ALLEN'S STRAWBERRY CATALOGUE. 



CLIMAX — (See illustration 3rd cover page.) This is an extremiy popular 

 new variety that is being talked of by berry growers all over the Delaware and 

 Maryland Peninsula. Being quite a little interested myselP, I drove over 20 

 miles one day last May to see how much of the wonderful things said of it were 

 true, and I was surprised to fine that it had not be?n overestimated. The berrv 

 is medium to large and is immensely productive. Mr. J. F. Jester whose patch 

 I was in and photographed, wrote me onJJune 6th that he picked from a measur- 

 ed plot 3x5 yards 78 quarts which sold for $'4.66 or at the rate of 25,166 quarts, 

 $1500.00 per acre. This sounds like a fairy tale and yet Mr. Jester is an honest 

 and honorable old gentleman, who has been in the mercantile business for 

 many years where he now liyes and has made for himself an enviable reputa- 

 tation for his honesty and truthfulness. Moreover Mr. Jester has no pecuniary 

 interest in the Climax except his love for fine berries and the pleasure and prof- 

 it he derives from growing fine fruit Now it must not be conceded that I am 

 claiming that this record could be made on a large scale or even on a small one 

 except under extremely favorable conditions. It is nevertheless one of the most 

 productive berries I ever saw and I advise all strawberry lovers to give it a trial, 

 if only 100 plants. The plant is a vigorous, healthy grower of a peculiar shade 

 of green that can be distinguished from other varieties as far as it can be dis- 

 tinctly s?.en. My stock o? plants is of my own growing from plants procured 

 of the originator a year ago, and are exceptionally fine. 



CLYDE. The Clyde is as large as Bubach, and nearly or quite a week earl- 

 ier. With a dry season and plenty of sun it is an excellent variety; but the 

 foliage is a little weak during fruit time, and too much hot sun or a wet season 

 is not good for them. The foliage is a light green in color, and makes a fine 

 growth of vigorous plants the first season, but it is so extremely productive, that 

 the whole vigor of the plant seems to go to fruit, and does not provide foliage 

 enough during fruit season to protect the berries. The plants are strong, and 

 always have an abundance of longfroots, which even in the absence of s rrici ? t 

 foliage, helps this variety to withstand dry weather, and brings its crop to ma- 

 turity under surprisingly unfavorable corditions. Few varieties ever introduc- 

 ed, have attained greater popularity than was accorded the Clyde a few years 

 since. And except for the faults'above named, I have no doubt that it would 

 to day be the most popular medium early berry on the market. 



COBDEN QUEEN. This variety is very productive, and an excellent berry 

 for shipping purposes; of medium size, crimson color to the core. The b-^rry 

 will average a little better tban medium, but notwithstanding it is not as large 

 as some, shows up to better advantage than manv of the larger kinds. It is a 

 berry that will hold and look attractive in market ffter a long shipment. I 

 have not listed this variety in my catalogue for 2 or 3 years, owing to the fact, 

 that my entire stock of plants has bf en bought by a few large growers before 

 my catalogue was ipsufd. Thisi season, however. I have a very fine stcck of 

 plants; I think enough to justify me to catalogue it afier filling the orders of 

 these lajge prownp. For a ccrrnieirial r-«rry, I ilinkio orif vsould make a 

 mistake in planting this variety, ar d I pern nalJy rtci n mmd it. 



CRESCENT. This grand old varietv'has held its own longer tban any va- 

 riety that has evf r been introduced for 25^ years. About 15 or 20 years ago, it 

 was more largely planted than any elher variety. It still retains its strong 

 vigorous bab'te, and is very productive, of medium size v erries. It is not much 

 grown in the East at present, but is sti!! very popular in some sections of the 

 West whpre it produces great crops of fire marketable berries. And those who 

 have never grown it have really missed one (f the best of the laie varieties. 



