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



29 



THREE W'S. — Orisrinated with \V. \V. Wallace, of 

 Tennessee. It is said to be a 

 chance seedling found in 1001 sirowins wild alons the 

 railroad. The tirst fifteen plants which were found 

 were transplanted into a garden and produced lioo 

 plants the tirst ,vear. In 1902 the original fifteen 

 plants are claimed to have produced one quart of berries 

 to the plant and 2.1.000 plants were grown from the 

 600 which were transplanted. In 1904 Three Ws won 

 highest prize at the World's Fair at St. Louis and 

 mad.> a record of keeping ten days. In lOO.'i it is said 

 to have stood the freeze of April 15 and 16 and made 

 a big crop of large berries, while other standard varie- 

 ties onl.r produced about 25 per cent, of a crop. The 

 foliage is beautiful, clean and healthy, dark green in 

 color and very attractive. I consider it a very promis- 

 ing variety. The fruit is large, fine quality and very 

 productive, covering a long season from medium early 

 to late. It is quite firm and a great keeper. Berries 

 picked on Monday and shipped 500 miles to the St. 

 Louis Exposition were placed on plates Wednesday 

 morning. Late Friday afternoon out of eleven plates 

 only seven berries could be found that were not in 

 good condition. Part of these berries were on exhibi- 

 tion until the following Thursday. Three W"s has 

 made an excellent wide matted row the past season 

 notwithstanding the continued dry weather. The plants 

 are very large and stalk}-, amply able to produce a liiu 

 crop. Our sales on this variety last season were vevy 

 large, and during the last of April we had to turn 

 down many orders. We hope this year to be able to 

 supply the demand, although if ordered as freely as 

 last season we may not have enough to see us through. 



MIXED PLANTS. — It has not heen our custom 

 to offer mixed plants, but 

 It sometimes happefis that a plot will be accidentally 

 mixed so that we cannot dig plants from it true to 

 name. Such plots have to be left for fruiting. At 

 other times, in getting up large orders, it frequently 

 happens that more plants of some variety are taken 

 up than we have immediate orders for. Such plants 

 we can afford to sell at a discount, as if more happen 

 to be dug than we have orders for we would sooner 

 sell them at a lower price than lose them, or if we 

 have a mixed plot from which we cannot fill orders 

 we could afford to sell these at a low price rather 

 than not sell them at all. From such stock as mixed 

 plots and left-over lots, any orders for mixed plants 

 would be filled and at the price quoted. We cannot 

 guarantee or even have suggested what the varieties 

 will be. Parties ordering mixed plants, however, may 

 designate whether they want early, medium or late 

 varieties, as we can usually govern this part of it. 

 Sometimes the plants with which those orders arc 

 filled may contain a portion labeled true to name 

 where the order is filled from left-over lots. I do not 

 know whether anyone would be interested in this kind 

 of stock, but if so we can take care of a limited num- 

 ber of orders at the reduced rate named in price list. 



OUR STRAWBERRY DESCRIPTIONS 



are true and correct to the best of my knowledge 

 and according to the best information I have 

 been able to obtain. There is hardly a doubt 

 that every variety on our list has done extra if 

 not better than any other variety for someone, 

 but they will not all be best with you; the one 

 that is best with you this, year, may not be next. 

 You must remember there is a great variation 

 in varieties of strawberries in different seasons 

 and in different localities or sornetimes even in 

 the same locality. Our descriptions are given to 

 help you in your selection all that we can, but 

 we do not guarantee that any variety will do 

 for 5-ou as it has for us or for anyone else ; this 

 must, in a great measure, be determined by your 

 own growing and cultivation on your own soil. 

 I have often recommended, and still insist, that 

 every strawberry grower should plant a small 

 quantity, say 25 or 100 each of several different 

 varieties every year, and thereby know for your- 

 self what is best for you to plant. This does not 

 cost much and will give you better information 

 than any one can possibly tell you. Now, friends, 

 I have tried to give you straightforward, reliable 



descriijtions that will help in your selections, and 

 have given ycu what I believe to be good advice, 

 candid and on the square, and now I shall appre- 

 ciate it very much if I am favored with your 

 orders for whatever you may need in my line. 

 Those who have been dealing with me know 

 what kind of plants I send out, and you who 

 have not dealt with me, I want you to first 

 read the testimonials scattered through this cata- 

 logue and then send me your order and I will 

 try and treat you so well you will feel like they 

 do ; so well pleasdd, you will want to write and 

 tell me about it. If intrusted with a trial order, 

 I think I can prove to you that no better plants 

 are to be had anywhere at any price. I shall 

 not expect you to continue to deal with me 

 unless I can show you that it is to your inter- 

 est to do so. Let me have your order this 

 year and see if we are not mutually benefited. 



With best wishes, and many thanks to those 

 who have given me such liberal patronage in the 

 past, and promising you I will always try to 

 merit your confidence and good will, I remain 

 Yours faithfully. 



W. F. Allen. 



