The Berry Marvels of the Age 



[Reprint from last edition of Catalog No. 2.] 



In these we have what I believe to be, not only 

 the most remarkable but also the most valuable 

 Strawberries that have ever been produced. The 

 Gandy Strawberry, introduced by me in 1888, has 

 become widely popular and has much merit; the 

 same may be said of Morning Star, the Lovett, 

 Silver Coin and other introductions of the Mon- 

 mouth Nursery. The Van Fleet Hybrids (Early 

 Jersey Giant and Late Jersey Giant) have all the 

 desirable properties of those named with increased 

 size and productiveness and possess also, what in 

 my estimation is of far greater importance than 

 great size and beauty or large yield, namely, the 

 delicious flavor and aroma of the wild native 

 Strawberry. For a long time many plant breeders 

 have endeavored to produce this very thing, i. e., 

 a Strawberry having the flavor of the native wild- 

 ing and also yielding large berries in abundance. 

 This is what Dr. Walter Van Fleet (perhaps the 

 most skillful hybridizer of all times) started out 

 to do. He worked scientifically, not in a hap- 

 hazard fashion — as almost all other plant breeders 

 who preceded him had done, when working with 

 the Strawberry. He grew his plants in pots under 

 glass, isolating the different varieties, exercising 

 extreme caution and care, and the results, promis- 

 ing from the outset, surpassed his wildest dreams. 

 He produced thousands of unique seedlings from 

 which he selected, after painstaking test, a num- 

 ber of varieties giving fruit which possess the 



desired superlative flavor and of enormous size; 

 upon plants of extremely strong vigorous habit, 

 that yield prodigious crops, ripening from very 

 early until very late. 



Dr. Van Fleet is now connected with the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. With the modesty that 

 characterizes all his statements concerning his 

 creations, he recently wrote me as follows: "In 

 August, 1910, I sold to you, with exclusive right 

 to introduce, my entire stock of hybrid Straw- 

 berries, raised during the years 1907-1909; as a 

 result of intercrossing the most vigorous high- 

 quality European varieties — such as Jucunda, Al- 

 fonso, Xiij and Pres. De la Devansaye — with the 

 very best native kinds; including William Belt, 

 President, Nick Ohmer and Chesapeake. The re- 

 sult was the flnest lot of seedling varieties prob- 

 ably ever produced ; excelling in vigor, hardiness, 

 productiveness and plant-making powers, as well 

 as size, quality and attractiveness of berries, any 

 I have ever tested. 



"I am convinced certain of these hybrid varie- 

 ties possess high commercial value and should be 

 introduced." 



Somerset Co., N. J., Aug. 20, 1913. 

 Received the Strawberry plants a week ago and 

 they are all in the ground. They are the best 

 and most satisfactory lot of plants I have ever 

 received. Stephen A. W. Pray. 



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