W. F. ALLEN'S PLANT AND SEED CATALOGUE. 



high price. Even at the price named, it is 

 somewhat doubtful that there will be enough 

 to supply the demand. The above illustration 

 is a true photograph of the berries as they run, 

 very much reduced of course. You can buy 

 this variety from no one except myself, as I 

 have a contract with the originaton giving me 

 absolute control of the variety until 1908. 



The Virginia. — On page 20 of my 1004 

 catalogue, a similar offer was ma^e as in the 

 preceding year. The offer was that I would 

 pay $100.00 in gold for the best twelve straw- 

 berry plants sent me be "ore May 1st, 1004, of 

 any new variety not yet introduced, and - 

 for the second best dozen. This prize went to 

 Virginia, hence the name of the berry. There 

 were nearly 100 competitors for this prize and 

 notwithstanding the large number of varieties 

 that were in this conte.-t, any child could easi- 

 ly have made the se- 

 lection of the best one. 

 A number of people who 

 saw- the plot were asked 

 to give their opinion as 

 to which one was en- 

 titled to the prize, and 

 without a single excep- 

 tion they went to this 

 variety. Unlike the 

 Chesapeake the Virgin- 

 ia is very early being 

 within a day or two of 

 the Excelsior; it is very 

 productive and of a un- 

 iform large size for an 

 early berry. As com- 

 pared with all commer- 

 cial varieties, irrespec- 

 tive of f?e aeon, I should 

 call the size a large 

 medium. The berry is 

 of a bright red color, 

 having the appearance 

 of being varnished, and 

 makes a very attractive 

 appearance both on the 

 vines and after it is 

 picked. It is said to 

 be a cross of Hoffman 

 and Sbarpless. The 

 foliage, while distinct, 

 is very similar to the 

 former. The plant is a 

 strong growing variety 

 and as yet I have never 

 seen a spot of rnst. For 

 those who want an early 

 berry that is remark- 

 ably L free from disease, 

 good size 'and good 

 quality, ripening al- 

 most if not quite as 



early as the earliegt varieties grown, 

 should not fail to give this berry a trial, 

 whether growing for home use or for market. 

 The originator described it as being two or 

 three days later than the Exceldor. With me 

 the past season, side by Hide, both under the 

 same conditions, it was equally as early as any 

 variety I had growing. Exceliior, Hoffman, 

 Mitchell's, and other very early sorts were all 

 grown within a few feet of it. The stock go 

 far is necessarily limited, but not so much so 

 as are the Chesapeake. I have a contract 

 with Mr. Custis, to whom the premium was 

 paid, that no plant3 will be sold or otherwise 

 disposed of for two years, except to myself, and 

 I am enabled to offer my customers a few 

 thousand plants this season of hii growing. As 

 compared with Climax it is equal to it in size, 

 in productiveness, in quality, in healthful 





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VIRGINIA. 



