W. F. Allen's Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md. 



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CHESAPEAKE. — This 

 new berry was first offered by 

 me in very small quantities in 

 1905. It was originated almost 

 in sight of the Chesapeake Bay, 

 from which it takes its name. 

 It is one of the results of the 

 $100.00 prize offer which I have 

 been making several years for 

 the best dozen plants. This 

 variety easily took the premium, 

 although there were over a 

 hundred in competition with it. 

 many of which were really good. This variety is as 

 late as the Gandy and more productive; furthermore, 

 it will thrive and bear an elegant crop on soil entirely 

 too light to nroduce good Gandy berries. It is equal 

 to the Gandv in size, superior to it in firmness and 

 shipping qualities, and in eating qualities the Gandy 

 is no comnarison. In flavor it ranks with William 

 Belt, Brunette and others of that class. Therefore, in 

 the Chesapeake we have attained to a greater degree 

 than in anv other variety three of the strongest points 

 that go to make up a valuable commercial berry — 

 these are firmness, quality and lateness. When these 

 good noints are added to the fact that it is of uni- 

 formly large size, very attractive in appearance and 

 being one of the most healthy and vigorous growers, 

 puis it nearer perfection than has yet been reached by 

 any other berry, and I can conscientiously say that 

 if it succeeds in other sections as i-t does here it is the 



best strawberry in the world today. I fruited over 

 two acres the past season and the berries were mostly 

 all shipped to Boston, with the exception of a few 

 sample crates to New York. In every instance they 

 brought the top market price, selling one week straight 

 at seventeen cents, which was from two to three cents 

 more than the best Gandy berries were bringing at the 

 same time. Every one who saw it, both growers and 

 dealers in the fruit, were very enthusiastic. The plant Is- 

 a strong, upright grower with thick, leathery and 

 very dark green foliage ; leaves are almost round and 

 entirely free from rust. The stems or fruit stalks ar& 

 upright and unusually strong, holding almost the en- 

 tire crop from the ground. This variety, in addition 

 to its other good qualities, is unusually easy to pick,. 

 and therefore very attractive to pickers, making it 

 easier to get them handled than any other variety. 

 Two of my boys the past season, one 13 years old, 

 picked 201 quarts in one day, and the other 11 years- 

 old, picked 128 quarts, and this in a patch that had 

 no special care above the ordinary field culture, that 

 were grown in soil of only moderate fertility and no 

 fertilizer whatever. 



One large operator at this place, who has several 

 hundred acres grown for him on contract every year, 

 who has been planting large quantities of Gandy here- 

 tofore, has been watching the Chesapeake very closely 

 and says he will use it in the future altogether instead 

 of the Gandy. 



The plants are still very scarce and the price some- 

 what higher than most varieties in third year, and> 

 yet I doubt very much that it will be possible to fill' 

 iill the orders, as I shall need 250,000 for my own 

 individual use. I advise ail my customers to en- 

 deavor to get a few plants, if only a hundred, as I 

 know you will be pleased with them. Those who pro- 

 cured it last season are very fortunate indeed. It Is 

 one of the few new varieties that has come to stay, 

 and in a very short time will be a standard all over 

 the country. 



$ TRY ME AGA11V. 



Hocking Co., Ohio, May 8, 1007. 



S W. F. Allen — 



S Dear Sir — I received the Strawberry Plants 



2 Saturday afternoon. May 4, in good condi- 



;S tion, for which please accept thanks. 



$ Yours truly, George Eisz. 



