OF CHOICE STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 21 



never found any strawberry that would anywhere near equal Mary in vigor of 

 plant, hardiness, productivenes, large size and beautiful appearance. I bought 

 six plants in the spring of '94 and this season some of the plants yielded over 

 two quarts per single plant of the largest and finest berries I ever saw. The 

 foliage is black green and the plant withstands all extremes of weather without 

 apparent injury. It stools out and covers nearly a foot square of ground. The 

 berry is of good quality and a good shipper."" 



Mr. L. Shanley Davis, a well known New York city commission merchant 

 says: "I have handled strawberries for the past twenty-seven years in this 

 market. During these years almost every variety has come to us, on sale. This 

 season and last we became acquainted with the Mary strawberry, grown by 

 H. H. Alley. We find it one of the best in color, flavor and size, it has always 

 brought the highest market price, often from live to ten cents more per quart 

 than the best of other varieties in market with it. 



ANNIE LAURIE. — "Originated about six years ago by Mr. John F. Beaver 

 of Montgomery County, 0._ During the last twenty years he has tested nearly 

 all the leading varieties, and he thinks this is not surpassed in real merit, One 

 of the commercial growers near Dayton, when he first saw this in bearing on 

 the originator's place, said: "'I must have some of those plants if I have to 

 mortgage the farm to pay for them.** The same man wrote me afterwards that 

 he believed it to be the best yet introduced. It comes so near perfection in size, 

 form, color and quality that when shown at exhibitions, a large number of 

 specimens are carried away for seed, or to be shown to those who could not at- 

 tend. At our strawberry meeting in this county I had it and the Prince of ber- 

 ries, the standard of excellence, handed around for all to taste, ard many de- 

 clared the Annie Laurie to be the better. 



I might say a great deal in praise of this berry, but I will simply give my own 

 report of it. It has fruited with me four times, and I have watched it very 

 closely. The plant is strong and stocky, a luxuriant grower, as healthy as any 

 in cultivation, and a good bearer on either light or heavy soil. It has a perfect 

 blossom, and the fruit will keep in perfection as long as any variety I know 

 of. The berry is rounish and very uniform in shape and size. The color is a 

 glossy red with bright, yellow seeds set on the surface. The quality is unsur- 

 passed. It has never been grown in any quantity for market, nor has it been 

 shipped, but I know of no reason why it is not a good market berry. It is just 

 the variety to raise when one wants the best obtainable and plenty of it.*' — M. 

 Crawford. 



TENNESSEE PROLIFIC— Is one of the good medium early varieties, large 

 size and quite productive. It is a very vigorous, health}-, plant with never a spot 

 of rust, and I believe it is a variety that will do well under most any circum- 

 stances. It has a strong staminate blossom and is especially valuable as a pol-. 

 enizer. This variety is largely grown in the vacinity of Norfolk. Va., one of the 

 largest strawberry sections in the world. 



IVANHOE— Is comparatively a new sort, it fruited here last year and Ifcon- 

 sider it a very excellent earl v berry. It is one of the hardiest of plants, has a 

 perfect blossom and is a good bearer. The fruit is large size, perfect in shape, 

 bright red, excellent quality and one of the firmest, making it an excellent 

 shipper. 



LEADER. — This berry, when everything is favorable, is one of the finest ever 

 produced. It is large size, medium early, best quality and very attractive, al- 

 ways commanding good price in market. It requires a medium low. rather 

 stiff, springy soil. It is no good on thin light land, tut if you, Have a soil as 

 above described you can depend on it to please you. 



