18 ALLEN'S BOOK OF BERRIES — 1928 



Extra Early Varieties 



PREMIER (Howard 17) 



Practically all the good things that can be said about any variety of straw- 

 berries have already been said about Premier, and all we can do now is merely 

 to repeat things we have said before and to emphasize the fact that each year's 

 experience in growing this wonderful variety only adds to its reputation as the 

 money-making king of all early strawberries. It is, in addition, the best early 

 berry for the home garden. As you read the testimonials throughout this cata- 

 logue, just notice how many of them name Premier as the basis of their satisfac- 

 tion and profit in growing strawberries. Here's a list of some of the good points 

 about Premier: 



1. Soil. Premier deserves good soil and good care, but it will do well on any 

 kind of soil and in any climate, outclassing other early berries whether given good 

 soil and good care or grown under unfavorable conditions. 



2. Productiveness. The plants are immensely productive, ripening early and 

 bearing through a long season. No variety yields more quarts per acre. This is 

 especially important where land is limited and a maximum quantity of fancy 

 berries desired. 



3. Growth. Premier makes an abundant plant growth for a good fruiting 

 bed, making a plentiful number of rice strong plants rather than great numbers 

 of small, weak ones which require extra labor in thinning and hoeing. 



4. Appearance. The berries are beautiful in appearance, having uniform 

 shape and a glossy, rich, red color, extending clear through the berry. 



5. Attractiveness. The berries have a bright green cap which stays green to 

 the end of the season even in dry weather. This is not oversize, but just right to 

 add the proper touch of beauty to the fruit. This added attractiveness makes for 

 a larger selling price. 



6. Quality. The berries are delicious in quality, equalled only by the very 

 best ones like Chesapeake, Wm. Belt, McAlpin and Big Late. 



7. Firmness. Premier berries are firm enough to stand shipment to distant 

 markets in good condition. We have heard buyers at local shipping stations con- 

 demn Premier as being a poor shipper, saying it did not ship like Klondyke, and 

 in a few minutes later, when a load of nice Klondyke and another of nice Premier 

 drove through the auction market, these same buyers would pay from 25c. to 

 $1.00 per crate more for the Premier. If kept picked up closely, Premier will come 

 through a wet season with flying colors. 



8. Picking. Premier is a fancy early berry which makes it easier for com- 

 mercial growers to get pickers at the first of the season and keep them for late 

 varieties, than if there were less desirable early berries, or none at all. 



9. Frost Proof. Premier is the nearest frost-proof of any variety we have 

 ever seen. It has demonstrated this in several seasons in this section where late 

 frosts have destroyed all or a large part of the crop of other varieties, even the 

 late varieties, all except Chesapeake. We get reports every year from our cus- 

 tomers in one section or another where the same thing has been true. Premier 

 takes a lot of the if out of strawberry growing. If you give them reasonable care, 

 you are practically sure to get a good crop of fruit regardless of the weather. 

 In many sections where formerly early berries were not profitable because of late 

 frosts, they are now growing Premier for early and finding it just as good or better 

 for making profit than the later varieties. 



10. Size. Premier berries are of large size and hold their size well throughout 

 their long bearing season. As every strawberry grower knows, this is an im- 

 portant factor in getting a good price. 



