9 
Premier. Plant Premier with confidence. It is the nearest to a sure thing that the straw- 
berry industry has ever developed. 
Ripening season medium early, only a day or two later than Blakemore. 
Due to having a very vigorous strain of Premier plants we are able to offer Premier at 
a slight reduction from last year's price, in spite of continually increasing cost of operation. 
Price List page 31. 
MAYTIME 
A U. S. D. A, seedling released in 1941. It makes 
a vigorous growth, berries are firm, light, similar to 
Blakemore in appearance, but larger and of much 
better quality. Maytime is the earliest of all varieties 
and where tried has generally done well in the 
middle states from the Atlantic Seaboard as far west 
as Missouri. Well worth trying. Price List page 31. 
HOWARD 17 
Same as Premier. This variety was first introduced 
as Howard 17. It us still known and grown as Howard 
17 in New England and a few other areas. Call it 
Premier or call it Howard 17, it is still the safest 
berry to plant. 
EMPIRE 
Empire originated at the Geneva Experiment Station in New York, the result of a cross 
of Dresden and Sparkle. Dr. George L. Slate, the originator, announced its release for 
introduction to the strawberry trade in September, 1950. We saw Empire in our own trial 
beds in 1950 and in several different fields in New York State in 1951, It's a grand berry 
and well worthy of trial wherever Premier is grown. On its record to date it is better than 
Premier in five important ways: 
1. Empire is a more vigorous grower than Premier. 
2. The berries are much better in quality than Premier. 
3. The average size of Empire is larger than Premier. 
4. Empire berries are much more attractive and should command 
a higher price than Premier grown under similar conditions. 
5. The berries are fully as firm as Premier with a tougher 
skin which makes them hold and ship better. 
Empire is not quite as productive as Pre- 
mier but is a very heavy yielder. In dry sea- 
sons when Premier berries run down Empire 
could well yield just as many quarts of mar- 
ketable fruit and better fruit. The almost per- 
fect record of Premier in resisting frost and 
always coming through with a heavy crop is 
not matched by Empire. It has been regular 
in production during the testing years but only 
time will tell if it can approach Premier when 
the going gets tough. Empire should be thor- 
oughly tested wherever Premier is or has been 
grown. If Premier for any reason is not at its 
best. Empire may prove to be the free growing 
iiledium early variety which will be a profit 
maker for the grower. Even where Premier 
does well. Empire will fill the need for a 
fancier berry, larger, more attractive and 
better in quality. 
Season of ripening, about one week after 
Premier. We have a fairly good supply of 
plants which have made a nice growth. Even 
though Empire is brand new, we have kept the 
price of plants moderate so that no one need 
pass it up this first year without a trial. Price 
List page 31. Empire 
