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



JIEiDE. 



Abington. — This new berry was sent out 

 last spring by Lester Blanchard, of Massachus- 

 etts, who claims that it is the best yielder and 

 the largest matted row, perfect blossom berry 

 that has been introduced up to date. At the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Jane 21, 

 1904 a quart of this variety was exhibited 

 which contained just twenty-five berries and 



was awarded second prize. Mr. Elanchard says: 

 "The Abington is the chance seedling, the plant is large, 

 foliage darh green, the frnit stalks are strong and stand 

 erect from the ground, the blossom is perfect, larse and 

 full with lots of pollen. It ripens with the Bubach. the 

 berries being very large, averaging as large as the Bubach 

 and holds out well through the entire season. Mr. Blan- 

 chard • laims the Abington to be more productive that the 

 Bubach or Glen Mary, euner of which is productive 

 enough for best results: in color it is bright red with firm 

 flesh and good flavor. Mr. Blanchard claims to have grown 

 the Abington at the rate of 9.720 quarts per acre, and says 

 it is a berry that will take the place of Bubach. as it is a 

 better plant maker, blo^pom perfect and hardy, sends up 

 more fruit stalks, and ripens at same time. The berry has 

 a better color, tirmer. better flavor, runs larger through- 

 out the season and holds its color better after it is picked."' 



This is certainly a very strong description and 



if the berry is anywhere near as good as Mr. 



Blanchard claims, it will make a valuable 



addition to the list. I can say personally that 



it is a fine grower of large, strong, healthy 



plants, and so far, 1 am much pleased with its 



appearance. 



Aroma. — A popular late variety, 

 as late as Gandy; large size, gocd 

 quality and one of the finest for- 

 shipping. 



Meade. — MucL has 'been said of 

 this variety through the press and 

 otherwise. The New England Home- 

 stead of September 12th., 1903, ^de- 

 voted its whole front pa?e to a full 

 sized ilustration of the Meade straw- 

 berry and said : 



-The Meade strawber- 

 ries sent the Homestead 

 were of large size, regular 

 shape and good crimson 

 color, sprightly and very 

 highly flavored. They 

 have considerable more 

 snap than the general 

 run of strawberries: the 

 flesh is firra which should 

 make it a good shipping 

 berry. 



Last spring the 

 Garden Magazine de- 

 voted a full page for 

 illustrating this va- 

 riety. Mr. J. H. 

 Hale says: 



-This fine new straw- 

 berry is the result of over 

 twenty years experiment- 

 ing in the growth of seed- 

 ling strawberries by Mr, 

 H. O Meade, ex-president 

 of the Massac h u s e 1 1 = 

 Fruit Growers' Associa- 

 tion, and he says that his 

 life's work and reputa- 

 tion as a fruit grower is 

 . staked on the value of; 

 this grand new berry. It- 

 is very stalky low- grow- 

 ing plant, with broad very 

 darn and glssy foliage, a 

 moderately free plant 

 maker s-eldom crowding- 

 too much for matied r« w culture, and when runners are 

 kept off for hill culture it stools up heavily and conse-. 

 auentlv throws up manv strong berry bearing stalks at 

 fruiting season. All the berries that form develop tc, 

 fullest perfection and everv specimen ranks as tirst class. 

 The berries are of large size, pointed globular, like the. 

 small end of a hen's egg. as though all had been perfeet- 

 Jv mouJdec from one pattern: deep glossy red color on 

 outside and red flesh ail the way through. A perfect- 

 berry, mildly subacid and moderately firm." 



James Draper, of Worcester, Ma??., writes: 

 u The Meade is a plant whose foliage eclip'ts all others 

 in vigor, healthfulness and richness of color. The berry 

 is well formed, glossy red and good quality; I noticed in 

 our Worcester market last June that the Meade command-. 

 . d the highest prices of any variety on the fruit stand- " 



Several others could be quoted, but as 



they would be practically a repetition of 



the above, I will refrain from doing si. 



This vaiiety has not fiuited here but so 



far as the plant growth is concerned the above 



desciiptions are correct. 1 have a splendid 



stock of plants and shall be pleased to supply 



all who wish to grow it. 



Oaks Early.- — This new candidate for 

 public favor was found in Somerset County, 

 Maryland, by Mr. William T. Tull, growing 

 on his farm by the side of a big oak stump in 

 his cornfield. The strong vigorous growth of 

 the plant attracted Mr. Tail's attention. The 

 plant was hoed and left standing : during the 



