 good. Thanks for promptness and good count. 

 Yours respectfully, E. K. HUMES. 





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