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



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OAK'S EARLY 



OAK'S EASLY- 



Frulted with me the first 

 time ' the past season. I 

 found it fully as early as 

 the Excelsior, equally as 

 productive and firm enough 

 for a good shipper. It 

 makes lots of vigorous 

 plants, not large, but very 

 hardy, and a persistent 

 grower. This should prove 

 a valuable variety where 

 extra early berries are de- 

 sirable. 



The O a k's a a r 1 y was 

 found in an adjoi nin g 

 county, giowinij .wild' by the 

 side of an osuc'. stump in 

 the cornfield nr, Mr. Win. 

 Tull'-s faro!. '£$$$ ' strong) 

 vigorous urowthofthe plant 

 »ttrfi,cted £J>. Iidi's atten- 

 tion, "u plaat'Was left 

 standing and t^tryated.y.The 

 plants were "so ^roiritsinj: 

 thai: a part ol! them were 

 dug and planted ; those that 

 remained ripened an, unusu- 

 ally large crop of ih 

 ■rles, coming in with Mitcb- 

 ell's Early andtipoffmati 

 resembling the letter c<"3<» 

 brated variety, bii/t far su 

 perior to it ln'..inany re 

 specta, being a much better 

 grower and' three times a.% 

 productive The berry is 

 beautiful in appearance an,-; 

 has a large green cap. Mr. 

 Tall has propagated this 

 variety for several years 

 and it has proven a gold 

 mine to him, having cleared 

 nearly double the amount 

 he paid for hia farm three 

 years ago. It is rumored 

 that his farm was heavily 

 mortgaged, and that his 

 prospects looked very 

 gloomy until he found this 



"berry, which has more than paid all bis- indebtedness. 

 Three crops have been marketed, none of which have 

 been shipped on commission, because the buyers have 

 greedily bought them, always giving the fcighest mar- 

 ket prices at the station. Individual farmers have tried 

 three years to buy plants of this variety from Mr. Tull, 

 but he steadfastly refused to sell any until *he spring 

 ■of 1905. I have a beautiful supply of plant? 



PRIDE OF CUMBERLAND. — Brilliant red 



in color and 

 holds its lustre and freshness for a long time after tak- 

 ing from the vines. It grows well on any soil, but gives 

 better results on springy, rich land. The worst that 

 can be said about it Is that its blossom blights very 

 easily, and for this reason it often fails to produce 

 .good crops. Where everything is favorable it is very 

 productive and very firm quality, ships well, and brings 

 the highest price In market. 



PROF. FISHER. — -This is another of Joseph H. 

 Black's seedlings, and is de- 

 scribed by the Rural New Yorker as follows : "Late and 

 coming in with the Gaudy, plants vigorous, tall, broad 

 foliage. The berry is large, sometimes c«ckscombed, 

 smooth, round, of good qualities, but not very firm. 

 It matures Its whole crop in a very short time." 

 With me It has hardly been satisfactory, and is not a 

 variety that I would recommend planting, unless you 

 have first tried it yourself. 



RELIANCE. — Introduced by Peter Henderson & 

 Co. This is their description : "A 

 seedling of the Mary crossed with Marshall, very large 

 In size and a perfect blossom. It resembles the Mary 

 somewhat In shape, the color is almost perfect; very 

 fine quality, Juicy and luscious and solid to the center. 

 The growth Is fair, large, deep green, handsome foliage, 

 and the fruit ts borne on long stalks in r.reat profu- 

 sion.'* My personal experience with this variety is 

 that It makes a rather weak growth, but is a variety of 

 excellent qualities for the home table, and ripens very 

 early for a large berry. Its table qualities are excel- 

 lent. 



RIDGEWAY. — This is no favorite of mine. 

 Claimed to be a very excellent 

 late berry, and I presume gives satisfaction to some 

 growers. It has never amounted to much here, and I 

 only plant a few to supply some customers who call 

 for It. 



-ff^gfe-^te-v^ 



TEXAS.- 



-Thls 

 State 



berry Is irom Texas, for which 

 it is named. It Is firm enough to 

 ship, but not quite as dark in color as Excelsior, and In 

 many respects a very desirable variety ; no rust rather 

 than disease seems to affect it. Under certain climatic 

 conditions it has a tendency to bear considerable fruit 

 In the fall, the same as Senator Dunlap. It was Intro- 

 duced by Jacoh C. Bauer, of Judsonla, Ark., who sent 

 out the Excelsior. Mr. Bauer died last year of a cancer. 



THOMPSON'S NO. 2.— Originated by Mark T. 

 Thompson, near Rich- 

 mond, Va. This variety has made a vigorous, healthy 

 growth here, and its firm, dark green foliage makes a 

 beautiful showing. The originator describes it thus : 

 "Large size, beautiful color, having the appearance of 

 being varnished, large double cap like the Gandy ; very 

 productive, and bears through a long season ; very 

 richest and best quality, and one of the best shippers, 

 having a tough skin not easily broken by handling. It 

 retains its beautiful dark green foliage all through the 

 season without a spot of rust, and has a perfect blossom." 



UNCLE JIM. — Makes a strong, healthy growth of 

 large foliage similar to New York. 

 It is said to be a chance seedling found near an old 

 fruiting patch by Mr. Jim Dornan in Michigan some 

 six or seven 3'ears ago, where 15 to 25, if grown under 

 favorable conditions, will usually fill a quart. This 

 is an excellent berry for growers who want a fancy, 

 large berry for borne use or nearby market. I would 

 hardly advise it for shipping purposes. 



GOOD ENOUGH TO RjilAD TWICE. $ 



f Cheshire Co., N. H., May 24, 1907. £ 



W. F. Allen, Dear Sir : The 5,000 strawberry 



•£ plants shipped me April 22 arrived at my sta- 



& tion the 24th. I thank you for the extra care 



$ you gave my order. The plants were nicely 



$ packed, and an extra nice lot of plants. Nearly 



* every plant lived and they are growing finely. I 



* have just finished cultivating and hoeing for the 

 *£ first time. Any one wanting good plants and a 

 2 square deal will make no mistake in sending 

 5 their order to W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. When 

 "S I want more plants I shall send my order to you 

 ■!g surely. Very truly yours, J. E. SHELDON. 



